my story

26 February 2020

A ray of hope for us Nagpurians.

Some time back,(2/5/20). I had written about good looking Futala Lake.

Some more good news.

Nagpur city has lot of isolated spots in midst of residential localities. Few of the Nagpurian's without any discipline and civic sense start throwing garbage at these spots. Soon that isolated spot turns in garbage dump.

People residing in those areas do not like it. There is lot of bickering and bitching about it. But no one does anything about it.

Eventually some good citizens lodges a complaint. With NMC it needs to be done more than once.
After few manys the garbage has become mountainous. NMC staff may arrive with a truck and a JCB. Pick up major part of garbage and leave.
The cycle continues infinitium.
Some time back, during my morning walk I noticed that MNC staff with a mini truck was removing whatever garbage had collected after one such occasion. Next day I made it a point to see all such isolated spots in my neighbourhood.
Lo and behold all were clean.
It appears after the arrival of New Municipal Commissioner, MNC seems to have woken up. More power to him.
I sincerely hope that when NMC has finally woken up, Nagpurians without discipline and cicicsense also wake up.
Unless that happens Nagpur will never become CLEAN & SMART.

21 February 2020

Indifferent and 'could not careless" attitude of MSEDCL.

Last year in July, WYITHOUT subsidy, with very altruistic motive of saving the world environment. To respond to policy of Govt of India to install alternate source of energy, I installed roof top solar system. Of course with electricity bill of only Rs 90/- as demand charges. I was saving of almost Rs 1000/- pm which was a great motivator.

Happy state of affairs did not last.

In my electricity bill for December I was charged Rs 320/- as demand charges. which is more than THREE TIMES the correct charges. I rang up representative of the firm, they have commitment to give after sales service. He accompanied me to Trimurti Nagar Sub Division of MSEDCL.

There were 4-5 other people in the same boat having been slapped with demand charges of Rs 320/-.

Staff at Trimurti Nagar was quite helpful. They informed us that Correct tariff code for our single phase residential connection is " 90 LT I Res. 1". In this case higher demand charges have been levied due to entry of wrong tariff code of "92 LT-I A" which is the code for 3 phase connection.

They projected our case to higher level. My complaint was acknowledged as " Tariff Change application no 24944619 on 23 Jan" . Till date there is no response.

To add insult to injury in the bill for January the same thing happened. I made on line complaint which was acknowledged as "request ID 00000 14814849"

I do not understand why should a COMPLAINT be acknowledged as REQUEST.

When contacted, firm representative informed me that hundreds of customers of all the firms installing roof top solar panels are facing the same problem. They have repeatedly approached various divisional offices. Only reply they have received is that " The do not know how or why this has happened. It was done by IT dept and they are helpless and cannot help.

As informed to me by my rep, When contacted Mr. Kundan T Bhise, Executive Engineer Congress Nagar division office, replied that "he has no idea. It has been done by IT dept and he cannot help" etc.

I fail to Understand why an Executive Engineer cannot take up the matter with IT department. As if IT Dept is

an alien entity beyond communication.

It reflects nothing else but totally indifferent and “Could not care less” attitude.

Will somebody in MSEDCL please pay heed to plight of hapless customers.

05 February 2020

A ray of hope for us Nagpurians.

Futala Lake is normally was full of lot of garbage, particularly toward the overflow point, being choked to death by hyacinth growth covering almost half the lake surface.
Couple of days back when returning from Vayusena Nagar looked at a sight which came as very pleasant surprise.
Futala lake was was clean !!! There was no hyacinth to be seen anywhere on lake surface !!!
Under the overcast sky with rain laden heavy clouds and gentle breeze blowing, pristine condition of our beloved water body gladdened the heart.
Looking at the scene felt that NMC seems to be waking up under new boss.
There is ray of hope for us Nagpurians.
PS:
Will request concerned authorities to clean up the muck collected near over flow point.

Clean and Hyacinth free Futala.

Muck and garbage collected near overflow point.

Took Our friends for their first ride on metro.

