Court directs registry to list case

HYDERABAD: A Division Bench of the A.P. High Court comprising Chief Justice A. R. Dave and Justice R. Subhash Reddy on Thursday directed the registry to list the case challenging the validity of G.O. Ms. 111 which prohibits development around drinking water lakes, before an appropriate Bench. The writ petition was filed by G.O. Ms. 111 Vyatireka Porata Committee and others. They contended that the G.O. prohibits development activity within 10 km radius of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes.

They complained that the officers issued notices to people in the name of implementing the G.O. pursuant to the petition filed by Jeevananda Reddy for implementing the G.O.

They contended that the G.O. was illegal as it violated their right to property and life. The Bench felt that this case should to be listed to an appropriate Bench to hear such matters.

Minister unveils Hinduja’s project

HYDERABAD: The automotive park coming up at Toopran mandal in Medak will not only change the face of the district, but pave way for the State emerging as automotive hub in future, said Minister for Major Industries, Sugar, Commerce and Export Promotion J. Geetha Reddy here on Thursday.

After unveiling the plaque of the new foundry project, she said the 250-acre automotive park at Kallakal village will have 34 units, including the prestigious 60-acre Hinduja Foundries, which already has a unit in Uppal here. It will produce cylinder-heads and blocks.

The automotive park would bring in investment of Rs.2,000 crore in addition to MLR Group’s investment of Rs.1,200 crores and with a potential for generating 15,000 jobs. The Hinduja Foundry alone would provide employment for 500 youth.

The company would be setting up an Industrial Training Centre at Mukkireddipalle to train local youth.
Vital for growth

Hinduja Foundries Managing Director Mahadevan said that Foundry was important for growth of automotive sector and their Toopran unit would make most sophisticated castings, especially cylinder blocks and cylinder heads, on a par with global standards and meet 30 per cent requirements of the tractor industry and also cater to light commercial vehicles and export segment.

The Rs.150-crore foundry would be ready by 2010-11 with a production capacity of 48,000 tonnes per annum.

Residential workshop

A residential workshop for film society organisers and activists will be held at Karimnagar on Nov. 8 and 9. Details can be had from Vizag Film Society joint secretary P.V. Ramana on phone No. 2720089.

Property tax date extended

Property taxpayers of GHMC are informed that the last date for payment of the tax without penalty on the current year demand has been further extended to December 31. Citizens have been told to make use of the opportunity. Penalty will be levied on tax arrears only.

GHMC urges R&B, NHAI to take up road repairs

HYDERABAD: The GHMC has urged authorities of State and National Highways to take up repairs of damaged road stretches in their respective jurisdiction immediately as the former too had targeted December-end for re-carpeting all its roads.

GHMC Commissioner S. P. Singh made the request during a coordination meeting convened with senior officials of the State and National Highways on Thursday. It was pointed out that 190-km long roads under the control of the municipal corporation and about 45-km long roads belonging to the R&B and the National Highways were in bad shape.

Mr. Singh while impressing upon them the need to expedite the works immediately said he would also be taking up the issue with the Principal Secretary (Transport). Senior engineering officials and others attended the meeting.
Storm water drains

The Commissioner also held an interactive session with experts in engineering, town planning, urban planning, architectural consultants and NGOs to seek their suggestions for developing an integrated storm water drainage project.

The city’s catchment area has been divided into 16 drainage basins and the total length of storm water drains is estimated to be 625 km, a press release said.
Project report

A detailed project report was prepared by a private agency -- Voyants Solutions Pvt. Ltd., to take up widening and deepening of nalas along with restoration and renovation of all existing tanks besides floodwater management for each tank, said Engineering chief Dr. P. Panduranga Rao.

Iran to fund Rs. 200-cr. heritage project

HYDERABAD: The Government of Iran will fund a Rs. 200-crore project at Hyderabad to develop seven famous tombs of the Nizam period as also Premamati Mosque and Badshahi Ashur Khana as sites of heritage and culture.

Iran has chosen these structures for its project as all of them were said to have been constructed under the supervision of architects brought from Iran at that time.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Syed Mohd. Ali Shaeedi told reporters after discussions with Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohd. Ali Shabbir here on Thursday, that the proposal for the project was lying with the Centre and sought the AP government’s intervention to facilitate its clearance at the earliest.
Ancient ties

Mr. Shaeedi said Iran’s ties with India dated back to thousands of years and it had several connections with Hyderabad in particular.

The first consulate in Hyderabad was established by Iran 38 years ago. “Iranian families here are happy with the Hyderabadi hospitality.”

He said: “Our love for India is such that when India is developed, we feel our own country is developed. We always want to strengthen our age-old ties with India. To achieve this goal, the Iranian President visited New Delhi six months ago.”
Exchanges

Mr. Shaeedi offered to facilitate exchange of visits of teams from both nations, saying this would facilitate signing of MoUs, covering different areas.

Mr. Shabbir said there were 5,000 Iranians in Hyderabad at present while another 2,000 students from that country were pursuing studies in various Indian universities.

Maytas bags award

HYDERABAD: Maytas Infra Ltd. has bagged the ‘Fastest-growing construction companies in India’ award. Maytas Infra is ranked first amongst several other participating construction companies in the large size category, according to a company release. The award is based on a study carried out by the leading magazine Construction World.

-Special Correspondent

Joint action to improve amenities

HYDERABAD: The United Federation for Residents’ Welfare Association (UFERWAS-Alwal) is the saviour for the residents of Alwal and neighbouring areas. A unique initiative, which motivates residents to take a proactive role in the development of their area, UFERWAS-Alwal is just a month-and-a-half old. An affiliate of UFERWAS-GHMC, it is working towards the betterment of the civic amenities in entire Alwal zone comprising Alwal, Old Alwal, Venkatapuram, Bolarum, Yapral, etc.

The primary objective of UFERWAS is to bring together all independent resident welfare associations on a common platform and for collective action, says Ashwin Nalluri, Coordinator, UFERWAS-Alwal. As many as 93 welfare associations are part of UFERWAS in Alwal.

According to Mr. Ashwin, the problem areas are brought to the notice of the Federation during the monthly meetings. UFERWAS, in turn, brings them to the notice of the officials concerned of GHMC.

Each volunteer or member of the Federation is in charge of different cells such as Education, Sanitation and Health, Engineering (which covers roads and buildings), Town Planning, Horticulture, Senior Citizens Cell, etc.
Citizens apathetic

From handling mosquito menace to development of parks to checking the quality standards of eateries, the Federation is all set to solve its own share of problems. Though the GHMC has been responsive to the Federation, Mr. Ashwin feels that there is very little empathy from the residents themselves.

“Except a handful of people, citizens are generally apathetic and are not responsive. They attend the meetings only when they have a problem and don’t turn up to address others’ problems,” he says.
Interactions

Currently, the Federation initiates interactions between citizens and the police. Plans are also on to invite representatives from schools for the interactions.

For a federation just a month old, it’s already become a change-maker. UFERWAS-Alwal has brought to the notice the deplorable sewerage conditions near Tirumala Enclave located in Alwal.

GHMC Alwal immediately took notice of the conditions and initiated action to address the problems.

Probe into Faisal’s city connection

HYDERABAD: The city police are investigating into terror suspect Faisal’s Hyderabad connection.

He was arrested recently in Kannur of Kerala on charge of recruiting youngsters for terrorist outfits.

Faisal, in his confessional statement, reportedly said that he had recruited youths from Malabar region of Kerala to work for terrorist modules and had sent them to places like Hyderabad for training. Faisal’s confession and connection to Hyderabad assumed importance because he admitted that Mohd. Fayas and Mohd. Fahis, who got killed in an encounter with police in Jammu and Kashmir few days ago, were recruited by him to work for terrorist organisations.
Fresh probe

According to police, Faisal maintained that he had sent the two youths to Hyderabad in September.

In the backdrop of Faisal’s startling disclosure, the city police began a fresh probe into training camps in or around Hyderabad organised by terrorist modules.

A team from Andhra Pradesh would leave for Kerala to question Faisal. All these days, police had information that youths only from Maharashtra, Karnataka and other north Indian States were involved in terror plots and network in Andhra Pradesh.
First time

For the first time, the alleged role of youngsters hailing from Kerala in Hyderabad terror network had come to the fore.

‘Scrap Maytas deal’

HYDERABAD: The Citizens for a Better Public Transport in Hyderabad (CBPTH) has once again questioned several aspects of the Concession Agreement (CA) signed by the government with Maytas Metro Ltd., (MML) for building the elevated metro rail system in the city.

After perusing the CA document, it was “proved beyond doubt” that the project “promotes the interests of Maytas than public interest,” alleged CBPTH convener C. Ramachandraiah and others at a press conference on Wednesday. A CBPTH team had earlier studied the papers under the RTI Act few days ago.

The organisation maintained that the agreement should be “scrapped immediately” and the “issue of public transport should be debated.” Dr. Ramachandraiah pointed out that the GHMC alone stood to lose “hundreds of crores of rupees” in various taxes as no such levy was being imposed on the rail system. There was also no guarantee that more land would not be given to MML in future or if the estimated passengers per day (26.76 lakh a day) would fructify considering the poor record of Delhi Metro which was not even carrying 30 per cent of the projected commuters, he said.

The CBPTH felt there was a possibility of the lease period being extended due to lack of sufficient passengers and the scheduled completion date of March 2014 not being met.

Considering the delays in getting railways permission for various projects, it wondered if the plan of building an overhead metro line over the Secunderabad station would materialise when the SCR itself was proposing a world class facility.

The other issue faulted by CBPTH was that the government was not allowing a competing public transport system on metro rail corridors and agreeing for electricity tariff on commercial principles when the detailed project report prepared by Delhi Metro called for ‘no profit, no loss” basis.

