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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

For Bhushan Ashok Gagrani Secretary Tourism to Mahrashtra Government & Managing Director (MD) of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) "innovation" coupled with dedication is the mantra to success. Gagrani is an IAS officer of 1990 batch of the Maharashtra cadre. According to him one of the biggest achievements has been to bring tourism within the reach of a common man.

There are many firsts to the credit of this young, dynamic & enterprising bureaucrat as MD of the MTDC.Like development of full-fledged scuba Diving Centre on Konkan Coast (in Sindhudurga District).Bhushan Ashok Gagrani who is also MD of "Film City" as well holds the charge of Secretary Information & Public Relations(IPR) to the Mahrashtra Government. In a free & frank exclusive interview to <whispersinthecorrdors.com> he unfolded his plans regarding steps to boost tourism in this Western Indian state.

In reply to a question he said "MTDC's 90% accommodation facilities cater to budget tourists. It introduced "bed & breakfast" (B&B) accommodation concept in 1996 & has group accommodation & budget family accommodation at most of its units in Maharashtra. Every year MTDC plans & adds to new places/facilities for budget tourism. In the last & current financial year MTDC has added almost 100 such facilities all over the Maharashtra."He also stated that plans were afoot to work on first of its kind special entertainment zone near Mumbai with a large investment from private sector.

Gragrani who loves to chill out by playing squash has equal measure of passion for mountaineering.Here goes his interview-

1/ What new projects are you going to add/launch?

A- MTDC has launched the following new projects:
i) Full-fledged Scuba Diving Centre on Konkan Coast (in Sindhudurga District).
ii)A Rs. 300 crore coastal tourism development Plan.
iii)Started establishing R.V Parks & Campervan Tourism to develop Road tourism options in Maharashtra.
iv)Forming Umbrella body of all major players of Tourism like Off-beat tourism product providers, Tour-operators & local hotelier groups etc.
v)Arts & Craft village in Mumbai and Aurangabad.
vi)Eco-tourism project in Vidarbha region of the State.
vii) Narrow gauge luxury train in Vidarbha.
viii) Life size cave replicas of 4 caves of Ajanta to provide world class interactive multimedia experience to the visitors.

2/ What are your plans to hold the inbound traffic of domestic tourists?

A- The overall growth in economy, easy accessibility, improved communication & availability of spare time & money have all added to the impressive growth of Tourism ( both inbound & outbound ) up to 15% to 20 % per annum. Increase in Indian Outbound Tourism (Six million) compared to foreign inbound (Four million) gives the impression that inbounds or domestic tourist traffic is decreasing or need plans to hold this traffic.
Nevertheless, to increase the domestic tourist traffic Maharashtra is concentrating on:-
i) Improvement in infrastructure.
ii)Offering diversified tourism product.
iii)Attract private investment in the sector by offering incentives.
iv)Increase budget allocation.
v)Sharing developmental responsibility as

oForest & Eco Tourism.
oPilgrimage Tourism.
oRegional Tourism Development.
oNational & International projects with Central Financial assistance.
oMega projects through overseas funding.

vi)Exploit Area strength & focus accordingly e.g.
oVidharba - Forest & Eco Tourism
oWest Maharashtra/Marathwada - Historical/Heritage Tourism
oKonkan - Beach & Leisure Tourism
oPan Maharashtra - Pilgrimage Tourism.

3/ These day there is lot of stress on budget hotels. What is MTDC doing in that direction?

A- Stress has been on budget hotels by tourism players may be a recent phenomenon, but MTDC has right from its inception (1975) worked on this concept. MTDC's 90% accommodation facilities cater to budget tourists. It introduced "bed & breakfast"( B&B) accommodation concept in 1996 & has group accommodation & budget family accommodation at most of its units in Maharashtra. Every year MTDC plans & adds to new places/facilities for budget tourism. In the last & current financial year MTDC has added almost 100 such facilities all over Maharashtra.The state government has announced elaborate tourism policy, which gives wide range of incentives and tax exemptions to the investor in hospitality sector.

4/ Do you have plans for initiating projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) principle? If yes then please give details.

