Sunday, November 7, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Obamas visit Humayun Tomb after PM receives them in Delhi

Posted: 07 Nov 2010 05:29 AM PST

After having been received by PM Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the Delhi airport, US President Barack Obama and Michelle visited the 16th century Humayun Tomb as a cultural part of their three day visit to India on Sunday.

At the entrance of the monument, Obama was received by ASI Director-General Gautam Sengupta and other officials. “Wonderful. Let`s take a look,” Obama said as he entered the main building. Then, ASI Superintendent Archaeologist, Delhi, K K Mohammad, took the US First Couple around the monument explaining its history.

The visit that started at 5pm lasted 45 minutes wherein the President was shown around the Mughal era mausoleum. Humayun`s tomb, a UNESCO world heritage site, is said to be a model for the Taj Mahal in Agra. Located in Nizamuddin East of Delhi, it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale.

The complex, swarming with plainclothesmen, had turned into a virtual fortress and kept out of bounds the general public.

The Obamas also interacted with 14 kids, the children of those involved in the renovation of the complex, and shook hands with them. Obama bent on his knees and chatted with the children who were dressed in their school uniforms. He gave them gifts in golden wrappers and signed autographs too. The kids, aged from 4 to 10 years of age and accompanied by their parents, were advised to work and study hard by the President.

The Presidential entourage then drove to the ITC Maurya hotel where Obamas are staying.

Courtesy:ZN

PM Manmohan Singh welcomes Obama to Delhi

Posted: 07 Nov 2010 02:17 AM PST

Indicative of the importance India accords to its emerging strategic relationship with the US, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur personally welcomed US President Barack Obama and Michelle at the city airport on Sunday.

The Obamas are in Delhi on the second part of their three-day India tour. They had arrived in Mumbai yesterday, where their itinerary included paying respects to 26/11 martyrs, meeting business honchos, school children and youth.

Presidential plane 'Air Force One' landed at the IGI Airport at 3.25 pm and headed to Palam Air Base side of airport where the red carpet was rolled out to welcome him.

Prime Minister Singh was present on the tarmac – setting aside protocol – along with his wife and other dignitaries which included Army and Air Force Chiefs, Salman Khurshid, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

Singh, 78, and Obama, 49, share a special chemistry and have praised each other on several occasions. Obama hosted the first state dinner of his presidency for Manmohan Singh in Washington on November 24 last year.

From the airport, the US President headed to the Roosevelt House located inside the US embassy to meet Embassy staff and then will be visiting Humayun's Tomb.

Later in the evening, the Obamas will be attending the private dinner being hosted by the Prime Minister at his official residence, 7 Race Course Road.

Courtesy:ZN

Obama enthrals Gen Next with his oratory, spontaneity

Posted: 07 Nov 2010 01:55 AM PST

At his erudite best, US President Barack Obama on Sunday enthralled the generation next of India with his views on a host of issues related to India-US relationship, Pakistan, Islam and his Gandhi 'connect'.

In a freewheeling interaction with Mumbai university students in typical US town-hall style at the St Xavier's College, Obama answered some tough questions from the young minds, questions which even seasoned journalist would find it difficult to put forth.

Starting with a 'Namaste', Obama once again reiterated the extraordinary amount of respect for the rich civilization that he and Michelle have for India and went on to stress the limitless possibility of the Indo-US relationship.

The US President said he wanted to take ties with India to another level and asserted that the South Asian nation has already “risen” as a power.

“The common thread that runs is my determination to take partnership (between the two countries) to an entirely new level,” Obama said, adding that the US did not consider India only as an emerging power. “We believe that India has already risen,” said Obama.

Obama, who has chosen to stay at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel as a tribute to victims of the 26/11 terror attack, said he was struck by the resilience of the Indian people.

Obama later invited questions from the students.

The first question: What is your take on jihad?

Obama answered: “Jehad has lot of meanings… but it is subject to lot of interpretations. More than a billion people in the world practice Islam. It is a great religion and symbolises peace, justice, fairness and tolerance.”

"The notion that violence is the way to mediate differences needs to be rejected. Overwhelming majority of people following Islam wants peace," he added.

“We recognise this great religion…This great religion, in the hands of a few extremeists, has been distorted….One of the challenges we face is how we isolate those who have distorted its vision,” he said at the St Xavier`s College.

“It is a major challenge in India and around the world…” Obama said.

How can governments wean away their citizens from being materialistic and encourage them to adopt human values?

Obama said: “I don`t want any young person to be dismissive. A health materialism is good. But if all you are thinking about is material wealth then that is poverty of ambition”.

“I think this is something that the US and India share, that is a healthy scepticism about electoral politics. In some cases in India the private sector is moving faster than public sector. I hope some of you will get involved in public service which can be frustrating and slow,” he said.

