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First Kudankulam nuke reactor to start soon: PM
Delhi’s shame |
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Juvenile minor: School head
Chill back in North
Mayawati slams UPA for its ‘bad policies’
Cong will have to sharpen its stance on peace with Pak
Army presents rare gift to Mahakumbh pilgrims
Rs 100-cr restoration plan for Qutub Shahi tombs
KJP deadline to oust BJP govt fails
With PM’s nudge, train corridor picks up speed
Forces short of medical reserves for war, disaster relief
Chandigarh lab to examine CD of MLA Owaisi’s hate speech
Soon: Tirumala temple wealth on public display
Govt to look into Vodafone concerns: Sibal Rs 22,600 cr lie unclaimed with PF Commissioner Hemraj’s village to get road, helipad, power
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First Kudankulam nuke reactor to start soon: PM
New Delhi, January 15 ''As we pursue our national growth objectives to meet the rising aspirations of our people, the supply of affordable clean energy will be one of our foremost national challenges and a key priority for our government. Nuclear energy will remain an essential and increasingly important element of our energy mix. We are in the process of expanding our indigenous nuclear power programme,'' he said on the occasion of Department of Atomic Energy's Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2011 here. The PM, however, made it clear that there would be no compromise with the safety and livelihoods of the people in the country's pursuit on nuclear power. ''Even as we implement our power programme, we will continue to ensure that nuclear power remains wholly safe. The Fukushima incident in 2011 raised justifiable safety concerns about nuclear power.'' He also disclosed that the reviews of the nuclear power plants in the country had been completed. ''Our cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency has been enhanced, and the first Operational Safety Review Team recently visited the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station.'' Parliament was also examining a Bill to set up a new Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority, he added. The PM praised Indian scientists and technologists for working with unfailing commitment, dedication and skill despite decades of facing international technology denial regimes. ''It is to their credit that India has now mastered advanced technologies and developed indigenous capabilities across the entire nuclear fuel cycle. Their efforts have not only given us deterrence capabilities and nuclear energy, but national capacity to apply the benefits of nuclear science to areas such as agriculture and healthcare.” He was confident that these scientists and technologists would serve as beacons of inspiration for the younger generations of scientists and technologists. “'We should ensure that we continue to attract the best scientific minds among our younger generations to these fields. Even more, I hope that our nuclear scientists would continue to be guided by the basic goal of directing scientific activities to bring about an improvement in the quality of life of our people.”
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HC notice to Centre on plea for CBI probe into cop’s death
Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, January 15 Justice GP Mittal also asked the Delhi government to respond to the plea within seven days. Advocate GK Bansal has moved the HC pointing out contradictions in the statements of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, medical experts and eye-witnesses on the cause of death of the constable. The Delhi Police has booked eight youths on the charge of murder. On another petition filed by the youths, the HC ordered the preservation of their mobile call records. The youths have pleaded for quashing the FIR filed against them, contending that the police had foisted the case against them without any substantial proof. The judge, however, refused to immediately entertain another plea by the accused for supply of the video footage recorded at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. This would be considered on the next date of hearing on January 29. The accused have expressed the apprehension that the police would tamper with the DMRC video footage. The 47-year-old constable had sustained the injuries on December 21 and died two days later at the Ram Mohar Lohia Hospital here. The gang rape victim, who had been assaulted in a moving bus by six persons on December 16, died on December 29.