A- Tourism's role in employment and wealth creation, its contribution to GDP, its rate of growth has forced all players in government & private to think of PPP. No sector can solely depend on government funding. For speedy growth & for reaping the benefit from the sector in time, private participation in projects & government facilitations can only lead to desired results. MTDC has been implementing PPP since last two decades. Almost 30 of its properties are run by private entrepreneurs. To give further boost to PPP Maharashtra has been preparing shelf plan for Tourism development. The state has introduced an investor friendly tourism policy, a pragmatic land policy & package scheme of incentives to investors in tourism sector. Plans are afoot to work on first of its kind special entertainment zone near Mumbai with a large investment from private sector.

5/ What steps are being taken in terms of infrastructure to hold increased flow of tourists to Maharashtra?

A- To cater to increased inflow of tourist to Maharashtra, the following steps are being taken:
oFour-fold increase in Tourism budget as compared to last Five year plan.
oResponsibility of Infrastructure development for tourism shared as follows
Forest Department - Forest & Eco Tourism.
Rural/Urban Development - Pilgrimage Tourism.
Tourism Department - State & National Tourism Projects.
oMega Infrastructure Projects like Rs. 500 Cr Ajanta Ellora Conservation & Development Project & Rs 300 Cr Coastal Tourism Development project have been undertaken.
oNew Tourism Policy, Land Policy and Package scheme of Incentive for attracting private investment to boost infrastructure.

6/ What are your major achievements ?

A- Major achievements are
oBrought tourism within the reach of common man.
oInvestor friendly Tourism policy.
oImplementing mega heritage projects e.g. Ajanta & Ellora conservation & development project and Coastal Tourism Development project.
oThe super luxury train "The Deccan Odyssey".

Rita Sinha to be Secretary Elementary Education ?
Grapevine has it that Ms Rita Sinha is being appointed new Secretary Elementary Education in the Government of India. She is 1973 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. Name of 1972 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer Veena Sriram Rao is also in circulation for the post. Present Secretary Champak Chaterjee is joining the CAT in Kolkata next month.

Retirement age to stay at 60 !
The Sixth Pay Commission is unlikely to recommend raise in the retirement age from the present 60 to 62 years.

Rajiv Mathur to be ADG RPF !
Rajiv Mathur is being tipped to be new ADG Railway Protection Force (RPF). He is 1974 batch IPS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.

Vimal Kirti Singh to join Textile Ministry
Vimal Kirti Singh is joining the Textile Ministry to head the AEPC. He is 1986 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

Do you know this ?
The most sought after piece of real estate within the North-Block ,is a small toilet room with limited access for Joint Secretaries and above. North-Block houses the important ministries of Home, Finance and Personnel but only two of the Secretaries are lucky to have attached toilets. The rest of the senior officers-Secretaries, Special Secretaries, Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries share a solitary thunder box, the access to which is regulated through an estimated 200 duplicate keys. This is one place where the imminent urge forces an officer to disregard seniority, those in the know say.

Kapur is OSD in MEA
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Pradeep Kapur has been appointed OSD (FSI). He is 1979 batch IFS officer.

1988 batch IPS to be IG in Jharkhand
Three 1988 batch IPS officers O P Khare, S N Pradhan and Ram Lakhan Prasad are being promoted to the rank of IG in Jharkhand this month.

IRS officer resigns !
A K Garg is reported to have sought VRS. 1979 batch IRS (IT) officer Garg is likely to join MNC.

BBC and Prasar Bharti
Last week, an important delegation from BBC visited Prasar Bharati . BS Lalli, CEO called senior officers for a briefing at 9.30 AM. While they were in full strength, CEO landed at 11.00 am. The BBC delegation had arrived by that time. Out of scheduled 20 point Agenda, only three could be taken up, as they had to catch their next flight. Thy name is Prasar Bharti.

No vacancy of Director in BHEL
In 2008, there is no vacancy of Director in BHEL.

Mohapatra gets charge of Administration
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development Jugal Kishore Mohapatra has been given additional charge of Administration. He is 1979 batch IAS officer of Orissa cadre.

