I have no words to praise u but what I can say is that some people have been on earth to make history and I consider you one of them !!! Sir ur site is a great site and hat's off to u.
Vikas Bector
FIRST CHOICE OF DECISION MAKERS IN THE COUNTRY

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For hardworking, dedicated and sincere P D Vaghela, Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd(TCGL), "tourism has definitely come of age" in the Gujarat state. While, tourists inflow has gone up by 30 per cent in Gujarat, the state Government has allocated an exclusive budget of Rs.100 crore for tourism development in the state, said P D Vaghela in an exclusive interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com>

He also disclosed that a slew of incentives for new hotels at select locations had been declared by the Gujarat Government. Replying to a question TCGL MD, Vaghela said that a number of innovative steps like improvement in infrastructure at tourist places and involvement of local people ;were taken to give a fillip to tourism in Gujarat.He also said that the TCGL' s strategy to promote Gujarat as a leading tourism destination at national and international level, had clicked.

Here goes P D Vaghela' s interview.

1/What innovations have you done to woo tourists?

The State Government had declared year 2006 as Tourism Year with the following broad objectives:
* To promote development of tourism and in turn put Gujarat as leading tourism destination at national and international level
* To attract domestic and foreign tourists to Gujarat
* To create additional employment opportunities in the State
* To improve tourism infrastructure in the state
* To ensure people' s participation and involvement of local bodies in promotion of tourism

2/Can you tell us your three achievements?

Overall Tourists inflow to Gujarat has gone up by 30%.

In the tourism sector, a total of 33 MOUs were signed for 68 projects with expected employment generation of over 40000 direct employment. The total investment comes to Rs. 10785.50 Crore. In the Aviation sector, MOUs worth Rs 10000 crore signed.

Won the National Tourism Award in 2007 for the Best Tourism Friendly Monument-Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeolgical Park.Won the National Tourism Award in 2007 for Excellence in Publications (collateral)

3/Are you in position to say that tourism in Gujarat has come of age? Please explain how.

Yes, definitely 100 crores budget has been allocated exclusively for tourism development in the state. Tourist inflow has increased manifold in the State. Events like Navratri Festival and International Kite Festival are being organized on a global scale every year in the State. Gujarat is being recognized all over the country, having won many national level awards this year. Investments in the tourism sector have been pouring in enormous numbers, through the MOU route.

4/Which are the key areas where Gujarat scores over other states?

Gujarat has excellent infrastructure in terms of roads, electricity and air connectivity. It is one of the safest states in India. Gujarat is blessed with a variety of tourism products like wildlife, desert, sea beaches, hill stations, etc. It has unique wildlife like the Asiatic Lion, Wild Ass, Black Buck and a variety of bird life.

5/What steps have you mooted for promoting budget hotels/tourists?

Gujarat Government has declared incentive scheme for hotels this year. Hotels with a minimum 20 rooms being setup at selected locations in Gujarat will be eligible for five year tax holiday on electricity duty, luxury tax and exemption of payment of stamp duty on land.

Will Srinivasan move to South Block ?

Will Petroleum Secretary M S Srinavasan move to the South Block as Secretary Finance this month end? Rumour mill says that 1971 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, Srinivasan, will be new Secretary Finance. Official sources do not know about this move.

Naresh Dayal to be Secretary Petroleum ?

In case M S Srinivasan moves to South Block, Naresh Dayal is sure to succeed him as Secretary Petroleum.1972 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, Dayal, is presently Secretary Health .

Changes in IB on the anvil

Widespread changes are on the anvil in the IB once polls to Uttar Pradesh state assembly were over.

Honesty pays to Nitish Kumar

These days Bihar has emerged as the top domestic industrial investment state in India. This is evident from the fact that industrial majors like : Mahindras, Birlas, Reliance and Tatas are taking up major projects in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's honesty seems to be the magic wand for such a keen enthusiasm of industrialists.

UPSC men to get SC judge status

UPSC members and its Chairman will now be granted the status of a Supreme Court judge. The decision to this effect has been taken in principle and may be implemented soon.

Sanjeev Chopra is back to West Bengal

Sanjeev Chopra who was on deputation to the Uttaranchal Government is back to the parent West Bengal cadre. On return 1985 batch IAS officer, Chopra, has been appointed Secretary Food Processing and Horticulture.

Tenure of Nvalawala to expire this week

Tenure of UPSC Member Navalawala is coming to an end on April 14.

Justice Bhalla to be Chhattisgarh HC CJ

Justice Bhalla of Allahabad High Court whose appointment as Kerala ChiefJustice was surrounded by controversy because of allegations of corruption and favoratism has been cleared for appointment by the Collegium as the Chief Justice of Chattisgarh.