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Juvenile minor: School head
New Delhi, January 15 The present and the former headmasters of the school in Bhawanipur at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, where the juvenile had studied till Class III, appeared before the Board presided over by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel and told her that they cannot identify the boy but know that he took admission in the school in 2002. The former principal said during the time of admission, the boy's father had come to admit him and mentioned his date of birth as April 6, 1995. He further told the court that they never ask the parents to give the child's birth certificate as age proof during the time of admission in the school. "We take this as the official record and later on follow the same throughout the academic session, so it could not be doubted," the Principal said. Taking note of the submissions made by both the school Principals, the court has now fixed January 28 as the next date of hearing in the case. — PTI
Odisha gang rape victim dies
BHUBANESWAR: A minor girl, who was gang raped in Odisha's Rayagada town about a week ago, died at a private hospital at Visakhapatanam on Tuesday. "The girl passed away at about 3.45 pm in a private hospital at Visakhapatanam," said Rayagada district collector SS Padhi. The 16-year-old orphan, unable to bear the situation, had set herself on fire on January 7. — PTI
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New Delhi, January 15 Uttar Pradesh, which saw over 250 deaths due to harsh winter, basked under bright sunshine which brought much-needed respite for the people. No fresh deaths were reported in the state in the past 24 hours, officials said. Muzaffarnagar in Western UP was the coldest in the state with a minimum of 1°C. However in Himachal Pradesh, cold wave conditions continued unabated with the mercury remaining below normal in most places. Manali recorded a minimum of 0°C, followed by Mandi at 1.8 and state capital Shimla at 3.6°C. According to the Met forecast, heavy rain and snowfall is likely to occur at some places in
Chamba, Lahul and Spiti, Kullu, Kangra, Kinnaur and Shimla districts on January 17 and 18. Cold wave conditions returned to Kashmir also as night temperatures dipped below freezing point across the Valley, with the weatherman predicting snowfall for tomorrow. Minimum temperatures, after showing upward trend for past few days, dropped in various parts of the state. Srinagar recorded a low of -0.4°C as against previous night's 1.6°C. Qazigund in south Kashmir shivered under sub-zero temperatures with a low of -0.5°C, almost two notches below yesterday's 1.8°C. In Kupwara town of North Kashmir, mercury settled at -0.3°C, a degree below yesterday's 0.3. The minimum night temperature at the hill resort of Pahalgam fell by over three notches from yesterday's 0°C to -3.4°C. Punjab and Haryana also experienced the pinch of cold, with Amritsar being the coldest place at 2.4°C followed by Karnal in Haryana at 3°C, the Met department said. In Rajasthan, Sri Ganganagar recorded the lowest of 3.6°C followed by Churu at 5.5°C. — PTI
Fog hits 75 flights at IGI airport
New Delhi: Fog again disrupted operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport today, affecting the schedule of around 75 domestic and international flights. Around 70 flights originating from here were delayed either due to weather conditions at the airport and at the destination or due to operational reasons, airport official said. Five flights remained cancelled due to same reasons. No flight was diverted today unlike yesterday, when the IGI airport witnessed its worst fog of this season which affected the schedule of around 160 domestic and international flights, they added.
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Mayawati slams UPA for its ‘bad policies’
New Delhi, January 15 Mayawati also berated the BJP-led NDA for its “selfish attitude and petty politics”, holding the Opposition responsible for the survival of UPA government. “If the BJP was honest, integrated and committed, the UPA allies would have left Congress to join the NDA,” she said, adding that “it is their (BJP’s) lack of discipline and direction that has given ‘jeevan dan’ (new lease of life) to the UPA government” Proclaiming the BSP as the party to watch out for in the 2014 general elections, she said: “If the people of the country rise above caste consideration, they would vote for the BSP”. On why she was supporting a political set-up with such “bad policies,” she said, whenever she had supported a party it had been done with “full consideration”. Mayawati cautioned the government against taking any hasty decision on the Indo-Pakistan ties. Saying that war was not the “only option”, she cautioned that no hasty decision should be taken regarding ties with the neighbouring country. “I cannot say that war is the only solution. There is still room to find a solution. If the Government of India is serious, a peaceful solution can be found,” she said responding to a query on whether her party supported war against Pakistan as means to resolve the issue. Asked whether she favoured snapping sport and economic ties with Pakistan in view of the recent flare up along the LoC, Mayawati said any decision regarding relationship with the neighbouring country “should not be taken in haste till the time we reach a conclusion”. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also slammed the UPA government for the current situation on the borders with Pakistan. “The government is utilising its energies on issues other than of public interest...It has not taken a serious stand on the issue. Firing (along LoC) is now a routine affair which has claimed lives of several of our soldiers,” she said.
