Tall order

THE Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) is trying to boost eco-tourism on its land. There are plans to seek permission to renovate Sewri fort as a viewing gallery. The reason behind the sudden zeal in allowing its land to be used seems to be more than just a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. “There is tremendous pressure from state government agencies and private developers to part with our land. If we develop the land ourselves,there won’t be any ownership issues. We can keep the land and let people make use of it,” said a senior MbPT’s official.

Missing the point

AT a civic general body meeting recently,standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale (Shiv Sena),who is tipped to be the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,raised a notice of motion against an upcoming Tata coal power plant in the eastern suburbs. Shewale is concerned that the plant might increase the already high pollution levels of eastern Mumbai. Opposition members,however,slammed his ‘noble intentions’,terming his stance hypocritical. “There are many other issues,such as the dumping grounds and other chemical factories in the eastern suburbs,that are causing pollution. Why should this project affect Shewale? It is not even in his constituency,” said Pravin Chheda of the Congress.

Big news day

IN the Goa reporting circuit,the biggest news is the rape allegation against Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal. Even entertainment reporters,who had travelled from Mumbai and Delhi to cover International Film Festival of India (IFFI),had to shuttle between press conferences at the police headquarters and the Chief Minister’s office on the day the news broke. Such was the turnout at both briefings that Goa CM Manohar Parrikar said,“Even I kept wondering how is it that such a huge crowd of reporters is here”. He was told that they were there to cover IFFI and not Tejpal.