Justice Duttu to move Kerala

Justice H L Duttu Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court is moving to the Kerala High Court.

IPS officer suspended in Bihar

Bihar Government has suspended 1993 batch IPS officer H N Deva.

IPS changes in J & K

There are IPS changes in J & K.New postings are :- Mssrs Rauf-Ul-Hassan DIG Vigilance,S D Singh SSP Poonch-Rajouri,Nissar Ahmad SSP Udhampur-Doda and Surinder Gupta AIG Vigilance.

Dorji Khandu is CM of Arunachal Pradesh

Dorji Khandu who is Budhist monk of Tawang is new Chief Minister of Arunchal Pradesh.Hehas succeeded Gegong Apang against whom dissidence had gained momentum a few days ago. Khandu was Power Minister in Arunachal Pradesh.He is expected to form his cabinet after detailed discussions with the Congress party High Command.

( We said this on April 6 )

Anand is RC Rajasthan in Delhi

Pramod Kumar Anand is new Resident Commissioner of Rajasthan in New Delhi. He is 1983 batch IAS officer.

DDA incurs wrath of PM

Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh has reportedly expressed his displeasure at officials of the concerning department including those who are Delhi Development Authority(DDA).As the grapevine has it, the PM has done so because the DDA is going ahead with its plan to construct a Five Star hotel opposite to the Akshardham temple in Delhi. This is happening despite an anti report by experts of the Nagpur based "National Environmental Engineering Research Institute(NEERI).The NEERI report has asked to keep the area green and forested so that bed of Yamuna river could be saved from Ecological point of view.

CBI files charge-sheet against IPS officer

CBI has filed a chargesheet against an IPS officer (Manipur-Tripura Cadre-1983 Batch), his father and brother in the court of Special Judge, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh for possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, in his own name and in the names of his family members.

Promotions in IDSA

Recently 1988 batch IDAS has been given Senior Administrative Grade and 1997 IDAS has been given JAG. Still the department is late by at least two years.

IAS postings in West Bengal

Pawan Agrawal has been appointed Secretary Minority Education. Arun Bal has been made Secretary Sunderban.

Etah ASP shifted

Raj Kumar will be new ASP of Etah.Raja Shrivastava has been shifted on the instructions of the EC.

Renu Shukla SP Katni in MP

In a minor shake up Ms.Renu Shukla was posted as SP Katni (Madhya Pradesh). So far she was Superintendent of Railway Police (SRP) Bhopal. She will be replaced by Solomon Minj who was transferred from Rajgarh to Katni as SP, last month.

R.K.Dave Promoted

Additional MD of MP Minor Forest Produce Federation R.K.Dave after his promotion to the rank of PCCF was elevated in the Federation itself as MD.

FORUM

What PM said was improper

What PM said was highly improper. If it was not for the judiciary, there will be no check on the power hungry politicians who are interested in getting vote catching actions. It is immaterial to them whose rights gets trampled. That the current PM will be different from his predecessors has remained a call in the wild.
K K Gopinathan Pillai

There should be well defined policy for North-East

PM's visit to North East will certainly help in assuaging the feeling of alienation among people of North East to some extent. However, sincere efforts on the part of PM get undermined because of tendency on the part of some of the central government departments to send officers on posting to North East who are considered inconvenient by way of punishment resulting in further alienation of people of North East. They wonder why such officers are posted in North East whom their departments consider "unwanted" and want to get rid of. In some cases of course officers are posted to North East to enable them to retain central government accommodation in a station where they can no longer continue. After posting ,in such cases they are again sent on training course and their tenure is only on paper. To give an example in department of defence estates one officer was posted to North East and retained there for almost five years against tenure of two years for having blown whistle on high level corruption so that resultant hardship would make an example of him and no one would dare expose corrupt activities of bosses and in case he got killed due to militancy, no blame would accrue to the authorities.
Therefore transfers/postings to North East should be made in terms of a well defined reasonable just and fair policy so that posting to North East is considered an opportunity to serve people and see beautiful area of North East and not as a punishment for having incurred wrath of authorities for having performed duty honestly and in public interest.
Sudhir Chopra

This is Bombay life

I largely agree with Abhinav having survived in both these cities, but I differ if it were only the Administration to be blamed for the state that Mumbai has reached today! Though today's Life in Mumbai could be best described by an Frog Experiment - Incase you missed out on it - I'd Share.
"You take a frog and leave it at room temperature in water and start heating the water to its boiling point in an hours time, obviously the frog isn't mad to boil to death hence it jumps off! But this time running you leave the frog at room temperature in water and start heating the water by a degree every single day, the frog would boil to death and wouldn't even realise what's killing it. That's what I have seen and felt of life in Mumbai! And I see it only getting worst.
Mrunal Jhaveri

Delhi is better than Mumbai -why ?