On the threshold of vaastu

Promising to set a new benchmark in ultra luxury living, Radha Realty has unveiled ‘U31’, a single-family, gated community project in the city. Spread over nine acres adjacent to Botanical Gardens, Kondapur, the project will have 31 limited-edition townhouses of which 19 will be courtyard houses and the rest designed as pavilion houses.

Each house is to come up on 1,250 sq.yd. with a built-up area of around 11,800 sft and designed by award-winning Australian architect Andrew Maynard. Surrounded by greenery and water streams, these four-storied homes boast of five bedrooms, private swimming pool, exotic interiors, a designer home entertainment room, private elevator, five car parking space, accommodation for up to eight domestic helpers and a bulk storage garage.

The unique feature of the project is that the entire garden ground level is to be car free zone with all vehicular movement restricted to the below podium level. A blend of historical and contemporary design, it draws inspiration from Charminar to come up with 31 unique and intricate design elements for incorporating in each of the unit.

N. Ravindranath Reddy, Managing Director, Radha Realty Corp describes the project as an ultimate statement of exclusivity .

Adds Amit Bagaria, chairman, Asipac group, “the houses are based on 7th century vaastu homes with a central courtyard. ”

Cut the coat... is the mantra now

In the changing real estate scenario, the demand for properties in the price segment of Rs.30 lakh to Rs. 60 lakh was high but this segment also face a shortage of supply in the city. Contrary to this, there is an excess supply of properties costing above Rs.60 lakh. And this could reinforce the view that the year could end up as ushering in the concept of affordable housing.

The online real estate portal ‘makaan.com’ which has come out with property trends for the city, in its research publication notes this factor and points out that a high per cent of the property seekers are looking for properties in the range of less than Rs.60 lakh. “Over the past few years, all major developers have been focussing on higher end of the price band which now has fewer takers,” it says while stating that there is a huge oversupply of properties above Rs.1crore.
Movers & Shakers

Trends on property rates brought out by the portal record the prices rising in some areas while in others, they dipping a bit. It categorised Kandakuru, A.S. Rao Nagar, Habsiguda, Medchal, Motinagar, Tellapur and Thimmapur among others as ‘Movers’ that have recorded more than 8 per cent appreciation during the review period, that is June 2008 to August 2008. The ‘Shakers’, locations which have seen more than 6 per cent softening of prices, include Safilguda, Vijayawada highway, Venkatapuram and New Bowenpally.

On the rental front, the demand for rental properties is the maximum in Hyderabad followed by Secunderabad and Greater Hyderabad. And the demand also happens to be maximum from tenants willing to spend less than Rs.10,000 per month followed by the slab of Rs.10,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. A mismatch in demand and supply gets underscored in this aspect with the portal survey putting the supply of properties for rent of less than Rs.10,000 at only 25 per cent against 28 per cent supply of properties for rent in the range of Rs.10,000 to Rs.25,000.

“Due to rising property prices, house owners are increasingly finding it difficult to rent out their properties in the sub-40,000 budget as a result the supply of properties with rentals above Rs.40,000 is more than the demand for those properties in the market,” it says. As part of its nationwide series of events, the Makaan.com organised a two-day property show in the city last week. The show inaugurated by its Business Head Aditya Verma had 20 leading developers showcasing over 100 property options in the range of Rs.5 lakh to Rs.5 crore.

Terms of agreement a vital factor

The rights and obligations of an owner and the tenant are determined as per the terms of the agreement they sign, says senior advocate K. Ravinder Reddi.

What options are available for an aggrieved party when the other refuses to honour a deal in matters of property? We are interested in a house that was up for sale and after negotiations settled for Rs.42 lakh. An advance of Rs.4 lakh was duly paid following a written agreement and it was then agreed that the rest would be paid within three months to close the deal and take occupancy.

The deadline is approaching and we are in the process of raising the necessary amount for the property. Meanwhile, the owner has contacted us and demanded that we pay Rs.3 lakh more than what was actually decided. Else, he wants to return the advance and sell it to others who are willing to pay Rs.45 lakh.

Since an agreement is in place and we are willing to honour it before the agreed date, can we approach the matter legally?

R.Rameshwara Rao.

You are entitled to seek specific performance of the agreement entered into with the owner. The terms of the agreement are important as they reflect the intention of the parties and duties and obligations of the respective parties. Since your question indicates with regard to the time of agreement, the other clauses of the agreement should also be examined for giving proper advice. The rights and obligations of the parties are determined as per the terms of the agreement.

Last year we had given the first floor of our home for rent to a family and an oral agreement was reached for an annual revision of the rental. The family has been nice to us and did not create any problems in this one year. But now, when we asked for a revision of the rental and sought to hike it by 5 per cent, they are refusing. They argue that nothing of that sort was agreed upon and that no agreement on paper exists.

Fact is that we did not enter into any written agreement and this is to our disadvantage. When we suggested that we have an agreement now, they are delaying it. As a landlord, can I now insist them on entering into a written agreement? Is there a way for me to seek a hike in the rental in absence of a written agreement?

Mohd.Yaseen

You did not mention the amount of rent and the age of the building.

The quantum of rent and age of the building are the criteria to approach appropriate forum in case of a dispute by the landlord. It is advisable to have a written agreement in respect of a tenancy since it binds both the parties with regard to the terms agreed upon.

In case of an oral agreement, it becomes word against word. You can demand the tenant to enter into an agreement. You are advised to consult a legal practitioner in solving your problem.

Dubious developers can be nailed

Realtors should not forget that the consumer keeps a watchful eye, says K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy

With unprecedented rise in property prices, non-execution of sale deeds by real estate firms became a prevalent practice in recent years. Many of them are cancelling the agreements by citing reasons which could turn out to be dubious. This situation could be faced with the help of consumer courts and experiences of realty cases are showing that consumers can handle such frauds by being watchful. A case against Narne Estates Pvt. Ltd. provides some of the useful details in this regard.

O. Yella Reddy, a resident of Sainikpuri, bought a plot of 250 sq.yds. for Rs.27,000 in a project of Narne Estates in September, 1999. There was no mention of site development in project brochure or in allotment letter. He made the payment in monthly instalments, but couldn’t get his plot registered. Mr. Reddy shifted his residence from Musheerabad to Sainikpuri and informed the same to the company. After a long pause, he received a letter in February, 2006 saying that his deed was cancelled and the payment made by him was returned.The reason company showed for the cancellation was – Mr. Reddy failed to pay the instalments of development charges albeit continual correspondence from the company. After receiving this letter, Mr. Reddy tried to pay the development charges and also returned the cheque, but both were rejected by the company. His legal notice was firmly replied. Then, he filed a case in Hyderabad District Forum-I for registration of his plot . The company resisted the case. After considering the evidence, the district forum felt that the cancellation was an arbitrary decision and asked the company to register an alternative plot along with a compensation of Rs.50,000 and costs of Rs.2,000. It also asked Mr. Reddy to pay the development charges of Rs.42,550 along with registration charges. Not satisfied with the decision, Narne Estates challenged the verdict in A.P. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (APSCDRC). It argued that there was a breach of contract on part of the consumer. The commission said - it was clear that Narne Estates notified Mr. Yella Reddy about the due of development charges from March 1996 to May 2004. But it sent all the letters to his old address despite notification of his present address. It also observed that while land rate was Rs.30,000, the development charges demanded was Rs.66,581.

At this point, Mr. Reddy submitted the photographs which showed there was no development whatsoever taking place, contrary to the claims of the company. With that, the commission stated that the company cannot collect the fee for the development which it hasn’t done. Mr. Reddy also got the information from HUDA that –nine alternative plots, which the company suggested to register at the time of case, didn’t have approval of HUDA.

With these evidences, the APSCRDC made a major modification in the verdict of district forum. It said allotting an alternative plot will not arise since there was no documentary evidence to show that the allotted plot was sold to a third party. It ordered that the same plot to be registered for Mr. Reddy and also damage charges of Rs.50,000. The time for compliance was four weeks.

Demand for residential properties slowing down in twin cities

Hyderabad (PTI): The demand for residential properties in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad has slowed down by 11 to 12 per cent as compared to the demand in June, a survey by an online real estate company revealed.

The demand for rental properties is maximum in Hyderabad (53 per cent), followed by Secunderabad (30 per cent) and Greater Hyderabad (17 per cent), Makaan.com's Business Head, Aditya Verma said after inaugurating a two-day property exhibition here.

The second such exhibition in Hyderabad showcases over 100-property options with properties, while displaying properties ranging from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs 5 crores.

The company plans to host 15 such property shows across the country this year, Verma added.

On a query, Verma said they did a business of over Rs 30 crores last time around but were expecting the business to Rs 20 crores now.

Registration charges for women reduced

HYDERABAD: The government on Thursday issued orders, reducing the registration charges collected on registration of properties by one per cent in case of women. Accordingly, the total registration charges payable by women hereafter will be only 8.5 per cent as against 9.5 per cent applicable to others.

— Special Correspondent

Workers seek minimum wages

HYDERABAD: Hundreds of workers under the aegis of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged demonstrations in front of MRO offices in the city and suburbs on Thursday demanding the government to solve their problems pertaining to minimum wages, providing houses, ESI and PF facilities.

Workers squatted in front the offices and raised slogans against the government for its failure to solve problems being faced by them for the last few years.

Weaker section housing colony progress reviewed

HYDERABAD: Kiran Dhingra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, along with PK Mohanty, Joint Secretary, Housing, inspected the progress of the weaker section housing colony at Abdullapurmet on the city outskirts here today. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had taken up construction of over 20,000 houses for weaker sections at different places in the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), GHMC Commissioner S P Singh said.

The officials also visited several projects in the city taken up under the JNNURM scheme and reviewed their progress with the municipal administration officials. Later, they inspected the housing colony where 5,000 houses were nearing completion at Abdullapurmet near here and expressed satisfaction over the quality of construction.

