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The Hindu : The ‘will’ to make life simplerInheritance can be easier with a Will, says SRIKALA BHASHYAMGeetha is a 35-year-old school teacher. During the last couple of months, she is spending more time at an advocate’s office than school as she is fighting for property rights, after losing her husband in an accident.Her husband did not think it necessary to make a Will and now, Geetha is forced to fight with his relatives to acquire rights of the property built by her late husband. While technically she is the legal heir to the property, she has been forced to seek legal remedy.Most of us don’t feel the necessity to create a Will though in reality it makes life a lot simpler for our family. In some cases, a Will is not created as many are not aware of the procedures involved in creating it.Here are some tips:Who can create it?Any individual who is not a minor, with sound mind, can create a Will.The biggest advantage with a Will is that it can be created in any language.The prerequisite is that the person who is making it should clearly indicate his intentions with respect to his property.In legal terms, the person who makes the Will is called testator.While the Will can be made at any point of time and can be changed any number of times, it is the last Will which would be considered in the event of the death of the testator.A Will becomes relevant for the family only after the death of the testator. At the same time, the person creating it can revoke it at any point of time.The purpose of a Will can be defeated if it is not attested by at least two witnesses. The witnesses should have seen the testator signing the document.Not compulsoryWhile registration increases its authenticity, it is not compulsory. A registered Will ensures that it cannot be tampered…More

The Hindu : Real estate and new IT solutionsNow, a novel web-based software solution helps builders keep track of their complex transactions and plan for the future, says RANJANI GOVINDRahul Chawla, CEO, Bangalore-based In4velocity SystemsIn4velocity Systems is making leads in providing business solutions for the real estate and property development space. Its market-leading software platform — In4Suite RE — has built exclusive grounds for the real estate market. It is a complete web-based solution and has made inroads as far as flexibility, usability and cost of ownership is concerned, when compared to traditional ERP solutions. PropertyPlus caught up with Rahul Chawla, CEO, In4velocity Systems, to get the details of the ‘solutions’ offered to the real estate industry.What is In4velocity trying to do and reach for in the property/real estate industry?In4velocity was started on the premise of focussing on the real estate and property development industry and provide software solutions to it. With the advent of FDI and with growing affluence of the masses in India, the demand for real estate has shot through the roof, and is an investment opportunity for even high net worth individuals.With such furious activity happening in the industry it has led to unprecedented construction activities in various cities and the management of these activities requires streamlining of the delivery process, including the management of cash flows and finances. Builders have realised that they need something to maintain and manage their ever growing complex transactions to deliver to the end customer.In short, In4velocity helps the real estate developer do just that - from land acquisition to legal, from sales to engineering/purchase and from finance to property management, it provides a single window/unified software interface for the developer to manage his growing business. The In4Suite® - the product – provides a real- time view of the business and gives the developer information at any point of time about the state of his business and the…More

The Hindu : Few know that air pollution is a serious health hazard in our country today. It may sound alarming, but experts say that continuous exposure to air pollution can be very harmful to health and can even prove fatal in some cases.Sources and level of air pollution vary from place to place. In the cities, two-wheelers, cars and buses as well as industry and construction may cause air pollution. While rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are the causes of air pollution in the cities, in the rural areas air pollution is caused by cooking and heating with wood, crop residues, dung cakes and dust from cars driving on dirt or gravel roads.“Small particles and harmful gases are released from these sources. Major air pollutants are Particulate matter (SPM, PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone (O3),” apprises Uma Rajarathnam, Head-Environment Practice at Enzen Global Solutions, an energy and environment consulting firm.“Some air pollutants are directly released from combustion sources. Others such as ozone are secondary pollutants formed in the atmosphere through chemical reaction. Ozone is formed from pollutants emitted from vehicular exhaust in the presence of sunlight and humidity,” explains Peter Wink, Managing Director, Mann And Hummel Filter Pvt. Ltd India, a German subsidiary dealing with air and liquid filters and filtration systems.Air pollution and healthThe extent to which an individual is affected by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the pollutants i.e., the duration of exposure and the concentration of the pollutant.Says Uma, “Air pollution has both short-term and long-term effects. Examples of the former include irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Other symptoms can include headaches, nausea and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical condition of individuals with asthma and emphysema. Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory…More

