Sachin made me feel comfortable: Rohit Sharma

One day specialist Rohit Sharma said playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar in the first final of the Commonwealth Bank series was a dream come true and that the champion batsman, made him feel at home and guided him during his knock of 66.
“As soon as I came to the crease he (Tendulkar) made me feel very comfortable and gave me some advice. He told me that we had to win the match. I felt no pressure at all. I thought I was batting in the nets,” said the 20-year-old Mumbai middle order batsman.

The youngster said it was his childhood dream to play with the maestro who he has idolised since he started playing. “I was just two when Sachin (Tendulkar) made his Test debut. I never thought that I would play with him and bat with him for so long. I used to always watch him since I started playing cricket. I grew up watching his batting,” he said.

Sharma, however, said even though he has grown up watching and idolising Tendulkar, he would not try and emulate the style of the batting genius. “No one in the world can copy anyone. Everyone in the world has his own style. No one bats like Sachin and he (Sachin) doesn't bat like (Ricky) Ponting. I personally don't feel I need to copy someone,” Sharma said.

On being part of the victorious Twenty20 World Cup and the CB tri-series side in Australia, Sharma said the feeling was great to be a part of both the victories. “It's a great feeling to be a part of these two victories, T20 and CB series. I think it was a great effort from all the boys and it great to part of the victory. Playing in Australia and beating them in two finals gives you a great feeling. Beating them (Australia) in Australia is a remarkable achievement especially with a young team,” added Sharma.

He said the recent racism controversy which involved off spinner Harbhajan Singh and all-rounder Andrew Symonds got the team closer and helped him and the team in focussing more on the game. “Despite all the controversies, we got together, that's (the controversy) what brought us together. Personally, I was just concentrating on my game, what I had to do and what was my job. I was concentrating on that and I think that really paid off,” Sharma said.

He said initially in the series, he found it difficult to play the off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and was unable to pick up his `doosra.' “This was the first time I was playing Murali, he is the number one bowler in the world. It was just that I was unable pick up his `doosra.' This was the first time I was playing Murali, he is the number one bowler in the world. It was just that I was unable to pick up his `doosra' and that was the problem. I went and spoke to senior players like Sachin, Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh), Dhoni and Yuvraj and later I got 70 against these guys (Sri Lanka) in Canberra.”

He said in time he would want to move to the five-day format and was eager to develop his game to bat for long periods of time. “Test cricket will be a priority for me. I want to play Test cricket. But I feel I need some time to get into the team. I have not played much of the four-day game; I need some more time, experience and games to play (well in the longer version). I'll try and get to the Test team as well,” Sharma added.

Speaking about being a part of the Hyderabad IPL team, he said it hurts him that he won't be playing for the team which he represents in the Ranji Trophy. “Playing domestic cricket (IPL) and not for Mumbai hurts me. But I am fine because Hyderabad is also my home town. I am looking forward to this and also playing with Adam Gilchrist and Symonds. I played against them but it'll be different playing with them,” he said.
March 7, 2008

Is rainwater harvesting the solution for your dry taps?

“If the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water,” said former World Bank vice president, Ismail Serageldin. He has been proved correct much faster than anyone else would have thought.

The taps have started running dry this summer and in the much-populated Mumbai City and its neighbouring suburbs. The question, which will now be put forth before the administration is how cover this deficit. At present the city faces a shortfall of about 1200 MLD this year and this figure is bound to rise with every new construction in this city. The city receives approximately 4300 MLD to quench the thirst of millions of Mumbaikars, but this isn't sufficient.

Many ecologist and geologiost have come up with the idea of water conservation. The state government has made rainwater-harvesting mandatory for all buildings that are being constructed on plots that are more than 1,000-sqaure metre in size. Even the Kerala Municipality had amended their rules to include rainwater-harvesting structures in new construction.

Rainwater harvesting is the best way to preserve water and reduce flooding in the city. Eminent geologist Dr. Amar Joshi believes that the main caused of the reduction in the ground water levels and flooding in the city is the concretization of many of compounds in societies which is preventing the rainwater from entering the soil thereby decreasing the ground water level. Groundwater for commercial and personal consumption is extracted in an unplanned and uncontrolled manner. This has resulted in hydrological imbalance and deterioration in water quality.

Huge amounts of rainwater goes down the drain and is untapped resulting in the waste of million of gallons of portable water. "Most of the water during the monsoon season is wasted and untapped thus flowing into the drains. During high tide, this water is denied entry in the sea by the gigantic waves thereby causing flooding within the city," said Dr. Joshi.

What is rainwater harvesting (RWH) and how does it work?
Rain Water Harvesting is merely “putting back rain water into the soil, where it will be stored in underground reservoirs and fracture systems, so that we can draw it whenever we need it.”

A rainwater harvesting system comprises of various stages - transporting rainwater through pipes or drains, filtration, and storage in tanks for reuse or recharge. The water the falls on the roofs and the ground surface is diverted to the catchments with the help of pipes which are then rooted to the well beneath the earth's surface. Gutters can also be built which will divert the water to the storage tank, which is then transferred to the well below. This increases the ground water level and reduced the salinity of the water. As and when the water is required, water can be lifted for use through the boring machines.

The Cost Factor
In order to install a rainwater harvesting system in your society of approximately fifty members, the cost for such installation would hover between Rs. 2 – 2.5 lakhs depending on the catchment area. Presently, the BMC charges around Rs. 3.50 per 1000 litres of water for the societies and Rs. 25 per thousand litres for industries. However, the break-even period for industries is much less for big industries as compared to the societies. It would take a society around 4-5 years to break even the invested amounts.