As many as 25,000 people would live here and it was proposed to be inaugurated soon, he said.

Don’t pay ad fee to NEPL: GHMC

HYDERABAD: GHMC Commissioner S P Singh today requested the public and owners of shops and other establishments located in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits not to pay any advertisement fee to M/s Nest Enterprises Private Limited (NEPL).

Singh said the NEPL was not entitled to collect or demand any amount towards advertisement fee either from shops or other establishments within the GHMC limits.

If any amount is paid to the NEPL or any agency other than the GHMC, the public will be doing so at its own risk. The GHMC would not be responsible for any consequences, the GHMC Commissioner added.

The NEPL had been authorised to collect advertisement fee from shop owners in the twin cities on behalf of the GHMC for a three-year contract period (2005-08). After the expiry of the contract on March 31, 2008, the GHMC had neither renewed the license nor given it to any other private agency, as the matter was pending in the AP High Court, Singh said. He appealed to the public to pay the advertisement fee as per the schedule of rates at any GHMC office or to authorised GHMC officials and demand an official receipt.

GIS project: GHMC to seek professional help

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to seek the help of professional technocrats to complete its Geographical Information System (GIS) project.

A full time project leader and a part-time consultant are being recruited to take the project to its logical end besides verifying data collected and maps done by the six private agencies.A seven-member committee has been formed to select them and it has the Additional Commissioners of IT, Planning, Works and Finance.

Three outside experts from A.P. Forest Department, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and the Andhra Pradesh State Remote Sensing Application Centre (APSRAC) too have been drafted into the panel.

Taking professionals became imperative as GHMC’s own GIS cell has failed to do the job.

An internal note submitted to the Commissioner and Special Officer C.V.S.K. Sarma has pinpointed how the cell headed by a Chief Information Officer (now moved out) has blundered.

Damning report
“Nothing worthwhile has been delivered by them implies that the cell is in a perpetual hibernation and they are being paid wages for non-performance,” said the report in a damning indictment.

Arguing for reviving the project, the note said that there was “no regular and focused monitoring visible at any stage.”

“The contractors have been left free for themselves and we did not care to validate the data submitted” in July-Sept 2007.

The private agencies “should have completed the work in four months (December 2006) but till date no extension was given to them,” it further stated. Recalling that agency for ex-circle four had ‘vanished’, it said that “no efforts were made to penalise him” or another agency found. “We have been functioning as if there are only six circles and circle four had vanished!”

‘Common thread’
“GIS and IT are the common thread binding all sections of GHMC and mostly used by taxation, town planning and engineering sections. An officer with commitment…may be kept in charge of both initiatives in the interests” of the corporation, it added.

Inexplicably, the officer heading the GIS cell had been allowed to go scot-free, despite this indicting report, thanks to the benevolence of the top boss.

Occupational hazards, a factor to reckon with

The construction industry boom can be seen in almost all the developing countries. The demand is high for supplies such as raw materials, builder hardware, paints, manpower and everything else related to construction. And India being rich in all the resources, it is but natural that the construction industry is the largest employment generation sector next to the agricultural sector.

Currently this sector employs around 30 million construction manpower (CMP) which is expected to grow up to 98 million by 2012, and similarly the market size is predicted to grow from 3,000 billion to 4,800 billion over the same period (source CIDC country report 2005-06).
New hazards

By its very nature, physical conditions at construction sites change radically every day if not every hour and new hazards surface continuously and pose safety and health-related risks to people engaged in work and to the general public living in the areas surrounding the construction site.

Though many hazards are recognised well in advance and precautions are taken against them during the course of operations, a delayed approach can be dangerous and as a result, accidents become inevitable.

The building sector mainly employs migratory, unskilled workers. Being a CMP-intensive sector, a large number of people are exposed to the risk of workplace incidents as there is no formal induction planned by the employers/organisations to train the people about the possible risks and hazards.
Burden on management

Every year thousands of construction workers are losing lives due to accidents at the workplace and many more are ending up with work-related injuries and occupational illnesses. This is a totally unacceptable human and social cost as well as heavy burden on the management. Poor safety and health conditions at work site reduce the employment potential of workers and weaken their competitiveness in our economy.

Generally whether in the past or in the present, be it at a construction site or in a factory or even for that matter at home, the importance of safety comes into play only after the damage / accident has occurred. However, prevention is better than cure, and so the industry should aim at creating safe working hours in a safer environment.

Effective management of worker safety and health protection is a decisive factor in reducing the extent and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses and their related costs. In fact, an effective safety and health management system forms the basis of good worker protection. This can save both time and money – two most valuable commodities in this fast-paced world.
Risk factors

With rapid urbanisation and boom in the building sector, construction is happening at a very rapid pace. Mainly the following activities pose a great risk to the workers and the general public in the nearby areas:

1. Blasting activities

2. Working at heights

3. Working with scaffolding

4. Heavy vehicle movement

5. Unskilled workers

6. Construction power utilisation.

7. Sociological effects

8. Environmental effects

9. Occupational Health effects
Ecological imbalance

Rapid urbanisation at times causes ecological imbalance. While creating good infrastructure, one should follow environmental friendly processes like rainwater harvesting, development of greenbelts, etc.

While mobilising huge labour force of the construction workers one needs to build temporary camps for their stay. Generally we do not see any hygiene in these camps and by virtue of this very lack of hygiene, epidemics spread and cause considerable nuisance in the adjoining areas. Also these epidemics can cause delays in the project schedule.

Providing proper living conditions to workers at camps would definitely increase morale of the workforce and result in better productivity.

Kotak, Sun-Apollo buy stakes in Janapriya projects

At a time when equity and debt deals involving real estate companies are dwindling, realty-focused investment funds Kotak Realty Funds Group, or KRFG, and Sun-Apollo Ventures Llc. have bought stakes in two ventures of Janapriya Engineers Syndicate Ltd, a Hyderabad Real estate builder of affordable homes.KRFG, belonging to the Kotak Mahindra group, focuses on real estate investment opportunities with $800 million (Rs3,896 crore) of funds. Sun-Apollo is a joint venture between the Khemka business family and global real estate investor Apollo Real Estate Advisors with $630 million of funds. “Kotak Realty has picked up 50% holding in one of our special purpose vehicles Janapriya Projects coming up with an integrated township of 5 million sq. ft over 32 acres of land at Kapra in the outskirts of Hyderabad,” said K. Ravinder Reddy, chairman and managing director of Janapriya. Other deal terms were not disclosed. Construction at the Kapra project will begin in six months and will be completed over 36 months, resulting in an estimated valuation of around Rs1,000 crore on its completion, said Reddy. Janapriya has entered an arrangement with Kotak Realty, vesting the right of first refusal with the investor for equity stakes in new housing construction special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, of the Hyderabad firm with a cap of Rs350 crore on investment over the next five years, said Reddy.

Chaluvadi Srinivas, chief financial officer at the construction group, said it expects to announce two more township projects through SPVs in the next six months or so. Kotak Realty’s director of investments, Vikas Chimakurthy, said, his firm “found significant scope for growth in the low and medium housing construction sector”. A study by industry lobby Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and consulting firm Ernst and Young last month showed growing interest among real estate developers and private equity firms in affordable housing projects. Sun-Apollo has entered into an agreement with Janapriya to buy a majority holding in an SPV Janapriya Townships developing a township project at Madinaguda near Hyderabad’s new international airport at Shamshabad on the city’s outskirts. When contacted, a Sun-Apollo executive, who was involved in the Janapriya deal, confirmed its investment. This executive, who preferred anonymity, declined to reveal the terms.

Srinivas, Janapriya’s CFO, said Sun-Apollo had invested more than Rs75 crore for a more than 65% stake in the venture. The construction work on this project, with 1.5 million sq. ft of built-up area coming up over 14 acres of land, has begun and the project is expected to be completed over the next three months, said Janapriya executive director K. Kranti Kiran Reddy. “Though several private equity firms had shown keen interest in picking up stakes in the company at the enterprise level, we did not favour it since it involved significant transaction costs for transferring some of the unattractive lands and properties to other group companies,” he said. Janapriya, which has built 21,000 homes and at least 20 million sq. ft of residential and commercial spaces over the last two decades in Hyderabad and Bangalore, says it has a land bank of around 120 acres in the two cities valued at Rs656 crore. It also has an additional 100 acres of land in these two cities valued at around Rs537 crore under joint development agreements.

Townships have no land

Twenty-two satellite townships planned to be set up around the Outer Ring Road have remained on paper three years after the erstwhile Hyderabad Urban Development Authority announced them. The reasons are said to be many: Slump in the real estate market; problems in land acquisition and widespread agitations by farmers and political parties.Efforts by the government to rope in private parties and get the townships started in the public private partnership mode also fell through, with real estate giants keeping away. The HMDA, the successor of Huda, tried its best to raise money by auctioning land but builders and developers stayed away.

The townships were planned at Medchal, Goudavelli, Dommara Pochampally, Bowrampet, Aliyapur, Sultanpur, Khardanur, Paatighanpur, Edulanagulapalli, Kollur, Balapur, Nadargul, Thorrur, Munaganuru, Kuntluru, Korremul, Rampalli, Cheryala, Dharmaram and Shamirpet. With land owners, particularly farmers, objecting to land acquisition by the HMDA, the officials announced a change in some sites. The new sites are at Mankhal, Adibatla, Raviryal, Srinagar, Turka-yamjal, Injapur, Tellapur and Gacchibowli where the government has acquired about 3,000 acres of land.