Delhi is better than Mumbai due to the Supreme Court and not because of the Admnistration!!
Sunil B

Delhi administration is better than Mumbai

I fully support your views about general administration of New Delhi. It is much better than Mumbai or for that matter any other metro. I believe that it's also now on us, the citizen, to take pride in this fact and contribute maximum by way of keeping it green and clean, safe for all and yet enjoyable.
Sanjeev Raina

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Rather than loosing out seems BJP could benefit because of its disc that slipped,
Though BJP on the slip disc now will be tight lipped!!!

And if Rajnath courts arrest,
For BJP this would be the best!!!

BJP has realized that to win it has to win over its traditional Vote Bank,
It had ditched its vote bank and so its fortunes sank!!!

But now with the revival of its fortunes BJP seems to have come to the conclusion,
That with Muslims BJP will always face seclusion!!!

So BJP's concentrating on its perceived vote bank,
This is the only way BJP feels it can improve in elections its rank!!!

After phase one now BJP will be planning for phase two,
Win the next year Delhi Assembly elections too!!!

For this BJP has to start working on Delhi 's pressing issues,
And stop thinking that things will work out by just wiping people's tears with tissues!

Tear cleaning was okay as long as BJP was not in power,
Now not sympathy but delivery is the need of the hour!!

Shiela's hoping that in one year BJP in the MCD will run itself aground,
And Congress will win the next round (Assembly polls)!!!

Hasn't Mulayam heard ' teen tigaada kaam bigaada'???
So why is he inviting the Jaya tigaada (trio)????

Anyway Amma Jaya heeded this and did not turn up,
She still feels that Third Front is nothing but a gupp!!!

But Mulayam has raised the Third Front banner again,
And on Congress kee Mulayam ne allegations rain!!!

Congress is planning to send Amar a bill for his weight loss,
Of course into the bin Amar karre ga bill toss!!!

Amar has been advised to go in for a sporty look,
Wearing oversize Kurtas would make him look like a spook!!!

So very soon you may see Amar in designer polo shirts and jeans,
He'll be looking like he's still in his teens!!!

Karan Singh has resigned because he could not make Laloo IIC ka member,
If Laloo became a Member many Members apne app ko IIC se karte dismember!!!

Karan has shown grace,
And Laloo has lost face!!!

Of course Laloo will stand by Karan for the upcoming Presidential election,
Will Laloo resign if Karan does not make the selection???

Speaking of Presidential election …. Kalam says Narayan Murthy is the right guy,
But Political Parties nahi karre gi Kalam ka proposal buy!!

Seems Legislature and Judiciary are on a collision course,
Legislature is complaining that Judiciary is using too much force!!

PM is concerned about Judiciary's overreach,
Legislature feels its territory Judiciary ne ki hai breach!!

Confucius says…. When Legislature fails in Democracy Judiciary has to act,
He continues…. Democracy will be doomed if the two make a pact!!!

That's were comes in Judicial accountability,
That will keep an eye on Judiciary's justice deliverance ability!!!

Judiciary cannot be above Justice.... the cardinal law,
Judiciary should not smack justice in the jaw!!!

Basically both need to step back and think,
And not ki koun karre ga first blink!!!

On the cricket front seems BCCI is under pressure to relent on endorsements ceiling,
After all in law nothing wrong in endorsements ….. its not stealing!!!

But look closely the endorsements steal the players from the game,
And practice is reduced to just for name!!!

They spend more time in front of the camera than in the nets,
As the Coach stand waits for them and fumes and frets!!!

BCCI should stick to the stick its wielded,
And from this stick no player shoudl be shielded!!

Bharat Kumar

Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Montek Singh Ahluwalia' s directive to PSUs

Vice Chairman of the Indian Planning Commission has asked blue chip PSUs to start looking for opportunities more aggressively in Central Independent States(CIS) i.e. erstwhile Russian countries & Middle East. He has done so at the behest of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Areas where they have been asked to look out for opportunities are Oil, Gas & Power.

Rajiv Sinha resigns

MD of Gujarat Pipavav Port Rajiv Sinha is reported to have resigned.
He is former 1976 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

What is the DGCA doing?

The role of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is being questioned in the wake of four aircrafts of Air India having made emergency landings in the recent past. All of them had reported Hydraulic failure.

Air Force to release pilots to Air India

The Indian Air Force has decided to release its pilots for taking up civilian flying jobs with Air India in a phased manner.

Beta Group to enter Aviation sector

The $1 billion Beta group is all set to to enter the aviation sector in India.