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Cong will have to sharpen its stance on peace with Pak New Delhi, January 15 Foreign affairs as a subject is usually treated perfunctorily at party deliberations while political challenges and organisational matters take centrestage. However, the three-day Congress conclave will not be able to dismiss the discussion titled, "India's role in the changing world" as a routine affair given the timing of the party meet. The Congress will necessarily have to shed its ambivalence and sharpen its response on the peace process with Pakistan issue especially as the BJP has upped the ante and demanded that India give a befitting reply to Pakistan. Faced with a string of assembly polls later this year, which will be followed by the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress position on Indo-Pak relations will have to address its domestic constituency failing which it will be beaten in the game with the BJP all set to dub the Congress-led UPA government as being soft on terror. The Congress was faced with a similar situation after the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai which took place a few months before the Lok Sabha elections. Responding to the angry public mood, the government had adopted a tough position and called off its dialogue process with Pakistan. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an effort to pick up the threads when he met his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2009 but a disapproving Congress ensured that the India and Pakistan did not return resume their dialogue in a hurry. In fact, the PM's tough talk on Pakistan firing along the LOC and the beheading of an Indian soldier is also borne out of political compulsions and New Delhi's assessment that the status quo in the relations between the two countries will continue given the current political uncertainty in Pakistan. Berated by the opposition for his silence on this issue, the PM today maintained that "after this barbaric act, there cannot be business as usual with Pakistan". Addressing a hurriedly-called press briefing this evening, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the barbaric killing of jawans is unacceptable and that bilateral relations could not remain unaffected after this incident. At the same time, the government rushed to placate the BJP. The PM spoke to the leaders of opposition, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, yesterday while NSA Shivshankar Menon briefed the BJP leaders today on the situation. Taking a cue from the government, the Congress is also expected to revise its stand on this issue. In a balancing act, Congress spokespersons Sandeep Dikshit and Rashid Alvi have repeatedly said that the party is all for peace and friendly relations with its neighbour but India "also needs to send out a strong message to Pakistan that we are quite strong and can face any challenge." Krishna to skip Chintan Shivir Former minister SM Krishna will not be attending the chintan shivir on the plea that he had prior commitments abroad. Krishna, who was recently inducted as a permanent member of the Congress Working Committee, was heading the sub-group of the shivir on "India and the World." The subject has assumed importance in view of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Congress sources said a sulking Krishna is pressurising the party leadership to project him as the chief ministerial candidate in poll-bound Karnataka.
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Army presents rare gift to Mahakumbh pilgrims Allahabad, January 15 For the first time in the history of independent India, two rare historical treasures of Hindu heritage -- the Akshay Vat Tree and Paataalpuri Temple -- under Army control in the city have been opened for visitors. Located inside the precincts of the Qila, the magnificent fort Mughal Emperor Akbar got built in 1538, the two symbols of Hindu religious aspiration were hitherto opened only during Magh fairs and Kumbhs ever since a British Army officer shut them down for people post the First War of Independence in 1857. The closure was on account of security reasons for the Army which has some presence inside the fort. But from today, these sites will be open throughout the year and a huge gathering is expected tomorrow. Sub Area commander of the Indian Army Maj General Bishambar Dayal said the decision had been taken to honour the spirit of Mahakumbh and also the wishes of devotees. The Army has spent six months to renovate the ancient architecture marvels and has procured tiles to match the interior finesse of the ancient temple, where 43 idols of Lord Ganesha, Narsimha and Gorakhnath are installed. The idol area is interspersed with several Shiv Lingams. The temple housing 100 pillars is said to be the abode of Lord Vishnu. The Akhsyay Vat tree has a greater historical value. This huge banyan tree inside the fort, which stands along the banks of the Ganga, is the salvation-granting tree for Kumbh visitors. Belief goes that the prayers of pilgrims who bathe during Kumbhs are not answered until they visit the Akshay Vat tree.
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Rs 100-cr restoration plan for Qutub Shahi tombs
Hyderabad, January 15 A massive project for restoration of the over 400-year- old tombs is being undertaken with the help of the Aga Khan Foundation. The project works will be spread over the next 10 years. The Qutub Shahi tombs are one of the most significant medieval necropolises with 70 structures within its complex, encompassing 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, five step-wells and water structures, a hamam (mortuary bath), pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls. The sprawling complex, built during the reign of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad region for 170 years in the 16th - 17th centuries, is in the race for UNESCO’s World Heritage tag. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a integrated conservation and landscape restoration project at the Quli Qutb Shah Tomb complex has been signed by the Andhra Pradesh State Department of Archaeology and Museums, the Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and Aga Khan Foundation. The signing of the MoU was preceded by a year-long documentation programme, where each of the 70 structures within the tomb complex - Deccan Park area have been documented and their conservation needs established. Topographical surveys of the entire 106 acre site have also been undertaken and a landscape master plan prepared. The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme, promotes the conservation and re-use of buildings and public spaces in historic cities. The Aga Khan Development Network agencies are presently undertaking a similar project in the Humayun's Tomb - Sundar Nursery - Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti area of Delhi, where over 50 monuments are undergoing sensitive conservation works, coupled with landscaping of over 200 acres of the World Heritage Site setting. Standing testimony to Indo-Persian architecture, the majestic monuments, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, are a major tourist attraction. However, the ravages of time have taken a toll on these heritage sites. The conservation works at the tombs will be undertaken by master craftsmen using traditional tools, building techniques and traditional materials respecting the intention of the original builders. A significant portion of the site would be developed as an ecological zone with plantations of local flora to encourage birds as well as revive the historic water bodies.