Work was supposed to start on these projects within six months after they were announced but not a brick has been set till date. The government announced that it will come up with a township policy which would propose handsome compensation to land owners, particularly farmers, from the benefits to be accrued out of township projects."The government is sitting on the policy. Unless the government announces the policy, townships cannot be started," sources said. Mr Sridhar Chitturi, officer on special duty (OSD), on the Outer Ring Road, HMDA, told this correspondent that it would be feasible to start work on townships after the new policy is announced. According to him, the policy is likely to offer land owners 50 per cent share in the benefits accruing from townships.

HMDA to sell 82 more plots

Unperturbed by the poor response to its earlier auction drives, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority is preparing for a fresh round of auctions. This time the HMDA has decided to auction a few more sites along with those which were not bought earlier. In September, the HMDA put up as many as 99 plots for e-auction of which tenders only 17 were finalised.

Now, HMDA is planning to sell 82 plots, including some new plots. The new sites have been added to the list as a special attraction to woo builders and developers who have not been evincing keen interest in investing in real estate sector off late. Plots up for grabs are located at Nandgiri Hills layout, Asifnagar new layout, Huda Techno Enclave, Madhapur (SectorI), Ramchandrapuram (chandanagar), Tellapur Residential Complex, Nallagandla Residential Complex, Vansthalipuram Residential Complex, Miyapur Residential Complex, Asifnagar(old) Residential complex and Mushk Mahal Residential Complex.

“This time we are adding additional infrastructure features to the land area and auctioning those plots so that people can apply tenders in large numbers. Earlier, plots were auctioned without any infrastructure specifications which yielded a very poor response. The formalities of on-line auctioning will be completed in two days before opening on-line auction in the coming week.

R-Infra plans Rs 2,500-cr debt mop-up

Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra) plans to raise Rs 2,500 crore as loan in this financial year for a real estate project in Hyderabad, a railway line linking Delhi airport and the city and for road projects across the country.The company is in talks with a slew of banks, including IDBI Bank, IIFCL and Axis Bank, for raising the fund at a time when credit crunch has put pressure on interest rates."The company has a healthy balance sheet with a cash reserve of Rs 10,000 crore, which could help raise 80 per cent of the debt for projects at the special purpose vehicle (SPV) level. Considering the situation, the interest would be slightly higher for the loan, but for us, it is not the concern. Our focus is to execute projects before the time," Lalit Jalan, the chief executive officer and director of R-Infra, told Business Standard.

The company plans to achieve financial closure for its Delhi airport rail-link project and the Hyderabad trade tower project before December this year, while the Parbati-Koldam transmission project will take three months for tying up funds.The company, formerly known as Reliance Energy, requires Rs 30,000 crore in the next five years for execution of its ongoing projects.R-Infra's nine projects, including roads, a metro rail and real estate projects, will require Rs 16,000 crore, while power transmission and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects will need Rs 9,000 crore. Power distribution projects will require about Rs 5,000 crore, said Jalan.

R-Infra has Rs 5,400 crore in debt at present, including external commercial borrowings (ECBs) of Rs 3,500 crore.The company has invested Rs 5,000 crore of its total Rs 10,000-crore reserves in inter-corporate deposits (ICDs). It has also parked about Rs 4,000 crore in overseas assets, while the remaining Rs 1,000 crore is invested in domestic ICDs and fixed maturity plans, said Jalan.Through a buyback of its shares, the promoter has so far increased its stake in the company to 36.5 per cent at an investment of Rs 650 crore. It still has Rs 150 crore at its disposal to buy back more shares. "We have already got the shareholders' approval to invest Rs 1,200 crore for the second round of buyback," said Jalan.

This is ‘real’ estate, no place for sentiment

The real estate prices that soared in and around Visakhapatnam, spurred by the Telangana sentiment two years ago, have more or less stagnated.

After the 2004 general elections, the State began promoting Visakhapatnam as Tier Two IT destination. The Pharma City, Brandix Apparel city and IT SEZs have spurred demand. But then, after peaking till about a year ago, it plateaud.

The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority has focused on the Madhurawada area, the IT hub. Though a number of big names in the real estate have bought land in VUDA's auctions, no significant development has been taken up.

"Had that taken place, the demand would be on," says K. Subba Raju, president of Apartment Builders' Association. Industry-watchers admit that Telangana sentiment did jack prices in Vizag, but the progress has not kept pace with the projections.

"Now the natural strengths of the area for development of software isplaying a major role ," says N.C. Saran, Director of SatyaVani Projects and Consultants Pvt Ltd.

G. V. PRASADA SARMA
Visakhapatnam

The issue of Telangana, whenever it took centrestage in last few years, has sent the real estate into a tizzy. From a mere pronouncement of the issue to electoral battles fought over it, the subject ended up casting shadows of worry on the industry. Animated debates on the possible effects have been doing the rounds ever since.

However, now though the political scene is warming up to a protracted electoral battle and Telugu Desam Party came out with its stand on Telangana, the real estate industry is no longer interested in the matter. Its cup of woes is brimming, what with near stagnation in the growth and happenings in far-off US creating troubles here.

Developers and builders admit that the Telangana issue was not worrying them as it did earlier. The property prices, which had boomed , have stabilised to a large extent . “Speculators have dried up from the market and only genuine home buyers are left, so these issues are not going to matter much,” avers Anand Reddy, PBEL Executive Director.

Earlier, a small statement from TRS would send the industry into jitters but now even the TDP’s major decision on Telangana fails to have an effect, he adds.

“If the industry was in boom phase, it would have mattered. But already we are in trouble and this is not going to affect us any further,” says C. Prabhakar Rao, president, Greater Hyderabad Builders Federation President.

Unrealistic growth and lack of fundamentals propelled the boom but its effects were being felt now. “There was a time when the T-factor would shake us badly, but not now. The real estate is already faced with difficult time,” he says.

Biotechnology to drive office space market

Yet again, another growing sector in the country will push the demand for commercial real estate northwards. This time, it is the biotechnology industry, which is expected to contribute approximately 140 million square feet to the office demand within India by 2010 as per a recent study by Cushman & Wakefield. Even though the country currently holds a minimal market share of 2 per cent of the global biotechnology market, it has immense potential to develop as one of the major players by 2010 and is expected to generate US$ 5 billion in revenue, creating employment for one million people by 2010 through its products as well as services.

Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and Mumbai are being seen as emerging destinations for the setting up of biotech facilities and scored considerably high on the parameters with each city having distinct fundamentals/ factors driving the growth.

The study conducted by Cushman & Wakefield across 40 cities in India to evaluate the top 15 locations which have or would witness growth in the biotechnology sector was based on various parameters related to three crucial factors that affect the industry viz. investment environment, social and physical infrastructure as well as polices and framework. These cities hold a proven potential and have sustained the confidence of corporate entities operating under the sector. They offer better infrastructural facilities and a talent pool, the two most important factors in setting up a biotech facility.

Sanjay Dutt and Anurag Mathur, Joint Managing Directors, Cushman & Wakefield India said, “The biotech story is still in its infancy in India, but it appears poised to witness a successful replication of the IT/ITeS precedent. The location preference is also following a similar trend as in IT with most of the biotechnology activities currently concentrated in southern India; however, a strong momentum towards western and northern India is anticipated.”

In addition to these emerging cities, there are a number of locations that have the potential to grow in this sector like Indore, Banasthali, Alwar, Sotanala, Shimla, Bhopal and Silliguri. Although some of these cities have not witnessed much development in the past, there have been proposed physical infrastructure initiatives in the form of biotech parks and SEZs as well as policies that have been proposed or implemented to improve the location advantage.

The biotechnology sector in India has grown exponentially over the last few years with the market size reaching INR 85 billion (US$ 2.08 billion) in 2006-07 and revenues registering a growth of 31 per cent over last year. To cater to this burgeoning demand from the biotech sector (that is expected to be an integral part of the next boom in India), there have been a considerable amount of investments and infrastructural developments during the last few years.

At present there are six operational biotech parks in India and another 27 are proposed across the country. The highest number of planned biotech parks is in Gujarat followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. In addition, there are 24 approved biotech and allied SEZs being planned that will spread across the country covering a total area of approximately 1,043 acres. Maharashtra has the highest number of SEZs approved followed by Karnataka.

Slump in IT sector hits ‘real’ hard

It has started. And it could end up lingering for a while much to the chagrin of many. The much talked about IT slowdown has begun and the recent financial crisis in the global markets has only made matters worse. And one sector that looks at the developments with a certain degree of apprehension is the real estate sector.

The sector which received a push from the IT boom in the country could also feel the heat from the sudden slowdown. Young IT techies and executives are no longer looking at investing in real estate. For many youngsters, luxury villas and duplex apartments now seem like a distant dream.
Wait and watch policy

Sumeet Sharma and his wife Spoorthi have dropped plans to buy a duplex on the city outskirts. “Right now, our first priority is to make sure that we don’t get laid off,” says Sumeet who works in the IT sector. “We were planning to avail home loan for a duplex apartment, but with interest rates fluctuating so wildly, we decided to wait and watch,” adds Spoorthi.

“The slowdown has suddenly made everyone from a fresher to someone in the managerial level insecure,” says Rajesh Kumar, project leader in an IT firm. Major investment decisions are being withheld as the first priority right now is to make sure you don’t lose your job, he adds.

Others like Brijesh Kumar and M. Aditya feel that the inflated land prices along with property rate have never been within the reach of a middle class person. “True that a large percentage of IT employees invest in real estate, but then a major chunk of the same sector also belongs to the middle class. It’s only the mid-career employees who even dare to invest in real estate,” says Brijesh, who has been working for a top US based IT company since four years.

The overall mood in the IT sector is that of apprehension. “Every week someone or the other I know is losing his/her job. And companies have stopped recruiting too, so right now all that I am want is financial security and stability,” says Srikanth Parthasarthy, a programmer.