Facebook Post "Our First ride in " My Metro" ("माझी मेट्रो")" had generated some interest among our friends.
Fixed up with Tats and Jaya to take them on their first ride in matro.
All of us enjoyed the ride immensely. So much so that lots of youngsters and co passengers were giving us bemused look.
Which surprisingly added to our enjoyment.
I recommend irrespective of their age should become young again and enjoy new things in life.
Try it. You will be happier for it.

Entry. Scan QR code on your ticket here to gain entry.

31 January 2020

Our First ride in " My Metro" ("माझी मेट्रो")

One of the closer metro station to our house is Subhash Nagar metro station. It is on Aqua Line, which was inaugurated on 29 January 2020.
During our evening walk we go up to Sheetla Mata Mandir. Subhash Nagar metro station is just 100 - 200 meters from there.
Yesterday when we reached Sheetla Mata Mandir I suggested to go and have a look at Subhash Nagar metro station.

When we reached there Priti suggested "why not take a ride". So we went and got a return ticket from Subhash Nagar to Lokmanya Nagar.
Total duration of the trip from Subhash Nagar to Lokmanya Nagar was of 30 minutes duration, including the wait time for the same train to start back on it journey back to Burdi.
Station has been made very passenger friendly. To reach metro platform there is a lift, an escalator and a wide staircase with support rails.

The ticketing staff is friendly. We paid Rs 10 for travel on the metro. From discussion with ticketing staff I got the impression that on this Rs 10 ticket one can travel from end to end stations or any intermediate distance. So we paid Rs 40 for our first return trip and may pay same for all future trips.

To access the platform first you have to cross electronically controlled gate which opens when the QR code printed on the ticket is put on the QR code scanner of the gate. As soon as ticket is scanned gate opens. Pass through a security check and on to platform.

Through out the station premise information boards are displaying information covering every aspect of travel by "माझी मेट्रो"

Security personnel are patrolling on the station premise and on platforms.

Coaches are brand new and veri clean, well ventilated by ac and well lighted . By every door present station and up coming stations are indicated.

Inside the coach also all sorts of useful information displayed. There was not mush crowd may be because it was only the second day of operation and public is still not sure about the service

I have travelled in Delhi metro which are now few years old. Still the cleanliness on the coaches, the platform and the stations are still maintained in top condition. People do not litterant where in metro area. They do not spit in the coaches or any where.

It was our first ride in "माझी मेट्रो" we felt very proud that Nagpur is one of the very few cities which have this facilities. When we went for the ride every thing was sick and span, clean.

I only pray and wish that the undisciplined nagpurians no not treat "माझी मेट्रो"the same way they treat traffic rules and use nicely coming up wide roads.

15 January 2020

Slip Shod execution of work. Waste of Tax Payers Money.

Lot of work was going on in our area for long time. Deep ditches were being laid to lay very heavy to heavy duty electricity cables. After lot of inconvenience to public over long period of time finally the cables were laid the ditches filled up.
For a change the top surface of ditches was levelled and cemented.
A great improvement over previous practise of covering the ditches with almost a foot of mound of loose earth causing problems to public and presenting ugly sight to already moon-scaped road surfaces.
The work of connecting heavy duty cables to distribution cabinet has been done in extremely slipshod manner. Heavy duty cables have not been cut to correct lengths. To play it safe almost at every steel distribution box, cables were left with extra length. While filling the ditches and concreting the surface, extra length of cables have not been buried properly and surface cemented with heavy duty cables exposed. Now that the surface has been cemented these will remain exposed forever with attendant danger in future .
Apparently either no inspection was carried out after execution of work or inspecting personnel have been totally irresponsible and negligent in their duties.
Decent looking newly installed steel distribution boxes have been pasted all over by advertising pamphlets. No legal action is ever initiated against such people who disfigure public property. This should not be difficult as the address and phone numbers are prominently printed on the offending pamphlets.
All this indicated total lack of accountability, negligent and irresponsible attitude pervasive in babudom.
Babudom ki Jai ho. Nothing and no one can defeat you !