Archive for October 20, 2007
October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu :
Replacing the estimated eight lakh “zero watt” incandescent lamps in use in Kerala with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps will amount to setting up a 9.11 MW power plant under the current circumstances, says Georgekutty Karianappally of Lifeway Solar, a company in India dealing in LED lamps.
Proper awareness and the will to change can give LED lamps their rightful place even as the world stares at energy crisis and global warming.
Mr. Georgekutty said that that a 2-w LED lamp can replace a 15-w incandescent lamp.
The cost of the LED lamp is Rs.150 while that of the incandescent lamp is Rs.20.
However, the LED lamp will run for 11 years whereas the incandescent lamp has a life of around 300 hours.
With about 15 per cent of the electricity produced in the country going into lighting, one can imagine the revolution that LED lamps can bring about…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu :
Burglaries, thefts and increasing crime rate, of late are making security and surveillance systems a must have. These hi-tech gadgets have become an essential means of keeping a tight vigil over surrounding spaces. And to meet the emerging needs, Godrej Secure has launched a series of security systems, metal detectors and surveillance systems.
With the concept of delivering a range of systems under one shop, Godrej Security Equipment Division, Vice President and Business Head, D.E. Byramjee unveiled the Premises, Electronic and Physical security systems.
The premises security saw road blockers, tyre killers, bullet proof products, explosive and narcotics detectors, vehicle tracking systems, under vehicle surveillance systems, X- ray scanners, hand held metal detector and door frame metal detectors. The electronic and physical security equipment has data safes, access control systems, laser and electrical fencing, biometrics and currency bin cabinets.
Elaborate process
All the products are configured on the specific requirements of each individual through a four-part process. The space which is to be secured is reviewed and then the consumer is given security consultancy after which the equipment is installed.
A demonstration of the equipment was given at the launch event in Hyderabad in the presence of singer Karunya. He was subjected to a remote fire arm detection system and then it scanned the crowd to locate a man who was carrying…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu : items in the print media a couple of months ago stating that Indian architects are facing fierce competition from overseas talent. What are the implications of such vying? Would this kind of a scenario have an impact on the major players in the sector here? Will this development allow the global players to capture the Indian real estate market in the days to come? Let us have a look at these and related issues.
The real estate boom, the entry of the FDI, the lure of luxurious living, stylish villas, mega commercial establishments and large malls have thrown up new challenges to designers and builders, as global standards are sought for in the present millennium.
Fair share
World class designs are not really required to be replicated, but international standards in plans, design and safety and use of newer materials that make financial sense need to be brought in to secure a fair share of business for local architects and designers.
If the local talent is not able to rise up to global standards, it goes without saying that our experts will lose out to ‘imported’ talent.
The positive side is that integration of local talent will become necessary, especially because they will be in the know of local codes and regulations, ground realities and beliefs like vaasthu.
There is a need for integration of global and local talents which will also satisfy the local ethos. There are more than 30,000 architects in India, 80 per cent located in large cities. There are large firms with four decades of experience, out of which a negligible percentage have personnel trained abroad.
The council of architects is reported to be aware of the challenges ahead, especially with the impending large scale FDI participation in the Indian real estate.
What can happen…
Let us first take the case of the…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu : alone is not enough to embellish your home, here is a choice: grandfather clocks. Maybe it was a part of your childhood. But, with the passage of years these clocks became a rarity. Many people might have no idea of how they looked like.
But, a small hamlet named Kottapdi in Thrissur district is making these grand-looking grandfather clocks today. The elegant clocks made here are sold even in the UAE and Singapore.
Grandfather clocks are used to add elegance to a house; you would not be interested in them if your idea is to merely have a device that displays the time. In fact, a lot of hard of work goes into the making of the grandfather clocks.
Finely crafted
It starts with the cutting of the wooden log (usually rosewood or mahogany) – the raw material – to size, which is then smoothened. The work is done artistically for different models and the fittings in brass and the finely crafted pendulum and machinery is fixed only in the last stage.
Some clocks work on spring movement and others on weight. The weights descend to the bottom of the cabinet once in 15 days and they have to be restored to the original position by pulling chains.
The dial is made of brass. When the work is over, the grandfather clock will look like an old, traditional almirah. And some of them, like the almirah, harbour space enough for keeping mementos and the like. Run mechanically, they need winding once a week.
“Even after bringing in exquisite furniture and beautifully designed chairs and table, I felt there was vacant space in my large visitors’ room. It was then I heard about grandfather clocks being made here. Having placed one in the room, it looks so grand. In fact it’s a bit nostalgic too to hear its chime,” says Lakshmi, a housewife.
The price ranges from Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 35,000. The height from 78″ to 85″.