So, does the slowdown in IT sector mean that the prices of property would fall? “It is true that the slowdown has affected the real estate sector in the city, but it doesn’t mean that the property rates will fall,” says B.V.P. Raju, CEO, ‘ www.ghar4u.com’, a city based real estate portal. “Over 40 per cent of buyers are IT professionals; the slowdown will have an impact on the real estate scenario. The natural reaction is to defer investment decisions in property, retail shopping and other goods,” he adds.

According to him, the rising construction and labour costs will discourage the builder to reduce the property costs. Inflated land prices are also one of the prime reasons for inability to reduce the rates. “Why would a land owner sell his land for a lesser price? Need has to be the only reason,” he adds.

Varun Naidu, who works for a construction company says that projects stalling is the biggest fear facing builders. “We are finding it hard to convince people to invest in property now,” he says. “Projects stalling mean that the supply goes down. And in real estate there is always a latent demand for housing”, adds Raju.

With the salaries in other sector considerably going up, like in Biotech and Civil, builders and real estate agents hope that these sectors would come to their rescue. But the fact remains that the slump in IT could end up leaving builders high and dry, force many to shift their focus from high end luxury houses to affordable housing that is within the reach of the vast middle class.

Reliance Infra plans to raise funds in phases

In a tight credit market where real estate developers are scurrying for funds to launch their projects on time, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd plans to raise funds in multiple rounds for its 100-storeyed trade tower and business district project on the outskirts of Hyderabad. A new player in real estate, Reliance Infrastructure, part of the Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, needs about Rs4,000 crore in the first phase to pull off a large part of the project, which will be executed at a cumulative cost of Rs8,000 crore in the next three-five years.“We will have to raise the money in two-three phases from banks, though we intend to develop the project in one go,” said a senior official of Reliance Infrastructure in charge of the Hyderabad project, who is not authorized to speak to the press. Last November, Reliance Infra, which is a two-thirds partner in the project that is to be implemented through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), won the bid. The other stakeholders in the venture are Bangalore-based Sobha Developers Ltd (technical partners) and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corp.

with 23% and 11% stake, respectively. The project is the business group’s first venture into the real estate, with the second being a mixed-use project planned on about 220 acres, which it got by winning the contract to build a metro rail line between the New Delhi railway station and the international airport. Considering the current market downturn, the SPV has decided to lease, rather than sell, the tower, which will be the central attraction in the 77-acre project. “Leasing out space is much more flexible when property prices are on a downward slope and you don’t relinquish ownership rights. However, we will lease out the space in phases in the next few years,” said the same official. With capital values per square foot touching Rs6,000, building residences in the tower has been ruled out. Hospitality and commercial office space will be built instead. Construction costs will also double from the 60th floor upwards. These will be resistant to high wind velocity. Superior quality of steel is required to construct such buildings.

However, 10 months after winning the bid, construction is yet to start and the project is still at the planning stage finalizing the design and appointing project consultants. There is no hint at when construction will take off. An August office space report by Cushman and Wakefield Inc., a property advisory firm, said Hyderabad witnessed fresh office space supply of 755,000 sq. ft in the second quarter, about 12.5% of the expected 6 million sq. ft supply this year. Deferred pre-commitments, primarily attributed to supply overleaping absorption during the quarter, indicated a situation of oversupply. Though vacancy rates in the city have been low, there are areas with large unleased concentration of grade B stock of office space, the report said. Pawan Swamy, managing director (markets) of Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, a property consultancy firm, said, “Hyderabad will be over-built in the next six-eight months with a lot of fresh supply coming in. Though leasing offers better returns, selling is easier in the current market. Only developers who can hold on to their properties can afford to lease out space, but the good part is that the value of a property is higher after you lease it.” “It is a challenge to put up 4 million sq. ft of space for lease in the current market situation because of a demand-supply disbalance. Hyderabad is also going to face a problem of over-supply soon, with a lot of development happening,” said Santosh Martin, chief executive officer of Bangalore-based Divyasree Developers Pvt. Ltd, which is primarily into office space and has a hospitality venture coming up in Hyderabad.

Pre-EMI interest waiver lures buyers

Several builders in the city are coming forward with ‘pre-EMI interest waiver’ schemes to attract buyers and to beat the glut in housing sector. Usually, once the bank disburses the loan, the pre-EMI interest has to be borne by the customer. This adds to the financial burden of the customer who may already be paying a high rent for the place where he is staying. Builders are now volunteering to pay the pre-EMI interest on behalf of the customer till he or she possesses the flat. The EMI payment of the customer starts after possession. With sales of flats decreasing and prices showing little signs of cooling down, many builders such as Manjeera Constructions, Indu Projects, Aliens Groups and Parsvnath are offering such schemes to boost sales.

They have tied-up with banks such as ICICI, HDFC, IDBI, Axis Bank and Birla Home Finance for this. “Of the three categories--Rs 40 lakh and below, Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1crore and Rs 1 crore and above--the middle category is the hardest hit,” says Mr Yoganand, chairman and managing director of Manjeera Constructions Ltd. “We are concentrating on this sector.” He adds that the firm was giving customers of this category a two-year pre-EMI interest holiday. “With this, they can book the flat just by paying 15 per cent of the amount and take a bank loan for the remaining 85 per cent,” he adds. “And for the first two years they need not pay pre-EMI interest. After two years, when they get the property, they can start paying their EMI straightaway.”

Builders say such schemes have pushed their sales up by 10 per cent to 25 per cent and are also enabling them to finish projects at a faster pace. Buyers are also finding it attractive since interest rates of housing loans have risen to 12 percent from the earlier seven percent. “This will help reduce the burden on customers,” says Mr D. Kiran Kumar, marketing manager of Parsvnath Developers.

The penchant for things of the past

Plush sofas, innovative lighting system, steel furniture, glass doors and many other interior design objects have hit the markets. But when it comes to giving that classic and appealing look to a house, office or even a hotel perhaps, nothing comes in as handy as those good old and antique items.

But finding an old item or an authentic antique piece in twin cities is not as easy as signing an interior designer to decorate your house. This is where Moghal Arts Decoration House at Banjara Hills Road No. 1 caters to your needs.

Be it wall clocks, porcelain articles, chandeliers, coins, old photographs, furniture, wooden chest and above all gramophones and records, a visit to this small shop on the ever busy Banjara Hills gives one the pleasure of making a journey into the past.

“We have been in this business since three decades and have lots of collection, particularly different furniture, cupboards and gramophones. Our source of collection are the nawabs, jagirdars, tahsildars and other eminent families in twin cities and surrounding districts,” says Mirza Azhar Ali Baig, owner of the shop.
Range and rate

While the clocks collection date back to 1940’s and cost from Rs.2,500 to Rs.6,000, pocket watches range from Rs.1,000 to Rs.5,000, dining tables costs from Rs.8,000 to Rs.20,000 (the more the intricate carvings, the more is price), Mughal paintings made by water colours cost about Rs.15, 000 per piece.

Mr. Baig claims that majority of the items sold at his outlet are four decades-old and some date back to pre-Independence era.

The good thing about this outlet is, that apart from offering old and antique items, they also take up repair works of old gramophone player needles, 78 RPM records, furniture, pocket watches, clocks etc. Ask him as to how to recognise an authentic antique or old item, pat comes the reply saying that one needs to have an eye. “While checking for furniture, normally we look for the style adopted in fixing the joints and based on carpentry, the period of the furniture is judged. For porcelain products, the style used in naming the place of the products origin, the period is judged,” he explains.

Mr. Baig says items at his outlet are used in film and television serials shootings on hire system.

He also works as a commission agent for selling and buying old and antique items on behalf of the owners. “Kharidne jao to milta nahi our bechne jao to biktha nahi, usi ka naam antique piece,” says Mr. Baig even as he continues to adjust the products in the display cupboards.

Rs. 1,000-crore contract to TCS for quicker passports

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday said passports would be issued in just three days, once police verification was complete, with the awarding of a Rs. 1,000-crore contract to Tata Consultancy Services.

The project would gradually be rolled out countrywide, with citizens of Bangalore and Chandigarh being the first beneficiaries from June next. It is expected to be completed by January 2010.

Passports under the Tatkal (instant) scheme would be delivered in just one day. Apart from the reliance on software to bring the entire process online, the number of passport counters would be increased from 345 to 1,250, said official sources at a ceremony held to award the contract to TCS. This is the latest initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to simplify issuance of passports. It earlier raised the fees for various services, reduced the number of requirements, pared the application form, enabled online tracking of the passport and permitted select police stations to accept application forms.

“The sovereign and fiduciary function of granting and issuing passport remains with the MEA and TCS will be our technology and operations partner in this project,” said Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said.

Mr. Menon said the project was imperative because as against 50 lakh passports issued last year, the Ministry expected the number of applicants to double in the next three years.
Technology partner

The software company would provide only support functions such as improving citizen interface, managing the technology backbone, call centres, training and change management. The government would continue to exercise all sovereign and security-related functions in the issuance process. Security aspects were fully taken care of in the project with the government owning all strategic assets including the data centre, database and the application software, Mr. Menon said.

The MEA has started issuing e-passports, also known as biometric passports, in the diplomatic and official categories since June 2008, and full rollout of e-passports in the ordinary category will be done by September 2009. The e-passports will be much safer against forgery and will further facilitate the movement of their holders through the border points equipped with e-passport reading machines.

“After implementation of the project, which will be managed end to end by TCS, the ministry expects that the process of issuing a new passport will be completed in three working days while passports issued under the Tatkal scheme will be dispatched the same day, subject to address and police verification of applicants,” explained TCS CEO and managing director S. Ramadorai. The TCS would open 77 new fully computerised passport seva kendras across the country by January 2010.

Communication between the police and the passport office would also be done online and a secure network is being created. Bangalore and Chandigarh would get the new kendras by June 2009 on a pilot basis.

