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Supreme Court grants reprieve to Mayawati in Taj Corridor case

Esther — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:26:48 +0000

The Supreme Court granted a reprieve to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in the 175 crore Taj Corridor case, refusing to direct the state governor T V Rajeshwar to sanction her prosecution in the case. In his June 3 order, Governor Rajeshwar had refused to grant sanction to prosecute Mayawati, holding there was no prima facie case and that corruption and forgery charges against the BSP supremo would “not stand scrutiny.” The CBI needed the governor’s sanction to proceed against Mayawati. The Supreme Court special bench headed by Justice SB Sinha rejected this latest application on the ground that the matter was beyond its purview.

The Taj Corridor project was first put forward in 2001 by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the German Technical cooperation, a consultancy firm. It proposed to give a facelift to the areas surrounding Agra’s major monuments along the Yamuna by setting up a heritage corridor covering five historical monuments, including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Ram Bagh, Itmad-ud-Daula’s tomb and Chini ka Rauza. Included in the venture was a blueprint for a swanky shopping mall. However, the whole plan was in disregard of the guidelines laid down by the Environment Ministry and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The grandiose scheme fell to pieces, when it came under media scrutiny in mid-June 2003. Since then the CBI has been attempting to nail the accused, with little success.

Via: Times of India, Andhranews
Image: TimesofIndia

Angelina Jolie goes bare for German mag

Esther — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:46:30 +0000

Whatever the groovy Ms Jolie does makes news!!Especially when it involves displaying that famous body. The ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ star has posed for the October issue of German magazine Park Avenue on its cover wrapped in nothing save a silver satin sheet and a pair of stilettos.
Surprisingly the photo bears an uncanny resemblance to her July cover for Esquire magazine in which she poses in a green satin sheet. A case of recycled covers? Or are photographers running out of ideas??

via:wendywayrad.com

50 years of the Space Age

Esther — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:38:34 +0000

4th October 2007 marks the 50th Anniversary of the launch of Sputnik I. Launched by the Soviets on 4th October 1957,it was the first satellite to orbit Earth. People everywhere tuned into their radios to hear it send its beeping signal as it orbited Earth for 23 days. The launch sparked off a space race. The USA followed the Russian act, putting the Explorer into orbit on January 31, 1958. Russia commemorated the 50th anniversary of the historic occasion with headlines like’ We were first’. Soviet space program veteterans laid flowers near the grave of the Sputnik’s creator Sergei Korolyov, while President Putin sent congratulatory messages to Russian space scientists.

Vermicompost Project for Sustainable Energy and Development

Esther — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:28:57 +0000

A Vermicompost Biogas project by the Karnataka based NGO SKG Sangha, is open for investment by companies interested in earning carbon credits and contributing to sustainable development.The project which won a prize at the 2007 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy uses bioreactors to convert organic waste from farms and households into biogas and agricultural compost.The organisation is planning to set up 10,000 such units which would save about 120,000 MT of carbon dioxide per year. They are now on the lookout for investors for the expansion of the project.Investors would own the emission reduction credits achieved by the project.
More than earning just carbon credits, the project is a boost to sustainable development as it would save time spent on collecting wood and cooking, besides saving money spent on fuel, chemical fertilizers and pesticides.Through the implementation of an appropriate renewable energy technology, this program contributes to the region’s sustainable development. The Project will be implemented in the district through the women’s federation, already formed by SKG Sangha. These units will produce 80,000 tons of vermicompost per year. 50% of this quantity will be utilized in the producers’ own lands and the remaining will be sold in the neighbouring district.

Via:carbonfreezone