Old charm
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KJP deadline to oust BJP govt fails
Bangalore, January 15 “Several BJP ministers and MLAs are planning to quit to join other parties including Congress”, KJP leader V Dhananjayakumar claimed at a press conference after the January 15 deadline by his party met the same fate as the earlier one of January 4. — PTI
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With PM’s nudge, train corridor picks up speed
Mumbai, January 15 The project first mooted by former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav five years ago following which a techno-feasibility study was conducted by Systera, a French company. The report was accepted last year and the Central government has now identified this project as one to be fast-tracked. “So far three bidders- GMR Infra, L&T and IL&FS Transportation - have expressed interest in the project under which an air-conditioned train service will ply along the 60-kilometre route,” says Mahesh Kumar, general manager, Western Railway. The Maharashtra government is now in the process of signing a ‘State Support Agreement’ with the Railways under which the state will provide adequate support to rehabilitate people affected by the project and grant permissions for the commercial exploitation of land by the winning bidder. State government sources say, the Prime Minister's Office is keeping a close watch on the elevated corridor project which is seen as one of the big drivers for attracting investment in the infrastructure sector. “We have been told to quickly work out a rehabilitation programme for nearly 1700 people who will need to be rehabilitated for the project,” says a senior railway official.
Under watch
The Prime Minister's Office is keeping a close watch on the elevated corridor project in Mumbai. The project is seen as one of the big drivers for attracting investment in the infrastructure sector.
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Forces short of medical reserves for war, disaster relief
Chandigarh, January 15 The Directorate General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) had issued instructions on “war maintenance reserves” in January 2004, which were to be maintained by medical stores depots at various echelons on behalf of the respective commands as per a defined scale of items for issue on short notice. The depots were required to maintain the requisite scales of expendable and non-expendable items with the provision of periodic turnover of the stocks to avoid loss due to expiry of the life of drugs. Audit scrutiny of a major Armed Forces Medical Stores Depot (AFMSD) revealed that there was a deficiency of 100 per cent of non-expendable items and 46 per cent of expendable items stocked against war maintenance reserves. Further, to ensure quick response for disaster relief operations and preparedness for international missions, the DGAFMS had, in August 2006, decided to stockpile certain medical and surgical items. The stockpiling system was referred to as “Brick”. Details available about the holdings under Brick at two AFMSDs located in different theatres revealed shortfalls in international, basic medical and surgical bricks ranging up to 73 per cent. There are 94 items earmarked for an international brick, while basic medical and surgical bricks require 119 and 219 items, respectively. Details revealed that at one depot, out of the 219 items for a surgical brick, 141 items were out of stock. Similarly, 69 items out of the 94 for an international brick were unavailable. These examples, sources said, could be indicative of the state of affairs at all medical stores depots.
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Chandigarh lab to examine CD of MLA Owaisi’s hate speech
Hyderabad, January 15 The decision follows the claim made by the now jailed MLA that his voice was “doctored” to defame him. The 42 year old firebrand politician was arrested on January 8 for making inflammatory speeches targeting the Hindu community. He is facing a string of serious charges including waging a war against the Government of India and promoting enmity on grounds of religion. Owaisi, who is the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen’s floor leader in the State Assembly, claimed that the voice that was played in the media was not his. While admitting that he did address a public meeting at Nirmal in Adilabad district, which has stirred up the controversy, Owaisi claimed that certain portions of the speech appeared to have been doctored. In view of his claim, the police, who recorded Owaisi’s voice during the interrogation at the Armed Reserve headquarters in Adilabad, are sending the CD of his answers as the sample voice along with the Nirmal speech to Chandigarh for comparison and analysis. “It will take about ten days for Central Forensic Science Laboratory to give the report,” said police sources. The interrogators played the video recording of his speech and questioned him on Monday. Admitting that he had participated in the Nirmal public meeting, Owaisi denied that the voice was his. “We believe that the CD is clean and no alterations were made to it. We hope that the CFSL will help us nail Akbar,” the police added.