Bend it with bamboo

Break the monotony of the concrete jungle and the buzz of modern day living. Into your living rooms, usher in the peace of the rural side, the pristine beauty of nature and the creativity of the artisans.

Rich offerings to decorate the home with come from Tripura in the form of bamboo. A riot of colours is unveiled for paintings and wall hangings and the same come with the rural portrayals. The hues are rich and the themes just aesthetic and capture th e day-to-day activity of the villages and also the nature’s bounty in full. With right backdrops to suit any living room and done on bamboo, these décor pieces at the recent expo at Exhibition Grounds, Nampally were priced at Rs.100 each. And then, a little bargain too is not frowned upon on these prices.

Sure to give a new touch to the décor, smaller paintings with a wide and varied depictions including a series on gods also was hot seller during the event. Fans to decorate walls, both circular and semi-circular spreading out beautifully with a splash of colours too happen to be an ideal hanging. They came at Rs.160 apiece. In bamboo came tastefully constructed Taj Mahal and also a line-up of smaller table pieces . A cute little hand mirror with thin pieces of bamboo at Rs.15 was a take away. “We are from Agartala and bring our products regularly for different craft and furniture exhibitions held in the city. Each piece is hand crafted and done with patience and perseverance till desired effect is got”, says Sanjay Debnath of the stall.

The Saras expo at Necklace Road, open till October 12 also offers bamboo artefacts.

Earthen beauties for an ethnic touch

Indian homes which had moved from the old world warmth to contemporary design features with a clinical ambience are now making a full circle with modern designs meeting old concepts that create spaces and gives us the best of both worlds.

And pottery and terracotta art is one that is helping this transition. Its ability to take one closer to an ambience of the homes of yore even in the most modern of the duplex apartments is one of its most appealing features. And pottery is one art that helps us remain a little closer to nature. Whether it be the terracotta lantern that you can hang near the entrance of your home or the mud wind chimes which move with the slightest of breeze, the options are endless.
Choicest spread

If you are the kind who likes the rustic, ethnic look of terracotta, then you should head straight to the bustling Habsiguda-Tarnaka road. The whole stretch has hawkers squatted on sidewalk with their varied product range. And the best pieces of art can be found here that promise to add that ethnic, a la village touch to the house.

Most of the artefacts are from Rajasthan and a few from Bihar. Different types of vases, which are not too heavy to carry are available here. The stool with an elephant carving on it is also an ideal piece for the house. Or choose the plate shaped bowl (also known as ‘uruli’), pour water into this and decorate it with flowers and voila! You have the perfect showpiece for your living room. Terracotta is also a natural choice to decorate your gardens. From the birdbaths to huge earthern bowls with exquisite designs or the motifs of animals and birds add to the beauty of the patch of green at home. One can also choose from a wide range of pitchers imparting a look of tradition to the homes. If you are a lover of music go in for the mud shaped ‘veena’ or sitar in different sizes from small to large. The clay used is multi-layered one which is moulded into different shapes and then baked in a traditional oven. Most of the items are light-weight while a few vases are heavier.

The price range of these terracotta art pieces are much lesser than those that are bought from a mall or at an exhibition. And if you are an expert haggler, then the hawkers are sure to reduce the price by at least Rs.20 to Rs.30.

The vases are priced at anywhere between Rs.250 and upwards, while the ‘urulis’ or the earthern bowls are priced from Rs.180 and more depending on its size. The elephant shaped stool with a pitcher on top comes for a cool Rs.550 while the hanging lamps are priced in the range of Rs.50 to Rs.100. And with Deepavali round the corner, you can choose the lamps for Rs.45. So, the next time you want terracotta, you know where to go!

A home in sylvan settings

Suburban satellite townships help to make this a reality.

Towering trees, lush gardens, gurgling streams and a peaceful home in the midst of it all. If you share this dream of an ideal home tucked away in the lap of nature, this one is just for you.

Suburban satellite townships, a novel trend catching up in the real estate scene of Kerala, is all about realising this dream of a home located safely away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

And it is not just the gardens and the greenery that matter.

Promoted as eco townships, these independent living spaces are designed to offer hi-tech, luxurious facilities in eco-aesthetic surroundings.

What comes along with the environment-friendly settings are world-class residential areas equipped with most modern amenities and infrastructure.

Grandtech is developing an eco township at Pazhakutty, near Peroorkada, around 12 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The Grandtech Garden City will have 200 luxury bungalows and 450 luxury apartments.

As the idea of eco township demands development of environmentally sensitive infrastructure, the thrust will be on energy conservation practices.

The zero-waste, zero-pollution concept of these suburban townships necessitates recycling facilities. “Meeting all the environmental parameters will be the main priority when it comes to developing an eco-friendly township. Also, 50 percent of the total property of the township will be open spaces maintained in their natural ambience,” said N. Subrahmanian, general manager marketing of Mir Realtors, which is developing an eco-friendly township along the State highway at Nedumangad on the outskirts of the city.

SANGEETHA UNNITHAN

Marketing ‘Made in India’ brand

Constru India’s tenth expo aims to showcase Indian expertise in construction industry

One of the biggest construction shows of the country, Constru India 2008 came to the city with its curtain raiser to offer a preview to the industry on what they can expect from this year’s exhibition scheduled to be held in Mumbai.

The exhibition which was started to highlight the progress made so far in infrastructure construction sector and the policy initiatives by the Government will be conducting its tenth edition this year. It aims to showcase the progress made in the country to help strengthen ‘Made in India’ image for Indian technologies, expertise and services along with new technologies.

The three-day event at Mumbai will bring together business leaders from public and private sectors along with senior officials from Central and State governments to address the development of infrastructure construction sector. Speaking at the curtain-raiser here, Avneet Singh, vice-president, Winmark Services said, “Constru India is the most anticipated exhibition for infrastructure and real estate companies in the country as well as abroad”. The Jindal Steel and Power assistant vice-president (marketing) R. S. Bhatia described it as an effort to bring together the industry as well as all the other stakeholders onto a common platform. “This is the third year we are participating in the event and I am proud to see that every year the event has become bigger with more representatives from India and abroad”. Added P.V. Chandramohan, president-Technical, Navayuga Engineering Company, “Constru India is a forum that gives a panorama of the construction industry in the country”.
Case study

A case study on the airports in the country would be presented at the main event and would deal with redevelopments of airports in the country as well as address other infrastructure requirements around the same.

T.L.S.

Safety first, blast next

The use of explosives in construction work is both an art as well as a science. It is a practical art which takes many years of experience to wholly appreciate the finer points of handling and usage.

As a science, it requires considerable engineering knowledge of explosives and their effect on a variety of materials.

There is often a need to use explosives for site development (to remove rock depositions before starting actual construction activities).

If one does not handle explosives with utmost care, it may lead to serious work-related injuries and at times can lead to fatalities also.

The laws of our country that deal with the usage of explosives are very stringent. With construction going on in urban areas, we have very little margin for error.

While working with explosives we need to give attention to the following:

Obtain valid licenses for possession, storage, transportation and usage of explosives;

Licensed vehicle for transportation of explosives;

Never store detonators and explosives in the same container;

Only an authorised person should be allowed to handle explosives.
Timing

People often conduct blasting operations at their convenience and cause discomfort to the local residents.

Generally blasting operations need to be conducted during noon, during lunch or in the evening before sunset. But we even observe blasting operations being conducted in the early hours of the day.

While conducting blasting operations, one need to ascertain that throw of rock (fragments) is controlled. We call this controlled blasting.

This is done by using engineering controls viz. delay detonators / relay cords and by covering the blast area with proper tyre mats etc.

Also it is advised that one needs to inform the local residents about the timing of blasting operations.

Often people don’t use detonating fuses as it increases the cost of operation marginally. By adopting this method, management of misfires becomes relatively easy.

Also we need to ensure that blasting induced earth vibrations are not transmitted to the adjoining habitation by creating a cut off zone / free face.
Precautions

1. Do not use defective explosives, explosives known/ suspected to be defective.

2. Public Relations: to avoid complaints it is essential that all persons within a reasonable distance are advised beforehand of what is going to take place, when it’s going to take place, and what signals will be used prior to each blast and the safety precautions to be taken when this is happening.

3. System and control of debris: plan ahead for a systematic work pattern so that holes can be set to a definite pattern, marked, and drilled to fixed lines. Accurate tamping with an adequate quantity of good stemming material can minimise some of the fly rock.

4. Log Book: it is advisable to keep a log book which should be of a stout note or exercise book type. In it record the date, time, location, layout or pattern depths, size of charges, detonators used, type of material, weather and direction of wind, cover used and the results obtained.

5. Prevention of fly rock or debris: it is the responsibility of the construction blaster to ensure that no undue scatter or damage to property occurs when blasting is carried out.

6. Size of danger area: it has to be cleared of personnel before a blast will depend on such things as:

(a) The size of the blast;

(b) The type of blast;

(c) The covering of the blast area;

(d) The direction and strength of any wind;

(e) The nature of the material to be blasted, such as steel or cast iron, which may fly a long distance.

7. Vibration damage area: there is a long history of damage attributed to, rightly or wrongly, explosive generated vibrations.

Usually complaints are received concerning damage to brick work, fibrous plaster, glass, and roofing tiles and are often magnified.

Seismologists have proved that structural damage is due to particle velocity rather than particle displacement or acceleration.

Therefore it is the speed with which the ground under the structure is moved by the passing seismic or ground waves that determines the possibility of damage.

8. Warning signals: a system of warning signals should be used on construction work.

Danger notices with the blasting signal code should be erected on all roads and tracks leading to the blasting area site.

9. Sentries: before a blast is fired, guards or sentries with red flags should be posted at strategic points and entries to the area, to prohibit any person from entering the danger area until after the blast is fired and an all-clear is given.