Dr. Amar Joshi believes that once this system is installed in your backyard, one does not need to worry for rest of their life. Every year, Mumbai receives approximately a hundred days of heavy rainfall. Hence if a society's terrace area is around 500-sq.m and open area (compound and garden) is around 1000 sq.m., rainfall that can be tapped during this period with the help of water harvesting is around 15,00,000 -20,00,000 liters per monsoon season. Many places in Mumbai have gone ahead with the tapping of rainwater. The residence of the mayor of Mumbai has the facility of rainwater harvesting. The total water which is tapped at the mayor residence every year is at a staggering 1,68,24,000 litres.

How can rain water help improve the lives of Mumbaikars?
With the help of this system, Mumbaikars can heave a sigh of relief resulting in a decrease in water bills and one can enjoy uninterrupted supply of water at a very low cost. Many places in Mumbai such as IIT, Municipal Corporation building, Raj Bhavan, BARC, VJTI College, Bhavan's College and St. Stanislaus School have successfully reaped benefits from using nature's priceless gift to mankind.

Is the pressure cooker theory of the police a farce?

By Neil Joshi
December 17, 2006

The much tom tommed brouhaha by the anti terrorist squad (ATS) claiming that the bomb planters had installed explosives in ISI marked pressure cookers to carry out incendiary operations in the local suburban trains on July 11, may just be a farce if the confessional statements of the eleven accused are to be believed.

The bombs were manufactured at Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh’s Govandi residence and the accused had used household materials for the improvised explosive devices. However, in the final phase of the manufacturing these house appliances were not used. So far, except for the three handles of the pressure cooker recovered from the site no other parts of the cookers were found. According to the police press briefing, around two kilograms of RDX and four kilograms of ammonium nitrate were concealed in each pressure cooker.

So far, including the so called prime accused of the blast case, Mohammed Faisal Ataur Rehman Shaikh, has categorically stated in his statement that the explosive material were kept in seven bags and not in any pressure cookers. Similarly, another accused Ehtesham Siddqui in his confessional statement said, “Bomb wali bag takriban 17.15 (hours), Churchgate se chhoottnewali Virar train ke first class dabbeme saaman rakhneke rackper rakhne ko kaha.” (I was told to keep the bag on the luggage rack of the first class compartment of the Virar bound train scheduled to leave from Churchgate at 17.15 hours.)

In the same tenor, the statement made by other accused in the serial train bomb blast case, echo the same description. Sajid Magroob mentions in his confessional statement that on the evening of July 10, 2006, when the bombs were made they were packed in seven different bags and were taken to Faisal Shaikh’s residence at Bandra by Mohammed Ali, Naved and Faisal himself.

During the initial courses of investigation, the Mumbai Police themselves had claimed that the bombs were planted in the bags and suddenly after the arrests during the press briefing went on to rake up the pressure cooker theory. Enquiries revealed that just two days before the scheduled press briefing in Mumbai, city police commissioner Anami Roy along with ATS chief K.P. Raghuvanshi flew down to Delhi to discuss the case with the chiefs of Intelligence Bureau and Cabinet Secretariat (Special Bureau.) The discussion veered towards the linking of serial train bomb blasts case with the Varanasi bomb blasts.

In the Varanasi bomb blasts, explosive experts came to a conclusion that bombs were planted in pressure cookers and in a bid to weave a common strand, ATS also went ahead and pompously pronounced, “ Bombs were planted in five litre pressure cookers,” never realising that they may be forced to eat crow when the confessional statements are made public. Meanwhile, the accused have already retracted their confessional statements and have repeatedly mentioned to the MCOCA Judge M.R. Bhatkar that they have been framed in this case.

"I was arrested because Dawood is my brother"
By Neil Joshi / Mumbai

AS Maharashtra control of Crime A Judge Mridulla Bhatkar acquitted Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar of all charges in the Sara-Sahara case, there were signs of relief on the face of Kaskar.
It was the final time he exited the courtroom in this trial, while well-wishers of Kaskar waiting patiently all throught the tense final moments came rushing towards him, exchanged pleasantries and distributed sweets in the once deserted corridor of the fifth floor of the Session's court building in Kala Ghoda.

In an exclusive interview, Iqbal Kaskar talks about his plans for the future.

Q: The court has acquitted you and others. What are your immediate plans and how are you planning to celebrate?

A- I am really happy and I pray to Allah for granting me justice. This proves that I have done nothing wrong. While I'm celebrating, I feel sad for the others who have been convicted. I just want to go home. I haven't visited my residence in Nagpada since 1989, I want to go there and stay. I want to take rest for fifteen days probably and then I may take a decision on my future.

Q: Why do you say that the Indian government hasn't deported you from Dubai? A- I came on my own. I wanted to stay in Mumbai. This is my home. As far as I know India does not have an extradition treaty with UAE. February 20, 2003 was the day I reached India and that was the day they arrested me. It was just done because Dawood Ibrahim is my brother.

Q: Do you think that coming to India was a right decision?
A- Dubai me saara aish-o-aaram tha, magar Mumbai mera ghar hai. Jo apnapan yaha hai woh waha nahi milta. (There were all amenities in Dubai but Mumbai is my real home. I didn't get the sense of belonging in Dubai.)

Q: What have you planned for the future?
A- Mein social service karna chhata hoon. (I want to enter social service). As of now I want to be with my family and meet my sister Haseena (Parkar). My family members used to come and meet me in court now I can see them at home. I also need to look after my health and take care of the allergies I have. I may think of starting a shop here itself.

While it is rumoured that the 'Man' may stand for elections from the Nagpada constitutency in the forthcoming Assembly elections in 2009, he let his mind speak for once after being freed and felt sorry for the who wanted him guilty and behind bars. "Insaaf karnewale woh (police) thodi, inka kaam hain fasana aur court ka kaam insaaf dena."