Mumbai Underground: Hose rules

‘Diabetic’ irony

Two days before World Diabetes Day on November 14,the BMC had flagged off a new campaign to fight diabetes,in association with some top corporates. The initiative was launched at a swanky function at a South Mumbai five-star hotel in the presence of eminent personalities. Citing serious concern over the rise in diabetes cases in Mumbai,many speakers stressed the need to “eat right”. The event ended with a lunch that offered several delicacies. Ironically,many of the delectable dishes served,be it appetisers or main course,were cholesterol-inducing.

Demolition tourism

The Campa Cola compound row had made headlines last week. On November 11,a day before the original deadline set by the Supreme Court for residents to vacate and demolition work on illegal flats was to begin,a car owner stopped this correspondent near Haji Ali,asking for directions to Worli. When asked where he wanted to go,the car owner said that he,along with some friends,wanted to visit the Campa Cola buildings. “The buildings are there today,they might not be there after a few days,” he quipped. The group,which had come all the way from Bhiwandi,was travelling in three cars.

Policing Bollywood

To reach out to Bollywood,the Mumbai police roped in a public relations firm to bring actors and the media together. The PRO of the firm had sent email invites to media persons and members of the film industry for a chat with the Mumbai police commissioner and joint commissioners. However,not many in the latter category turned up. The officers had to address the media with just three members of the film industry present. When the police demanded that directors and producers avoid ‘vulgar item numbers’ in films,the filmy folks promptly walked out,saying that the censor board is there to correct them.

Mind your words

NCP state president Bhaskar Jadhav’s public criticism of Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare has not gone down well within the party. Its political managers wonder that if the state unit chief publicly exposes in-house differences,other state leaders might follow suit. A senior leader asked Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to do some tough talking with both leaders as the duo’s personal duel was affecting the party’s image. In a stern message,Pawar ticked off both the leaders,saying,“Senior leaders like you should know that there are forums where issues can be discussed. One should know where to stop.”

Job switch

Starting next month,the forest department will release crablets into Thane creek to give fisheries and mangrove conservation a boost. The project is expected to increase the income of local fishermen,who could get up to Rs 1,000 for a single large crab,say forest officials. While explaining how beneficial the scheme will be for locals,a senior official admitted that if the catch is good,the monthly income of a fisherman would be more than his. “Maybe I should leave this job and take up fishing,” the official said.