In India, Maharashtra ranks third in transparency in realty sector

Maids. They certainly make the quality of your life better. “Over the past five years, there have been several changes with respect to domestic help in the city. Maids have now become more organized, asking for payment on the basis of each task performed rather than the consolidated sum earlier levied on the basis of the size of the house and number of family members. Because of the increased awareness among domestic helps, Mumbaikars also agree that they cannot be paid or treated the same way as earlier. “Today, I pay my part-time a huge amount of Rs 3,000 a month, treat her well and that way expect her to do a good job,” says one suburban woman,” says Times of India. Anna’s proposed fast might move to the suburbs. “The Mumbai police want the venue for Anna Hazare’s month-long fast to shift from Azad Maidan to the MMRDA ground at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Highly-placed sources in the Mumbai police intelligence wing told HT on Thursday that the suggestion has been conveyed to India Against Corruption (IAC), the NGO that has sought permission for the rally. IAC has announced that Anna will arrive in the city on December 26 and his month-long fast will begin at 10 am the following day. The agitation is likely to attract thousands of people, and the police want to pre-empt any terrorist activity by relocating the protest to a more secure location. Sources said the police feel that south Mumbai is particularly susceptible to terror attacks,” reports Hindustan Times.   [caption id=“attachment_157901” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The real estate market in the country’s financial capital may be overheated, but the state as a whole has been ranked third in terms of transparency in the realty sector.”]  [/caption] IBNlive says that the police and IAC have had discussions on the fast. “Representatives of Team Anna here today met a top police official to discuss arrangements for the Gandhian’s fast tentatively scheduled to begin from December 27. “We had a good meeting with the police where we discussed the arrangements to be made during the fast and about co-ordination between us and Mumbai police. We hope that in a day or two, the police would give us permission to hold fast here,” Praful Vora, one of the representatives said.” As usual, you need a court order to get things to move. “The BMC will finally be able to remove encroachments on the main water pipeline at Mahim after the High Court on Thursday lifted a stay by a lower court. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Roshan Dalvi heard an appeal filed by the BMC against the October 31 stay given by the city civil court in a suit filed by hutment dwellers of Shivshakti Nagar. On October 14, 2009, the HC, hearing a PIL stating that the water pipelines are old and need to be replaced and protected from encroachers, had directed removal of hutments on water pipelines within 10 metres on either side,” says Times of India. How does this help us buy a flat? “The real estate market in the country’s financial capital may be overheated, but the state as a whole has been ranked third in terms of transparency in the realty sector. The Real Estate Transparency Survey 2011 ranks Maharashtra behind Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on various factors determining transparency. The state is followed by Gujarat, NCR-Delhi and Karnataka on the transparency index of 20 leading Indian states,” says Indian Express. Short circuit or mafia? “While the fire brigade claimed that the blaze that gutted Sara-Sahara shopping complex and Manish Market on November 26 was due to short-circuit, former chairman of Manish Market, Mohammed Ismail Jaan Mohammed, has alleged sabotage.He claimed that 1993 serial blasts accused Mustafa Dossa’s aides had started the fire. He also blamed Haroon Dossa, the secretary of Manish Market,” says DNA. What do you do when law-breakers protest? “Around three months ago, the ward officials removed around 700 illegal hawkers from SV Road at Andheri and nearby areas such as MA Road and Masjid Lane. Since then, the officials are keeping a close eye on it and ensuring that the hawkers do not return. On Wednesday, around 500 hawkers protested in front of the Andheri (West) ward office against BMC’s action and demanded to allow them to continue their business,” says DNA.