DLD‹‰‰†‰KDLD‹‰‰†‰DLD‹‰‰†‰MDLD‹‰‰†‰C Ugo Brachetti A bright note: THE TIMES OF INDIA is Evangelista’s Spears gets Saturday, August 9, 2003 model man... over her tears Contraception for koala bears Page 11 Page 7 Necessity, it is said, is the under the skin of 3,000 wild mother of innovation. And female koalas. Says Sally T- in this case, the uncontroll- roy, research manager at ed population of koalas at a the park, ‘‘The population park in Victoria has forced of koalas has to be control- the authorities to led because man- introduce contra- na gum, their sta- ceptive methods. ple food, is close The authorities to depletion. Res- at Parks Victoria ources are declin- plan to inject a ing even as these small tube contai- animals eat and ning the same ho- breed.’’ Meanwh- rmones as the co- ile, female koalas ntraceptive pill will have to grin OF INDIA used by humans and bear it! PRASHANT NAKWE COLAS? EVERYTHING IS POLLUTED Eating food, drinking water and even breathing air in Delhi is injurious to health ARUN KUMAR DAS various edible products are not stringent mg/litre even though the permissible lev- Times News Network enough, or that guidelines are not followed el is 3 mg/litre. ‘‘There is an immediate re- with the seriousness that is their due. ‘‘On quirement for 15 common effluent-treatm- ne more name has joined the list. the contrary,’’counters Bansal, ‘‘We perio- ent plants, but only three have come up so The Centre for Science and Envir- dically lift samples of fruits, vegetables, far,’’ points out DK Biswas, former chair- Oonment (CSE) report which indic- milk and bottled water. Also, in cases wh- man of the Central Pollution Control Boa- ates the presence of pesticides in 12 major ere samples have tested adulteration-posi- rd (CPCB). Moreover, while there are aro- brands of soft drinks sold in Delhi has, if tive, follow-up action has been initiated.’’ und 300 bottled-water units in Delhi, a me- anything, only further underlined the fact According to Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, re 26 companies have secured ISI certifica- that living in Delhi is injurious to health. tion. ‘‘The prerequisite to ISI certificati- Shocking —and unfortunate —as it sou- CAPITAL CONTAMINATION on is a lab equipped with water-testing nds, the Capital is forc- facilities and this can ed to endure contamina- FOOD FOR THOUGHT cost about Rs 2 lakh,’’ ted water, toxic vegetab- says Bansal, ‘‘What uns- les, spices laced with ad- ■ Pesticides in colas crupulous businessmen ulterants, fruits and ve- ■ Artificial colouring for pulses do is use the ISI mark il- getables injected with ■ Synthetic milk in ice cream legally.In fact, our raids dyes, artificially-flavou- reveal rampant misuse red ghee, mustard oil sp- ■ Artificial flavouring for ghee of the ISI mark.’’ iked with argemone, ■ Argemone mixed in mustard oil What raids do not ne- milk contaminated by ■ Milk contaminated by caustic soda ed to reveal, though, is caustic soda, ice cream the rampant misuse of made from synthetic ■ Brick dust in chilli powder the Delhi air. Vehicles milk, and spurious dru- ■ Rice husk in garam masala which refuse to keep po- gs, the contents of whi- ■ Coloured chalk powder in turmeric llution under control th- ch sometimes includes row up smoke and dust ■ chalk powder. Worse st- Goat droppings in spices on which Delhi chokes. ill, the very air we brea- ■ Injectible dyes in watermelon, ‘‘Since rain acts as a nat- the is polluted by conta- peas, capsicum, brinjal ural scrubber, there is a minants whose presen- ■ Papaya seeds in black pepper general feeling that poll- ce far exceeds all levels NEELABH ution levels have come of permissibility. down. In reality,the sus- Officially-speaking, the city sarkar’s pr- ‘‘Apart from the PFA lab, we will send sam- pended particulate matter (SPM) in the air evention of food adulteration (PFA) depar- ples of edible products to other labs count- is 188 microgram per cubic metre as aga- tment is on the job. ‘‘One must realise that rywide so as to expedite the sample-testing inst the permissible limit of 140 microgr- we need to abide by the standards specified process. Adulteration, whether it is in col- am per cubic metre,’’ says Biswas. by the PFA Act. And, while following PFA as or water,is a serious issue and a lackad- The dust has settled, the air has cleared. parameters, we are yet to detect the prese- aisical approach will not be tolerated.’’ The veneer of concern has been split wide FAST THINGS FIRST: Delhi Times rolls in thrills on wheels as Katrina Kaif hits top gear with nce of pesticides in colas,’’ maintains PFA The official assurances notwithstandi- open. Because nothing, perhaps, contami- the new Enticer Deluxe, whose electric start and disc brakes add a zip to the experience director SL Bansal. This, of course, would ng, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) nates Delhi more than official apathy. of riding high (To send this photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) imply that either the PFA’s standards for level in the Yamuna stands at more than 15 [email protected] MANOJ KESHARWANI After Bhagat Singh, it’s Indira Arun Shourie: In NIKITA DOVAL Among the films in the pipeline, Indira Gand- Times News Network hi: A Tryst With Destiny, in the words of Manis- ha, ‘‘portrays Mrs Gandhi as a strong woman eel history, they say, repeats itself. If Year and a national leader.’’Says Perizaad, who plays aid of animals... R2002 saw Bollywood releasing a young Indira in Bandung Sona- as many as four films on Bhagat RUSH HOUR ta, “The film focusses on the first ANUBHA SAWHNEY advocated the use of pleather ov- Singh, it’s now time for Asian-African confere- Times News Network er leather and espoused the cause former PM Indira Gan- nce held at Bandung, of vegetarianism, the use of mot- dhi to be the subject of which was attended by hirty-three designers, 150 de- ifs and messages on the ubiquit- four movies. both Jawaharlal Nehru Tsigns, one affordable price. ous T-shirt seemingly marks an The projects in the fr- and Indira Gandhi.’’ All for a good cause. It is not oft- effort which is both far-reaching ay are Nitin ‘Gadar’Ke- Logically,when there en that fashion and compassion and down-to-earth. Most import- ni’s Indira Gandhi: A is a slew of films on the go hand in hand, but the call of antly,the synergy of fashion with Tryst With Destiny, sta- same topic, individual the wild has elicited a humane a cause is a singularly conscious rring Manisha Koirala; business could be affec- answer from India’s designer co- attempt to create awareness abo- Bandung Sonata, a Chi- ted. “But in this case, mmunity which, for the first ti- ut the danger posed to the very nese film featuring Per- IndiraIndira GandhiGandhi Manisha Koirala things could be differe- me ever,has come together to ex- existence of the many creatures izaad Zorabian; the SP Four films on the late PM are in the pipeline nt as the films deal with tend its whole-hearted support great and small which comprise Singh-produced Hawa- various phases of Mrs to animals by designing T-shirts the animal kingdom. yein, which dwells on the riots which erupted fol- Gandhi’s life,’’ says a trade analyst. Of course, th- which will be sold as part of a ‘‘When we embarked on this lowing the assassination of the late Mrs Gandhi; ere is no point in making predictions. For, the fund-raiser. fund-raiser, a lot of people were and Operation Blue Star, about which not much politics of the box-office will have the last word. For Union disinvestment mini- skeptical about whether we wou- is known in the current context. [email protected] ster Arun Shourie, there is no pa- ld be able to put together someth- use when it comes to supporting ing involving so many bright and a good cause. ‘‘I am certain that busy people. I am delighted to pr- people such as Mahatma Gandhi ove the cynics wrong,’’ says Peop- and Raman Maharishi would ha- le For Animals (PFA) chairpers- ve valued the work being done,’’ on Maneka Gandhi. he says, ‘‘In fact, spiritual lore co- Shourie, in turn, is delighted to mes to mind when I think of Ra- be able to extend his support to a man Mahar- cause while ishi, who had HUMANE COLOURS sporting a T- a cow called shirt which, Lakshmi which passed away wi- for him, constitutes regular wo- th its head on his lap.’’ rk-wear.‘‘I enjoy the comfort T-sh- A collection of fashion T-shirts irts give me. It is only when I att- created by India’s top designers, end a formal meeting that I don a each of whom has contributed a bush-shirt. Otherwise, it’s T-shir- set of five designs reflecting the ts all the way,’’ says Shourie, a ve- very best of his or her craft, ‘Co- getarian in spirit and ‘‘almost mpassion In Fashion’ is at once one’’ in practise. ‘‘Each time I me- sassy yet sophisticated, style and et Maneka, I feel pangs of guilt substance, while bearing animal and am driven towards being co- motifs and animal-friendly mess- mpletely vegetarian,’’ he shares ages. Coming together for this fu- through a smile. nd-raising show at the Grand In- Coming back to T-shirts, Sho- terContinental between August urie likes plain ones in dark solid 14 and 17 is the creme de la creme colours, much unlike his son Ad- of India’s fashion fraternity: Ro- itya, ‘‘who enjoys wearing T-shir- hit Bal, JJ Valaya, Tarun Tahilia- ts too, but prefers nice, bright col- ni, Suneet Varma, Manish Malh- ours.’’ Any which way, with de- otra, Manish Arora, Abraham & signers fashioning funds for ani- Thakore, Rajesh Pratap Singh, mal welfare, and the minister su- Ritu Beri, Malini Ramani, and pporting their cause, compassion DISINVESTING SUIT AND TIE! Union disinvestment minister Arun Satya Paul, among others.