10. Misfires: with few exceptions, misfires are traceable to poor workmanship, ineptitude on the part of those preparing loading and firing of explosive charges, or failure to adhere strictly to standards of good practice.

11. Pre-drilling precautions: no hole shall be drilled in any face till the face within the radius of 1 m from the intended hole has been cleaned and washed down and any cut-offs or butts have been thoroughly washed down and examined by two persons, and found not to contain explosives.

12. Shattered ground: if the ground around the misfire has been shattered, the relieving hole method should not be used.

In this case the ground around the misfire must be carefully cleared till the explosives are uncovered.

This must be done cautiously by following the wires or fuses down to the charge, removing the last few inches of cover by hand.

13. Misfire personnel: the construction blaster must investigate and carry out the misfire treatment.

It is only when we stringently follow all the processes will we able to guarantee complete construction site safety during blasting.

ASWATHA NARAYANA
SENIOR MANAGER-HSE

MAYTAS INFRA LTD

Foray into a long-winding concrete future?

In what could probably a first of its kind initiative in the city, Aparna Enterprises, this week, did the largest concrete pour of 8,500 cubic metres or a project of Dakshin Infrastructure in the Financial District at Gachibowli.

It was a massive seamless concreting work for the raft foundation that was completed in six days and according to the company, is the record performance among all the Ready Mix Concrete companies in the city.

For the structure that is going to stand 22 floors tall and accommodate a hotel and IT space, Aparna used about 3,600 metric tonnes of cement for the concreting work and a large fleet of transit mixers maintained the continuous supply of concrete totalling more than 20,000 metric tonnes in weight to the construction site.

“It was a massive concreting job and demanded lot of planning and logistics. And the best part is we could do it in these days of cement shortages,” says T. Chandra Sekhar, Director - Materials & QA, Aparna Constructions. More than 150 personnel and a fleet of 40 vehicles were involved in the task.

Five pumps were deployed at different locations and were not stopped, except for maintenance, during the entire six days of operation.

The concreting work project for Ch. Marthanda Rao & Company was put at Rs.3.50 crore. By the conventional manual way, the work would have taken any where up to 45 days, the company officials say.

It was a challenge and to make it happen, lot of coordination and planning went into the task, says Mr. Chandra Sekhar.

Aparna Enterprises Limited is a building products company manufacturing PVC window and door systems, Ready Mix concrete, concrete blocks, bricks and pavers.

APGenco given short shrift again

HYDERABAD: The State government has once again sidelined the AP Power Generation Corporation vis-À-vis a private company in respect of setting up new power projects. On an application by Reliance Power of the Anil Ambani group, an extent of 1,813 acres of land near Krishnapatnam in Nellore district belonging to APGenco has been transferred to the former. The Genco purchased this land for expansion of its proposed 1600 MW power station at a later stage by another 4,000 MW.

Reliance Power sought the land for the same purpose. It projected a plan to expand the 4,000-MW ultra mega power project, whose execution contract it had secured from the Union government in a competitive bidding, by another 4,000 MW.
Blow to status

The transfer of this land to Reliance Power is seen as yet another blow to the Genco and a dilution of its standing as the leader in the power generation sector in Andhra Pradesh. The 1,813 acres originally belonged to the Genco, but the State government had transferred 954 acres to APIIC.Both Genco and APIIC have now been asked to sell these lands to Reliance Power at the rate of Rs. 9 lakh an acre.
Earlier ‘shock’

The government had earlier administered a shock to Genco by handing over the 520 MW to M/s BPL.

Soon after coming to power, the Congress government had allotted this project to Genco on the ground that M/s BPL was not achieving financial closure.

It reversed this decision on the plea that it would strain business ties with Japan as the company was headquartered there.

Land donated for Urdu University

HYDERABAD: Appreciating the efforts taken by Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in promoting Urdu as medium of education at higher and technical levels, Fouzia Tahseen Ahmed, MLC of Maharashtra, has donated 5 acres of land at Aurangabad for the University to develop off-campus educational complex.
Pat for varsity

Ms. Fouzia Ahmed, who is a well known philanthropist in the Marathwada region, visited the MANUU Campus at Gachibowli yesterday.

She went round the campus and appreciated the university for the activities being taken up.
Various camps

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director, Distance Education, Prof. K. R. Iqbal Ahmed, briefed her about various campus based and distance courses offered by the University.

He informed that University proposed to start B.Ed. and Polytechnic colleges besides a model school at Aurangabad Campus.
Vocational courses

Maulana Azad National Urdu University also planned to start some vocational courses at Parbhani district of Marathwada.

This region has a sizeable Urdu speaking population, according to the university press release.

Novotel Hyderabad Airport opens

HYDERABAD: Novotel Hyderabad Airport was thrown open to public near Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Wednesday.

The hotel, which is owned by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, is the second Novotel in the city and also in India. For passengers making brief (eight hour) stopovers, the hotel is offering ‘FlexiStay’ package, said Novotel Hyderabad Airport General Manager, Simon Jinks, in a press release.

The hotel is built over five acres with 305 rooms -- 11 luxury suites, 53 premier rooms and 241 superior rooms. An all-day dining multicuisine restaurant, The Square and Haldi with Indian dishes are the restaurants, while Splashes, the sunken pool bar and The Bar offer cocktails.

The hotel has a premier lounge and a crew lounge for the aircrew members to unwind.

It launched a special inaugural offer for a limited period for Rs. 5,500.

FACA opposes two registrations

Federation of Association of Colonies and Apartments (FACA) is opposing the idea of going for two registrations for flats, as the move of Registration and Stamps department would further burden public.

In a release on Thursday, FACA said that such proposal will have a negative impact on the housing activity, which is already reeling under a slowdown due to inflation. Double registrations would mean the buyer would have to shell out more and this wil l definitely act as a deterrent, as far as the real estate is concerned, said FACA General Secretary V. Kamesh Babu.

A touch of brass for interiors

No doubt the once walled city is known for its unique culture, food, bangles, pearls and lifestyle. But many are unaware of the fact that it also boasts of brass idols that are sought globally for imparting a new and different touch to the interiors.

Visit Murghi Chowk at Lad Bazaar in the old city and you find a series of outlets offering brass idols of different sizes and shapes. Right from the popular soldier idol, Lord Ganesha and Balaji idols to Charminar replicas in the metal, the place offers various brass articles that are used by many as gifts for their dear ones.

You can also scout for bed lamps, mirror frames, corner stands, flower pots, pen stands etc made of brass that add charm to your house and present a fascinating look. Name a few and you will find them in plenty that too in different sizes and weights.

The good thing about brass idols is that they are maintenance free and suit for all seasons. All you have to do is clean them regularly with a cloth and make sure they are kept away from water as the polish fades on coming in contact with water, says Javed Khan, a trader at Murghi Chowk.
Price

If brass idols and articles are good for all seasons, then prices for these idols are the best and economical here. While a half foot soldier idol costs Rs.150, the bigger ones measuring three feet comes at Rs.1,450. Likewise, mirror frames range from Rs.120 to Rs.450, Ganesha idols from Rs.50 to Rs.3,500 (three feet), says Mr. Javed.

“There is definitely a difference of at least 20 per cent in the prices quoted at Murghi Chowk to those in showrooms and other markets. That is the reason, traders from Delhi, Kolkata and other northern States flock here to make bulk purchases,” says Syed Iqbal, owner of Iqbal and Sons Brass Article Dealers.
Idol making

But the hard work involved in making an brass idol or article is very taxing. Generally, these are made from aluminium and later a brass coating is given. First, rough sketch is made using POP, then a pre-cast dye of the idol or the article is prepared and then moulded according to the curves and measures, explains Mr. Iqbal.

It does not end here. Once an idol is ready, it is given an acid wash, buffed and followed by a final metal polish. There are different workers for taking up different stages of idol making. As a result, old idols are given new metal polish and broken idols are joined to perfection at Murghi chock, says Mohd. Muzzafar Ali, who masters buffing and moulding of the idols.

To top it all, there are several artisans who upon presenting a photograph of a person, make an idol out of it. Depending on the size and weight of the material used, rates are charged; however, if you are shopping in the old city, you should be good at bargaining, alerts, Mr. Ali.

Home loan: it’s no simple task

In these days of high costs, one major consideration for selecting a home loan is the rate of interest and its application

Most of us are cost conscious. And rightly so. In the case of a housing loan facility, interest assumes paramount importance as the period of the loan will in most cases be ranging from 10 to 25 years, which means even a small fraction of interest can tax you substantially over a period of time. Further, the interest rate and periodicity of application can be a bit complicated, at least for the common man.

Many of those who have taken a home loan are misled by the mere rate quoted by the lender, unless they understand the periodicity of application, the lender’s right to alter the interest rate from time to time and other small prints in the agreement. For example, if a rate of 12 per cent is quoted, it looks simple on the face of it but there are other points to be taken into account. Some of these are:

Periodicity of application such as daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly is important as ‘interest begets interest,’ meaning the interest applied is automatically added to the balance in the loan account and the subsequent interest application will cover the full outstanding balance, unless you pay the interest immediately after its application.

Then, the linkage of interest to basic rate, like RBI rate, SBI rate, PLR (of the lender) etc. as the periodic revisions in interest will depend on what the linkage is. Most lenders add a clause “…percent above the …rate, rising and falling there with.” You need to be aware of the implications and be able to think of the ramifications of the selection of the type of interest. Here is where we have to study the various plans from which the best can be chosen.

Ask your friends who have taken home loans and their experience with their bank as far as interest cost of borrowing is concerned. One could also utilise the services of an investment consultant, in case the deal you propose to carry out is substantial.

The old adage, “Marry in haste and repent at leisure,” applies to the selection of home loan as well. Take your time in critically examining the various aspects. The following can be a sort of guideline:

Calculate the cost of the property you want to acquire.