Who will be DG Forests?
In case the formula of at least one year service period be left at the time of joining as Director General (DG) Forests is applied then PR Mohanty tops the ladder. He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1972 batch who belongs to the Orissa cadre. However; GK Prasad an IFS officer of the MT cadre may don the mantle of DG Forests, if the one year formula is not applied. He belongs to the 1970 batch & is due to retire in June-July, 2008.

Selection of DG Doordarshan after Dussera
Prasar Bharti Board will now meet after Dussera to select new DG of the Doordarshan.Six names are believed to have been shortlisted for the post.They are ;- Mssrs R K Tiwari 1985 batch IAS UP cadre, V Ahmad Indian Postal Service Officer 1978 batch, Aditya Mishra IO &FS 1977 batch,P K Pattnaik IAS 1980 batch Bihar cadre, L N Gupta IAS Orissa cadre 1986 batch and Ms Aruna Sharma IAS 1982 batch MP cadre.

IAS officer is jobless since January
An Uttar Pradesh cadre 1977 batch IAS officer Noor Mohammad has been jobless in the Government of India for the last ten months. He has not been given a posting in Delhi since January 2007 when he returned from Afghanistan after successfully getting elections conducted there and making India proud. He has been so much under tension that he developed multiple ulcers, which burst and he had to be in the ICU for days to drain litres of pus collected in his stomach. He was out of the country with his family to get rid of the tension when the ulcers burst and the family had to go through tough & trying times in getting him back to the country.

History created by Gujarat cadre IAS officer
Varesh Sinha a Gujarat cadre 1977 batch IAS officer has created a national history by computerization for 256 KBPS internet broadband connectivity to all its 13693 Gram Panchayat through E-Gram project which also takes advantage of CSC Scheme of GoI.Now the Government of India says that all states should adopt Gujarat model.

Ram Karan is Dy Eco advisor in DEA

Ram Karan has been appointed as Deputy Economic advisor in the Department of Economic Affairs(DEA).He is an Indian Economic Service(IES)officer of the 1993 batch.

Ajay Kumar to join Aajtak
Ajay Kumar has left the Star News to join the Aajtak in a week or two.

Election Commission orders shifting of IPS officers
The Election Commission has ordered the shifting of Gujarat's six senior police officers and two District Collectors. They are Mssrs: P.C. PandeyDGP, J. Mahapatra, Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, I.M. DesaiDIG Border Range, J.N. Rajgor SP Patan district, N.D. Solanki, SP Rajkot district, S.K. Gadhavi SP Tapi district, D.H. Brahmbhatt, Valsad District Collector, and Sonal Mishra, Gandhinagar District Collector. Commissioner N. Gopalaswami and Commissioners Navin Chawla and S.Y. Quareshi last week.

Players in Bollywood find a new route for income of stars

Income Tax(IT) sleuths in Mumbai are a worried lot as a new method of remuneration for top stars has cropped up in Bollywood.Stars of the silver screen are now entering into agreements with film producers. They are paid by producers ,on basis of their income that earn from movies. IT sleuths believe that today overseas territory has become bigger territory than India.Film stars may start accepting money overseas in tax free havens to avoid IT & show the same as an earning from abroad.

FORUM

Sixth Pay Commission report must be submitted

The sixth pay commission must immediately submit its report to the government as no interim relief has been declared by the government. The government must at least immediately declare the increase of the retirement age to 62 years. This would give immediate relief to the employees.

D K Singh

Sixth Pay Commission

The proposed recommendation of Rs 6500 as the minimum basic pay is simple to arrive at:-
Current minimum =Rs 2550 PLUS 100%
DA(expected by the time Pay Commission report is made)PLUS 20% fitment is approx Rs 6500!This is the method which the 5th Pay Commission adopted. One does not need a new Pay Commission to arrive at a revised minimum of Rs 6500! They should think out of the box.