“But India will need you not just as businessmen but also as leaders who will make government more responsible and is as important. Otherwise there will be an imbalance,” he added.

Obama also gave the example of Mahatma Gandhi in the context of materialistic wealth.

“When I was at Gandhi`s room (Mani Bhavan) it was telling that the only objects in the room were a mat, a spinning wheel, sandals, a few papers and this man changed the history like no one else did in the 20th century in terms of the number of lives he effected,” the President said.

Courtesy:ZEE

PM to break protocol, receive Obama at airport

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 10:39 PM PDT

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur will receive US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at the Delhi airport on Sunday, sources here said on Saturday.

“Yes, the prime minister and his wife will be receiving the Obamas,” sources at the Prime Minister’s Office told IANS.

Obama is on a four-day visit to India. He arrived in Mumbai on Saturday afternoon, and is to reach New Delhi on Sunday afternoon.

The prime minister is hosting a private dinner on Sunday for the US first couple at his official residence, 7 Race Course Road.

Singh, 78, and Obama, 49, share a special chemistry and have praised each other on several occasions. Obama hosted the first state dinner of his presidency for Manmohan Singh in Washington on Nov 24 last year.

Obama leaves for Indonesia on Tuesday morning. He will also visit South Korea and Japan during his 14-day Asia trip

Courtesy: IBN

Obamas shake a leg with school kids to celebrate Diwali

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 10:18 PM PDT

US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle celebrated Diwali in style with school children in Mumbai on Sunday. What added to the joyfulness of the moment was US President joining his wife Michelle and school kids in dancing to the tunes of a Maharashtrian Koli song.

The US first couple started their day at 9.50 am, when they arrived at Holy Name High School, located very close to the Taj Mahal Hotel – where he stayed overnight – to meet school children and celebrate Diwali with them.

As per the Indian tradition, he lit the lamp and shook hands with children and patted them on their backs. Thereafter, students first performed a traditional dance with diyas (earthenware lamps).

A visibly pleased Obama was seen smiling all through the dance performance. Michelle also could not hide her excitement and keenly watched the traditional dance form of India.

After the dance with lamps, students danced on the tunes of a traditional Maharashtrian Koli (Fishermen) Song. Midway, some of the kids requested the Obamas to join them. At first the President turned down the invite politely even as Michelle got out of her seat in flash and joined the kids in dancing to the peppy tune.

Soon afterwards, the kids once again requested Obama to join in, he could not say no this time around and joined the kids on the dance floor amid applause from all those present in the small room where the function was being held.

The students then showed Obama and his wife the traditional 'rangoli' made by them for the occasion. The visiting dignitaries were also requested to fill the Peacock design with coloured powder.

The first couple of United States were then taken around a science exhibition, highlighting awareness about pollution and environment, followed by an interaction with 16 students, who participated in the exhibition, and a meeting with their parents and teachers.

Last year, the US President had presided over a Diwali celebration at the White House.

Following his engagements at the school, Obama headed straight to St Xavier`s College, where he is to address a gathering of select student from different city colleges and also take questions from the young minds.

Courtesy:ZEE

Building sector has to register afresh: TCP

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 09:26 PM PDT

Professionals in the construction sector will have to register afresh with the town and country planning department (TCP) as per the requirements of the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010.

“This is part of centralizing the registration process as part of the new regulations,” TCP’s senior town planner Morad Ahmed said. The regulations provide designation of notary architects, engineers and others for the purpose of issuing technical approval to files of single dwelling units.

The architects, engineers, structural engineers, town planners, landscape architects and urban designers would have to register themselves after November 8, said Ahmed.

Earlier, the architects would register with the respective planning and development authorities (PDAs), while civil engineers were required to register with the public works department (PWD).

While the renewal will be effective for a period of five years, professionals such as engineers, structural engineers, town planners, landscape architects and urban designers with valid registration of their institutions - Institution of Engineers (IEI), Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI), Indian Society of Landscape Architects or other such recognized institutes or societies — will be registered at half the prescribed rates, informed sources.

After nearly a decade, the government finally notified the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010, on September 9. The new rules seek to wrap up under one package provisions related to building and construction activity scattered in various other Acts. These include the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, Goa Municipal Act, 1968 (bylaws), Goa Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, and various regulations of the planning and development authority (PDA), sources said.

Group housing units and multi-storied buildings will face stringent action in future if they misuse parking space for commercial and other purposes.

Some new concepts, including post-occupancy audit, have been introduced for the first time to prevent misuse of parking space. Architects and civil engineers had raised certain issues over the new regulations, and these are being looked into, sources said.

Courtesy:TOI
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