…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu : , you have to purchase the policy from an insurance agent recognised by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority. If you want to invest in fixed deposits, you have to follow RBI guidelines.
If one wants to invest in shares then there are SEBI guidelines for regulation. However, when a person is on the verge of making the most significant investment in his or her life i.e. buying a house, there is no regulatory body.
A paradoxical situation indeed, which has led to lack of professionalism and has brought builders and brokers of all kinds, who are not aware of basic rules and facts of civil engineering, into the picture.
According to Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy by next year a real estate regulatory body would be in place to protect interests of consumers. However, consumer rights experts have reservations over the proposed regulatory body. “Will the regulatory body be allowed to run by people who do not have vested interests? Will the huge lobby of builders and brokers allow the regulatory body to come in the first place?” asks consumer activist N. Ganesan of Consumer Care Centre.
However, several builders feel that a regulatory body would go a long way in bringing transparency. “It’s like providing guarantee to the consumer. We also came to know that some kind of control would be exercised over pre-launch offers to stop builders from taking consumers for a ride before taking project clearances,” says the president of Builders Forum for Andhra Pradesh, C. Shekhar Reddy.
Builders’ version
Certain sections in the builders’ community also point out that the regulatory body can help builders.
“What will the builder do when the customer pulls out or pays for the project irregularly? The honest builder suffers and is not able to complete his project on time. So, in addition to the consumer, the regulatory body would also help builders involved in some high quality projects,” points out a builder.
…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu :
D. MURALI
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The common pumpkin may find its place outside many buildings, suspended from a rope. Consider what this vegetable goes through, apart from being a watery delight in sambar!…More |
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu :
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Can realty stocks be an option for investors? Let’s explore, says SRIKALA BHASHYAM…More |
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu : operty. Subsequently, your parents migrated abroad. Since then, there have been only visits to India. You vaguely know that you or your family own a property. You have never found time to gather more particulars. You have heard that the property prices have shot up. May be, it is worthwhile to reconsider the probabilities of tracing the property.
Take another possibility. You have purchased a property when you are abroad. You have lost contact with the person who has helped you purchase the property. All you have is bits and pieces of information and papers. In many ways, it will be helpful to locate the property. You do not know how to go about it.
Take yet another instance. You have visited the property once. You have purchased from a real estate agent, who has closed down business. You know the rough location. You have some papers. Circumstances are such that the property can be used for an emergent purpose. You are not able to relocate the property because there is considerable development all around. What do you do in the circumstances?
Patience needed
Whatever the circumstances, the identification of a property, the exact location of which is not known, could be of considerable use to you. Let us see whether an unidentified property can be located. The possibilities of one locating a property like this are very high. However, a lot of patience, energy and endeavour are required.
You may have some paper or document with you. Try and first identify the village in which the property is located. In many States, several villages may have the same names. Hence, a broad location of the property is to be known.
Search records
If the village is identified, records of the Revenue Department pertaining to the village can be searched. These records could be in the nature of…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu : e discussions around water tend to be more from the human consumption point of view. How many litres of water do we need? Does the city have a water shortage? Is there enough water in the borewell? What is the quality of water? …
The ecological role of water, described ably as “akin to blood in the human body — moving resources to where they are needed and taking away waste to where it is removed — and the very essence of life itself” is much less discussed and acted upon.
Since a sound understanding and management of water has been the bedrock of human civilisation, a further small step in understanding water — “which was the environment and not a part of it” as ecologist Prakash Gole puts it — is necessary.
Biodiversity
With streams and rivers, flow is critical, stagnancy is death. Flow oxygenates and cleans water. Oxygen helps break down nutrients and increase bio-diversity.
While all of us may not be lucky to have flowing streams of clean water in our backyard how is it for the younger generation in our cities who see only flowing sewage, if at all they see anything flowing? What is the impact on their young minds?
Groups such as the Ecological Society based in Pune work for ecological restoration of streams. Working with children and communities, they remove waste and plastics to ensure non-pollution of streams, plant native species to restore bird and wildlife habitats and prevent soil erosion, create fish ladders to allow fish to move and spawn upstream riding over check dams and like barriers.
Since most of the rain in India falls during the four monsoon months, most water bodies lose water flows in the dry months. Lakes and tanks tend to dry up and streams have trickles flowing in them.
Nature, of course, has adjusted to these variations over the millennia. Plants are attuned to full submergence and partial drying. Birds migrate and come back when…More
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October 20, 2007 at 12:00 am
· City · Real Estate
The Hindu :
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Living in India and enjoying a character that is not particularly Indian. A look at the plush themes and features that make up community and apartment ambience, by RANJANI GOVIND…More |
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