Y P Narula

ADG rank officer should not become Police Commissioner
Its a very good news that Orissa is going to implement Police Commissionerate system in the State but the bad part of the news is that an IPS officer of 1977 batch who may be in line to become DG is being appointed as Police Commissioner. It is not indicated but the place where this is being implemented must be certainly Bhuvaneshwar. It is very sorry state of affair that for providing Police only part powers of DM/ADM the rank of City SP(not even an IPS officer) is being elevated to that of DG. Sir, this is like posting of Chief Secretary rank IAS officer as a Civil Judge in a small Tehsil court. This issue becomes more condemnable when senior officers of the rank of DG/ADG readily run for occupying such posts. Why can't an SP rank officer or as the worst case a DIG rank officer be given some of the magisterial powers. Will it not be more useful when a young IPS officer is made Chief of City Police who can deliver the results with more zeal & enthusiasm than an officer who is about to retire. In fact in Metros also, the trend of posting DG/ADG rank officers as Commissioners must be opposed as they create two power centers in the police hierarchy and they lack the zeal and enthusiasm that is expected from a City Police Chief. Police Commissionars must be of the rank of SSPs/DIGs in mid size cities like Kanpur, Jaipur, Chandigarh and DIGs/IGs in metros like Delhi, Mumbai.

Rajesh

Hemant Chauhan's write up

Hemant Chauhan's write-up on Faith takes me to the core of Jain Philosophy which says, "Samyak Darshan Jnan Charitrani Moksha margah". (Right knowledge gained through right faith and translated into right conduct is the true path for emancipation). It is the opening verse of an ancient Jain scripture "Tatvarthadhigam Sutra" authored by Umaswami who lived in a cottage on the Girnar hill near Ujjain. The adage though written many centuries ago is perfectly applicable to the demands of contemporary life. Ancient Indian scriptures are full of such pearls of wisdom. these have been unfortunately forgotten by the present generations because of total severance from our glorious past due to a faulty system of education which has completely obliterated studies of ancient Indian culture in the name of (pseudo)secularism and (spurious)modernity. One feels sorry when any attempt at revival of traditional learning is termed as 'saffronisation' and all attempts at the obliteration proudly called 'detoxication'.

N N Ojha

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Karuna's daughter says that her Dad's opinions on Ram where not his!!!
Karuna should have given his 'brays' on Ram a miss!!!

I call it braying because no one should hurt religious feelings .... intolerance!!!
Even atheists should need to practice tolerance!!

Karuna should respect other people's religious feelings and think before he 'brays'!!
When it comes to religion weigh every word he says!!!

Now Karuna says Sarkaar is more important than any Deal!!!
So that's how with issues vital to his State karta hai Karuna deal!!

But is the Deal dead or has Congress just pressed pause button to put Deal on hold??
Has Deal been scrapped, put on hold or put in 'tandha bastaa' or box that's cold???

That's why now Commies are demanding Deal closure should be put in black and white!!
Next they might demand that in his own handwriting Deal closure letter PM should write!!

Now the Commies have smelt blood and on the Deal making Congress jump through rings!!
This is what selfish cowardice brings!!!

But what did the Commies say or do that made the Congress sit down and take note!!
Well Commies told PM that in a no confidence motion with BJP they'd vote!!!

PM should have crossed checked with BJP and would have got a pleasant surprise!!
BJP would have told him that to move a no confidence motion on Deal sawaal does not arise!!!

BJP is looking to take credit for this Deal so why would BJP move a no confidence motion???
Surprised that PM on this did not have a notion!!

Or was Sonia worried that by Muslims were perceiving Deal negatively!!!
That India was becoming friends with the enemy of Islam and this they took gravely!!!

Surprising that in a day's time on the Deal Congress did such a back flip!!
And agreed that the Deal it'll for now skip!!!

Laloo should be worried as there is news that his Yadav community he's being damned!!
Seems the Laloo Express in Bihar into a 'rail block' has rammed!!!

To isolate Laloo in the Yadav community Ranjan Yadav's holding a rally!!
Seems many Yadavs with Laloo are no longer pally!!!

Laloo's only hope is that Congress allies with RJD in the next general poll!!!
And no midterm poll will give him time to try to sew in RJD's vote bank the huge hole!!