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Soon: Tirumala temple wealth on public display
Hyderabad, January 15 The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), an autonomous body managing the affairs of the hill shrine, has sought the services of experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to study the origin, antique value and the worth of some of the most ancient ornaments and various other precious items of the temple. “A four-member team of ASI experts is presently on the job of ascertaining the monetary value of the jewellery and other items. Once the exercise is completed, we will exhibit them,” TTD Executive Officer LV Subrahmanyam said. The security set-up required for public viewing of the rare and precious jewels and ornaments was also being discussed at various levels, the TTD official said. The popular temple has a huge stock of ornaments, gold coins and precious items donated to the shrine over the last several centuries. For the first time in its history, the TTD is planning to put them on public display at the Sri Venkateswara Museum on Tirumala hills. There is no definite estimation about actual value of the Lord’s wealth. According to tentative estimates, the value of huge reserves of gold and jewellery is around Rs 56,000 crore. Besides, it has huge extent of lands, buildings and other properties, whose value is yet to be ascertained. The collection of coins, both Indian and foreign, donated by the pilgrims over several years weighs a whopping 18 tonnes! The tradition of gold offerings to the Lord goes back to several centuries. The ruler of Vijayanagara Empire Sri Krishnadevaraya was said to have visited the hill shrine seven times during 1509-1539 and made huge offerings including a diamond-studded crown and jewellery studded with precious stones. Since then, the rulers of various dynasties made gold and jewellery donations to the temple, not to speak of the humble offerings being made by the common man. On an average, over 60,000 pilgrims visit the temple, nestled among a string of seven hills, everyday. The number crosses one lakh mark on festivals and special occasions. Some of the ancient jewellery of Lord Venkateswara includeNagabharanam (snake bracelet), Karnabharanam (earrings), Makara Kundalams (crocodile-shaped earrings), Pachala Haram (emerald necklace), Kati and Varada Hasthams (diamond-studded golden sheath on palms of the lord, right one receiving offerings and left one placed on the waist) and a diamond crown. In 2010, when the state government celebrated Krishnadevaraya's 500th coronation celebrations, it had asked the TTD authorities to exhibit the jewellery that the king had donated.
The Rich Lord
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Govt to look into Vodafone concerns: Sibal New Delhi, January 15 "We are always ready to collaborate with Vodafone and to look into some of their concerns," Sibal said while releasing Vodafone's sustainability report 2012 here. The British telecom major is facing a tax liability of Rs 11,200 crore from retrospective date. The case relates to capital gains tax arising from the deal which Vodafone made when it took over the operations of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa in 2007 in India. There are several other issues relating to the norms for forthcoming spectrum auction facing the telecom industry, which Vodafone has raised with the Telecom Ministry. "I can assure Martin Pieters (Managing Director & CEO of Vodafone India) and other telecom operators that the government is very, very, very serious about the concerns they have expressed and I can give an assurance today that 2013 will be a different year for the telecom sector," Sibal said.
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Rs 22,600 cr lie unclaimed with PF Commissioner Karnal, January 15 The deduction of PF by the employer is mandatory for private and semi-government organisations and due to frequent change in jobs, the amount deposited with the PF Commissioner remains unclaimed. As most of the employees do not keep track of their deposits or get it transferred to the new account, the account becomes dormant. There is no initiative from the PF Commissioner to trace the employees, contact them and guide them to claim the EPF or get it transferred into their new PF account. The PF Commissioner immediately serves notice on companies and employers in case of a default in deducting the EPF from the salary and depositing the same but bothers little about the employees who leave the job and join elsewhere. The Central Public Information officer of the Employees Provident Fund Commissioner’s office, Abhay Ranjan, has informed RTI activist Rajesh Sharma that EPF accounts with deposits of over Rs 22,600 crore have been rendered dormant by close of 2011-12 as there are no claimants. The EPF officials claim that there was a set process for claiming the money and a claim form has to be filled for getting the money. RTI activist Rajesh Sharma said a permanent EPF number on the pattern of PAN card or unique identification number should be allotted to each employee so that he gets a permanent number and his PF accounts remains active even if he shifts the job or changes the organisation. This would save both the employee and the employers from tracking the PF accounts and they would not be required to follow the long and cumbersome process of claiming the PF on retirement or in the event of change of job.
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Liquor ban flayed
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Glittering diamonds and pink salwar kameez in place, BSP supremo Mayawati today celebrated her 57th birthday in the Capital, releasing a book penned by her. She slammed the Congress-led UPA, the political dispensation she support from outside, for its “bad policies” and “failures” on “several fronts.”
The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the Centre and the city police seeking their response to a plea for a CBI probe into the death of constable Subhash Tomar allegedly due to injuries sustained while dealing with a demonstration seeking justice for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student.
After suffering neglect for several decades, the magnificent Qutub Shahi tombs here are now set to get a new lease of life at a cost of Rs 100 crore.
