That is the total number of people who have been imprisoned this year for drunk driving. Mumbai traffic cops’ campaign against drunk driving has led to a sharp decline in alcohol consumption in the city, setting off panic among hoteliers and bar owners.

According to figures made available by the excise department, September saw a steep drop in alcohol comsumption. So this weekend when you leave home to get a drink do forget ur car keys at home. Kudos to Mumbai police !!!

For us Mumbaikars garden is a luxury. For example I live in a typical working class Maharastrian society, have the luxury of a small patch of public garden bang opposite my society. Although it is rare that I step inside the place, I do like to go and take a walk when it is all empty. Some times I like to sit there early mornings and just watch the world around me jump start their day. I love to feel the wet grass under my feet and enjoy the early morning fresh air. In short greenery is a luxury for us Mumbaikars with the construction jungle spring up on every patch of earth in the city. Some of us find alternatives by setting up miniature garden in side small earthen pots and set it up on the edge of the balcony. I am one of them. It is not exactly a jungle but I have an aloe, a fern, a show plant and a money plant which I had flicked it from my neighbor who stays in the ground floor. (They say it brings in money if one flicks the plant).
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Oh yes, everybody, we love the Island City. Not for its glittery Page 3 crowd, not for Bollywood, not for the stock markets and business hubs. We love it because it is a city of survivors, it is the city with a never-say-die attitude. Well, why not? That’s the only way to survive the mayhem of Mumbai.

But on a suicidal occasion that one wants to remember the ways that Yamraj plays peek-a-boo with us here, one comes up against some rather bizarre options:
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We Bombayites are not as civic minded as we should be. That is a fact. If you disagree, walk out to the street and just look around. Yes we are better than other parts of the country, but if we want to be the next Shanghai or Singapore, then we got a long way to go.

As if the regular garbage wasnt enough, we know have the scenario of construction debris being dumped in the middle of roads. Construction sites generate tonnes of debris which is carted away by truckloads.

The city maintains dumps outside the city limits but that means a lot of time and fuel wasted in going all the way to the dump and back. So what does the truck driver do ?

He drives to a lonely deserted road, dumps his truckload and scoots.

According to the BMC, around 10,000 metric tonnes of debris is officially generated in Mumbai every day.

Of that, around half is dumped on deserted roads, officials say. Rajeev said they plan to install two cameras at every such location. “The offenders will be fined Rs 20,000. [link]

If this aint crazy, then I don’t know what is.

Thankfully the city is planning on setting up cameras to monitor such stretches of road. But the pessimist in me thinks, that its only a matter of time till someone first covers the camera, then dumps and scoots. What say you ??

The World Alliance of Parsis and Iranian Zoroastrians held its second annual get together at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse last Saturday evening.

Parsis are one of India’s smallest communities but also one of the most progressive throughout history. Dwindling numbers are the top issue facing the community. Bombay has the largest Parsi population in the world.

Khojeste Mistri, chairman of WAPIZ said, “The solution to dwindling numbers lies not in conversion (a concept which is unknown to a ‘classic’ religion as opposed to a ‘romantic ‘ religion), but in increasing numbers by procreation.” So far, 85 couples received help and thirty babies, including eight sets of twins and a set of triplets, were born through a fertility programme introduced by the Parsi Panchayat two years ago. [link]

For more about the Parsis, visit Parsi Khabar for daily news about the Parsis all over the world.

Bombay is one 16 cities that has joined a Global Initiative organized by the Clinton Foundation.

A coalition of 16 of the world’s biggest cities, five banks, one former president and companies and groups that modernise aging buildings have pledged to invest billions of dollars to cut urban energy use and releases of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

India to urge US to reduce emission levels Ministry hints tough stand on climate; PM meet todayIn a first, House debates global warmingGlaciers key to India climate change but research centre plan lies in deep freezeIndian base at Antarctica clears eco norms

Under a plan developed through the William J Clinton Foundation, participating banks would provide up to $1 billion each in loans that cities or private landlords would use to upgrade energy-hungry heating, cooling and lighting systems in older buildings. The loans and interest would be paid back with savings accrued through reduced energy costs.

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If you confirm to at least 15 of the questions posed below, then you are a true citizen of this city.

If you don’t, then you need to work, and come back next year !!!

1. You say “town ” and expect everyone to know that this means south of Churchgate.

2 You speak in a dialect of Hindi called ‘Bambaiya Hindi’,
which only Bombayites can understand.

3. Your door has more than three locks.

4. Rs 500 worth of groceries fit in one paper bag.

5. Train timings (9.27, 10.49 etc) are really important events of life.
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The mayor has decided to tackle the energy crisis head on. And rice cooked in a solar cooker, seems to be the way.

Am I the only one who is sceptical about this being a gimmick, albeit a good natured one ??

Mumbai’s first citizen Shubha Raul takes on the onus to conserve energy. Installs solar cooker in her bungalow; asks the city to cook food and heat water with sun power

Mumbai mayor Dr Shubha Raul tries rice cooked in a solar cooker

While the city struggles with power problems and dwindling resources, Mumbai’s new mayor Shubha Raul is setting a new standard in energy conservation — she will cook her daal-chawal with the rays of the sun, not with liquid petroleum gas or hot plates. [link]

Cook on mayor !!!

Walking across the Oval Maidan, the wind tugs my hair out from behind my ears and lightly plonks it on my face, the pleasant woodsy smell of its wafts up to me.

The stoned path across the Maidan is always windy. And it always has at least 20 people crossing at any given point. In the morning, people can be seen hurrying along, noisily, in pairs, groups or alone. On the phone, listening to music or just sauntering along. If you look up while crossing the Oval, as it is fondly known, you’ll see a huge expanse of the sky. With cottony white clouds tinged with blue floating across lazily. Or on an overcast day you’ll be able to spot an sulking grey sky, with dark hued clouds gobbling it up. And observing the sky while walking on the path feels like you are crossing the sky and not the Maidan.

On the greens around the path, there’s always some activity happening. Even in the sweltering sun of the afternoon, little children struggle with footballs in one corner. A group of mothers sit in a corner, waiting for their children’s class to get over, with duppattas pulled down on their heads to protect them from the sun. In another corner, young men in whites are practising their batting swings and bowling arms. Setting up teams for a cricket match. Near the High court end, their is a group of girls and a few boys in jeans and tee-shirts. Huddled in a small circle, playing a match of under-arm Box Cricket.
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February comes and Mumbai and the pedestrian plaza around South Mumbai’s lively historic art district ‘Kala Ghoda’ comes alive to the tune of the Kala Ghoda Art Festival. The setting is marvellous, the crescent shaped plaza is nestled around an array of heritage buildings such as Elephantine College, the David Sassoon Library and the Watson Hotel.

The Festival promises rich events in Arts, Literature, Music & Theatre - Seminars, Workshops and more. This years an entire host of events including a vintage car rally also expect performances from famed percussionist Shivamani. History buffs should also look out for the special heritage walks organised as part of the festivities. Also scheduled are many book readings including a “TETE A TETE WITH SHANTARAM” a freewheeling chat with author of the best selling book Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts this time without the cumbersome presense of Dolly Thakore.

The festival kicks off on the 4th February and continues up to the 11th February.

But what is really exciting is that the Kala Ghoda Association is blogging the event. The blog promises to bring the festival live to you with a mix of previews and impressions, reviews and reports, text and photographs, maybe even some audio and video. JUST LIKE LAST YEAR.

Here is all you need

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival [A schedule]

and

The Kala Ghoda Gazette. [The Blog]