They saw that post the crucial UPA Commie meeting Laloo was in a deliriously joyous!!!
But don't know why he kept including Commies with his RJD by saying 'us'?????

They say Karat too was jumping with joy … though internally!!!
Put up a semi victorious and semi boastful image externally!!

After years I saw Bardhan smile,
Because his face has always looked as if he's standing on a goo ki pile!!!

Pawar has got his opponents to tone down the Red Wheat outcry!!!
And now to shift the blame karr raha hai Pawar try!!

Commies did say they'd take up this matter but now seem to have backtracked!!
On this issue between themselves Commie Parties cracked!!

And Sonia and Manmohan lack the guts to speak on this matter!!!
Even though on Pawar's jigger pokery the file every month gets fatter!!

Numerical compulsions have taped sealed dono ke mooh!!!
Leave talking on the issue they are not even willing to let out a teeny weeny boo!!

Don't know if the Metro will come up in Punjab ,
But seems on the Metro Punjab Sarkaar ko lagh gaye hai ad ke julaab!!

Badal's tom-toming is costing Punjab dear!!
As of now only feasibility is being done and ad's show as if Metro is already in top gear!!!

In the end it could be Metro toh nahi aayi but Punjab Sarkaar spent on ads a fortune!!!
Empty boasts are Punjab 's misfortune!!

PC says Market defies logic ….. but he knows the inflows are not illogical!!!
By allowing 'synthetic money' via the PN route the rise is only logical!!!

In the future when Hedge Funds reverse flows and Stocks and Rupee drops like a stone!!
PC ke naam pe Investors karren ge moan!!

Sensex has touched 19000........ just 4 trading sessions to do this!!!
Something is definitely amiss!!!

It's a cat and mouse game as Hedge Funds are pumping Dollars as Rupee is getting strong!!
Parking Dollars in India and hoping Rupee will go up…. on the Rupee they've gone long!

So this Market is liquidity driven….. strong Rupee is at the driving wheel!!!
And do remember signs of a bull run coming to end is when Markets give the ludicrous feel!!

Market reversal could wipe out notional or speculative wealth!!
So Stocks cannot be a measure of one's personal wealth's health!!!

Indian households are not gaining in this rise and must be feeling sorry,
Take heart ….. because tomorrow when Market plummets there would be reason to be 'sorry' (sore+sorry)!!!

Confucius says…. Stock prices do not reflect the economy's health!!
And Stocks in hand are not a measure of one's wealth!!

Bharat Kumar

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CORPORATE

Indian banks make a beeline to Dubai
Indian banks are nowadays rushing to Dubai for setting up their branches. They are also entering to into partnership with local banks to en cash the booming economy of Dubai. Such Indian banks who entered Dubai through joint ventures are: ICICI bank, HDFC bank & Axis(formerly UTI) bank. Besides, Indian banks have opened their representative offices. However, Bank of Baroda is the only bank which has been in Dubai for the last 40 years & has permission for retail banking.

Venkat is Company Secretary NACIL

S Venkat is the Company Secretary of the National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), the new company into which Air India and Indian have been merged.

Dhand joins ING Vysya
Sanjeev Dhand has been appointed head (emerging corporates) of ING Vysya.

Travelspice.in, launches travel distribution India 2007

TravelSpice.in of which CEO is Ramu Kallepalli was launched recently. It is now gearing up to exhibit at travel Distribution India'07 event at Taj Land's End, Mumbai.

Rajiv Ravindranathan rejoins Saatchi

Rajiv Ravindranathan who had quit the Saatchi & Saatchi,Bangalore nine months ago is back as Creative Director(CD).Hitherto he was CD with Fish Eye.

Ambar Chakravarty to be ECD Publicis

Ambar Chakravarty is going to be Executive Creative Director (ECD) with Publicis Ambience from next.So far he was Creative Director with McCann-Erickson.

Barun Das to be CEO, Zee News
As the grapevine has it Barun Das is going be CEO with Zee News.Presently he is Executive vice president Media Content & Communications Services (MCCS).

Nayyar is CEO of EEHL
Naresh Nayyar has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Essar Energy Holdings Ltd (EEHL) .