Take the bare minimum loan only; remember, every pie you take need to be returned with interest.

Take the loan for a lesser period, as the changes in rate of interest over a long period cannot be gauged in advance in a volatile global scenario.

Pay as high a EMI as possible, especially when the interest rate is high from the past data and future predictions.

Prefer a bank which allows the loan account to be maintained as a running account, so that you are charged interest only on the net drawings. Cover as much of your cost as possible by getting a good bargain from the builder, such as built-up area, time taken for handing over the building after its completion, post-occupation maintenance etc.

A banker-builder tie up may be good sometimes, but not always so. Please check the offers from other banks/builders where there is no linkage.
Post-loan alertness

Don’t relax after utilising the loan. See your loan account statement at periodic intervals.

Watch the transactions, especially the charges debited in the account.

Seek the bank’s clarification on each debit, even the calculation.

Don’t trust the computerised accounting blindly. Insist on instant credits for your remittances into the account wherever possible and eligible.

Watch interest rate changes from time to time. When there is a general reduction in interest rates, think of the implications on your loan. Changing your bank when there are opportunities to avail of lower interest rate can be an option.

Some banks are planning to ‘sell’ your loans to others by the process of ‘securitisation’ for improving their liquidity. If your loan is securitized, it may fetch some benefits to the bank and it need to be passed on to you. Ask for it.

Be alert. “Every pie saved is every pie earned.”

Right time to go furniture hunting

Festive time is just round the corner and its when many plan to acquire things for home. It is not just festivities and rituals but also is the time when the celebration mood is heightened with acquisitions in the form of a kitchenette, a piece of sofa, that computer which the child has been demanding or even a plasma television for which the entire family has been waiting for some time.

Joining the festive moments would be the stores across the city most of whom come out with offers of some kind or other. Earlier, it used to be just some discount offered on furniture. Some came forward with 5 per cent, others pegged their sales pitch with a higher discount of say 10 per cent while some others went to the extent of 20 and 25 per cent.
Exchange offers

That was joined with exchange offers wherein you could walk in with old furniture, from sofa to dining table to cots, and then return home with a new set of piece at a reduced price. These days, one can see several big outlets making offers such as buy a double cot and take home a wardrobe free, take a kitchenette and have some accessories as free and even several pieces of furniture bundled up as a package and offered with a decent enough price tag.

So, for those looking forward to either furnish their new home with a new set of furniture or replace the worn out pieces, this could be the right time to go furniture hunting. The city has a wide compilation of stores in different parts that include cane chairs on road side to luxury Italian cots in the plushest of stores.

The stretch near Nampally railway station has several stores that offer basic material such as cane chairs, basic sofa sets, side and centre tables.

One can also browse these outlets for steel almirahs, cabinets, steel and wooden cots and quite a bit of artefacts and design pieces for décor purposes. From small flower vases to carpets and the needs of children’s room, the shopping can be exhaustive. These days the offerings here also include computer tables and executive chairs that fulfil the need of office spaces.

For small décor items and pretty flower bunches, hangings or frames and metal decorate pieces, markets such as Koti and Sultan Bazar have plenty in store.

While here, a look around for curtains and linen can also be fetching. Remember, a bit of haggling here will surely give some respite to the wallet.

On the end of shopping spectrum are the furniture malls, air-conditioned chains and stores that stock every need of a home from a nail and hammer to the international brands in sofa and cots. An impressive list of these stores ranging from Home Town to Godrej Lifespace can be visited for more cushy and the latest in furniture.

Some have the latest models that redefine luxury and depending on one’s wallet size, shopping can be taken up here.

A drive down from Banjara Hills to Madhapur gets dotted with a horde of exclusive furniture stores and some outlets dedicated to the needs of kitchen, bedroom or bathroom. Just wait for the festive mood to descend and the stores to usher in offers and discounts before you drive out for furniture shopping.

The season is going to be almost month long and many of them are in the final stages of outlining their offers.

And meanwhile, do not miss the series of expos and melas that have already started at venues in different parts of the city. One advantage here would be that a shopper gets to check furniture and crafts and décor items from different parts of the country.

Slump in IT sector hits ‘real’ hard

It has started. And it could end up lingering for a while much to the chagrin of many. The much talked about IT slowdown has begun and the recent financial crisis in the global markets has only made matters worse. And one sector that looks at the developments with a certain degree of apprehension is the real estate sector.

The sector which received a push from the IT boom in the country could also feel the heat from the sudden slowdown. Young IT techies and executives are no longer looking at investing in real estate. For many youngsters, luxury villas and duplex apartments now seem like a distant dream.
Wait and watch policy

Sumeet Sharma and his wife Spoorthi have dropped plans to buy a duplex on the city outskirts. “Right now, our first priority is to make sure that we don’t get laid off,” says Sumeet who works in the IT sector. “We were planning to avail home loan for a duplex apartment, but with interest rates fluctuating so wildly, we decided to wait and watch,” adds Spoorthi.

“The slowdown has suddenly made everyone from a fresher to someone in the managerial level insecure,” says Rajesh Kumar, project leader in an IT firm. Major investment decisions are being withheld as the first priority right now is to make sure you don’t lose your job, he adds.

Others like Brijesh Kumar and M. Aditya feel that the inflated land prices along with property rate have never been within the reach of a middle class person. “True that a large percentage of IT employees invest in real estate, but then a major chunk of the same sector also belongs to the middle class. It’s only the mid-career employees who even dare to invest in real estate,” says Brijesh, who has been working for a top US based IT company since four years.

The overall mood in the IT sector is that of apprehension. “Every week someone or the other I know is losing his/her job. And companies have stopped recruiting too, so right now all that I am want is financial security and stability,” says Srikanth Parthasarthy, a programmer.

So, does the slowdown in IT sector mean that the prices of property would fall? “It is true that the slowdown has affected the real estate sector in the city, but it doesn’t mean that the property rates will fall,” says B.V.P. Raju, CEO, ‘ www.ghar4u.com’, a city based real estate portal. “Over 40 per cent of buyers are IT professionals; the slowdown will have an impact on the real estate scenario. The natural reaction is to defer investment decisions in property, retail shopping and other goods,” he adds.

According to him, the rising construction and labour costs will discourage the builder to reduce the property costs. Inflated land prices are also one of the prime reasons for inability to reduce the rates. “Why would a land owner sell his land for a lesser price? Need has to be the only reason,” he adds.

Varun Naidu, who works for a construction company says that projects stalling is the biggest fear facing builders. “We are finding it hard to convince people to invest in property now,” he says. “Projects stalling mean that the supply goes down. And in real estate there is always a latent demand for housing”, adds Raju.

With the salaries in other sector considerably going up, like in Biotech and Civil, builders and real estate agents hope that these sectors would come to their rescue. But the fact remains that the slump in IT could end up leaving builders high and dry, force many to shift their focus from high end luxury houses to affordable housing that is within the reach of the vast middle class.

Baig’s production for world fete

HYDERABAD: Mohammad Ali Baig’s theatre production ‘Raat Phoolon Ki’ has been selected to feature in this year’s World Performing Arts Festival, taking Hyderabadi theatre to the world. Having brought meaningful theatre to a new realm in the city with his world class theatre, he is now set to make his mark in a global arena in the festival to begin from next month in Lahore. The Japanese Kabuki theatre, Austrian opera, Turkish and Iranian artists, Russian ballet will be presenting their internationally acclaimed works. Nadira Babbar, Lillette Dubey and Mohammed Ali Baig will be presenting their productions from India. While Nadira Babbar will take her ‘Dayashankar ki Diary’ featuring Ashish Vidhyarthi, Lillette Dubey will perform Vijay Tendulkar’s ‘Kanyadaan’, Baig presents ‘Raat Phoolon Ki’ based on poet Maqdoom’s verses.

Three held in Lanco attack case

HYDERABAD: Three leaders of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, who allegedly attacked the Lanco corporate office at Banjara Hills few days ago along with their activists, were arrested by police on Wednesday.

The three accused were picked up from a hotel in Hospet of Karnataka State in the early hours.

The accused trio, Rammohan, Jagdish Reddy and Prabhakar, told the police that they fled the city after attacking the Lanco office and went to Goa. From there, they shifted to Udipi in Karnataka before being caught at Hospet. A special team of the Commissioner’s Task Force tracked their movements and caught them.

The Banjara Hills police said nine more accused in the case, including E. Srinivas of Marredpally, were identified but all of them were absconding.

The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate in the evening and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. They were lodged in Chanchalguda jail.

Ombudsman to ensure justice to irrigation projects’ oustees

HYDERABAD: The government will soon appoint an ombudsman to function as an independent agency to ensure proper justice to the displaced families of irrigation projects, in respect of compensation payment and resettlement and rehabilitation against the lands and properties lost by them.

Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah announced this after declaring open the premises of the newly created Resettlement & Rehabilitation Commissionerate at Buddha Bhavan in Secunderabad on Wednesday.

The Minister said a society would also be formed with oustees and others to expedite the process of compensation payment in coordination with all the connected departments. Impressed by the “ideal R & R policy adopted by the Andhra Pradesh government which was being emulated by other states, World Bank had offered “non-lending technical assistance” to the R & R Commissionerate.

The Minister said a massive sum of Rs. 10,000 crore out of the Rs 1.3 lakh crore of Jalayagnam budget had been set aside for resettlement and rehabilitation.

While the budget provided for R & R under Polavaram project alone was Rs. 4,000 crore, another Rs. 2,000 crore was being spent annually on this head.

Sanjay Jaju, who served as the State’s first R &R commissioner till recently, said specialists from various fields were drafted into the Commissionerate and they included legal experts, habitation and town planning specialists, anthropologists and experts in fisheries, health and micro-finance.