The Hindu : For a note of realism in real estate pricesThe risks are growing but the U.S. sub-prime crisis was just what the booming global real estate market needed to avoid a bigger and more damaging bubble further ahead, leading property investors and analysts have said.The main message from the Reuters Real Estate forum on the 2008 global outlook for commercial property was that the industry needed to “keep a cool head” as assets re-priced because investor interest in the asset class could not be taken for granted. “The crisis is the best thing that could have happened to real estate because risk premiums had fallen too far and rental growth expectations risen too much and that had to end some time.”Nick Tyrrell, head of research and strategy at JP Morgan Asset Management, said that the sub-prime crisis “has introduced a new note of realism in the pricing of real estate across the world.” “We are seeing deals coming across our desks at 15-20 per cent below where they were six months ago.”But commercial property had become overpriced in many markets and a correction was due, not least in the U.K., where activity has slumped and a re-pricing of assets was well underway and even beginning to draw the attention of foreign buyers.Bigger bubbleAs in the U.S., Britain’s housing market was in decline and policymakers had responded by cutting interest rates, potentially creating new problems, Joe Valente, global head of research at property services firm DTZ, said. “The bigger risk now is of a bigger bubble in 2008-2010 if interest rates come down too quickly.”In view of the growing risk of a U.S. recession, this was not an immediate concern for global investors, not just global property investors, panellists said.“If the economy goes down then so will real estate, along with other markets,” said Matthew Ryall, director of real estate at BlackRock Investment Management.It was also naive…More

The Hindu : Largest subway coming up in BeijingBeijing’s subway system is expected to become the world’s largest by 2015, with investment set to touch $10.8 billion by 2010. The investment would take the length of rail lines to 561 km by 2015 with a capacity to carry nine million passengers daily, when the rail service would extend from the downtown areas to many key locations on the city’s fringes, including the Olympic Park and seven suburban satellite cities.The subway transport would account for 50 per cent of all public transit use within eight years, easing pressure on the roads, Xinhua news agency, quoting Beijing Morning Post, said.Construction on five new subway routes is on. The capital now has a combined length of 142 km, carrying about 2.3 million passengers each day. - PTI…More

The Hindu : Seven star residences in demand!Apartments in premium segments are targeted at high-end customers who appreciate luxury and exclusivity. Why are people willing to pay an astronomical price for a dwelling? It’s much more than just snob value, finds out NANDHINI SUNDARWhile the IT boom changed the Garden City from its laid-back ways to an important destination on the global map, a silent simultaneous transformation was taking place in its housing structure, with its quaint old bungalows and picturesque independent houses giving way to large apartment complexes promising a lifestyle befitting its upwardly mobile residents.What started off as multiple dwelling units to negate soaring land prices over the years metamorphosed into complexes offering a lifestyle in accordance with different budget segments. Soon, the kind of facilities on offer in each complex became the bone of contention, each trying to outbid the other in terms of facilities and perceived luxurious living.This concept has now taken on a premium connotation, so as to set individual developments apart from the run- of-the-mill variety. And this segment certainly does not come cheap as it is targeted at the ultimate high-end customer who is able to recognise and appreciate such luxury and exclusivity, at the same time willing and capable of paying that price.Ideas of exclusivityTalk about a state-of-the-art club house to a high-end customer and he is likely to tell you that it is available in every second apartment complex in the city. But tell him that you are referring to an individual pool that comes heated, a mini golf course, him being the only one on his floor which offers a panoramic view of the city and he is likely to sit up and take notice. For, that is the kind of facilities he is looking for and yes, willing to shell out whatever it costs.And when it comes to money, we are talking in the range of Rs….More

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The Hindu : Bridging the digital divideSTAFF REPORTERThe young mindsshowed great enthusiasm.Tech savvy:Prize winners with Pradeep K. Dutta of SynopsysThe digital divide is all too evident in the tech city of Bangalore. So an endeavour to foster scientific thinking amongst students of government high schools in Karnataka was heartily welcomed. The event, Disha 07, was the fifth of its kind undertaken by IT major Synopsys at the St. Theresa’s Girls High School, Chamarajpet.With a total number of 52 teams from 30 schools being a part of this initiative, Disha 07 provided a platform for students to showcase their scientific skills. The young minds showed great enthusiasm with their science projects and in interacting with the judges present for the day.New techies“We are firm believers in the fact that we need to promote a thirst for knowledge in vital fields like science and technology among children,” said Pradip K Dutta, Corporate Vice President & Managing Director, Synopsys India Pvt. Ltd., while giving away the prizes to the winners. Government High School, Hebbal, which left competition behind with its project All about Aeroplanes, project took home the glory.Government High School, Kadusonappanahalli, walked off with both the second and third prizes with Mathematics Project on Circles and Gobar Gas and Rainwater Harvesting.As a part of this event, about 80 students from these 30 schools attended a workshop at the Visvesvaraya Science Museum. Twenty-five meritorious students among them would also be sponsored for a two week summer camp at the museum….More

The Hindu : Magic of ChristmasESHA CHATTERJEEWinter is here and so is Christmas.Photo: V.V.KrishnanWintry mornings:Days away from Christmas.Winter is here and Bangaloreans are now seen on streets covered in heavy woollens to face the chill weather. The cold morning air makes one want to stay in bed rather than get up and start the day. But ask a few children and you’ll see their eyes gleam at the mention of winter. For winter means December and December means Christmas–the magic of Christmas!Christmas, as we know, is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm and when it comes to children, this time of the year is special to them. Children are seen waiting for Santa Claus to shower them with gifts!Song and dramaChristmas carols such as ‘Away in a Manger’ or ‘We Three Kings’ are popular among school children.Apart from the Nativity story, there are also the many stories of Santa Claus coming to town from the North Pole with gifts for children and ‘Rudolph the red nosed reindeer’ and those by writers such as Charles Dickens and his ‘A Christmas Carol’. While mothers are busy baking Christmas cakes, children hang stockings praying that they would be filled with gifts on Christmas Eve!In schools, there is a generally festive atmosphere. Children take part in Christmas plays, have Christmas parties and also play games like the all-time favourite ‘Christmas angel’!Zainab Hasan, a class VII student of Baldwin Girls’ High School says, “We have Christmas competitions every year in December. We also take part in plays. Everybody is very happy during this time. We all look forward to Christmas.” Aanchal Kanodia, standard IX, Delhi Public School said, “The junior classes have a lot of fun. Each class holds Christmas parties and Santa Claus visits every class. Christmas brings happiness to all of us.” So, there is no doubt that the Christmas spirit is in the air and here to stay!…More

The Hindu : Energy managementCHITRA V. RAMANIPreserve the sources of energy.Energy management has come to be very important today. With experts predicting that in the next 50 years, we may well have exhausted all the natural resources, energy conservation and management has taken on a new meaning. It is in this regard that Philips Electronics, India, has embarked on an ambitious plan, titled “School Contact Programme” (SCP), to educate schoolchildren across the country on the importance of energy management. Through the programme, Philips is hoping to reach children from 580 schools across nine cities.Lighting experts would interact with students at different levels to educate them about the importance of energy management.Conserve energySpecially designed competitions for students so as to make them understand energy management and energy efficient lighting and its importance in today’s context will be part of the programme. Three winners of the competition will be awarded a scholarship of Rs. 1 lakh each. In Bangalore, the programme will be conducted at Camlin High School and BNM School….More