Airport Authority of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation greed buckling to builder pressure?-LEDS 29 Oct 2009

29 Oct 2009,
The Editor
Times of India
Bangalore

Sir,
This is with reference to the 29 Oct 2009, page 2 report about AAI and Ministry of Civil Aviation relaxing building height restrictions around airports to 100 storeys.
A look around the world's airports like Hongkong/Newyork nestled in the middle of skyscrapers shows that they are in cities which have horizontal restrictions due to geography, the skyscrapers were built long before the aiports became as busy as they now are. Even still there are significant height restrictions around airports in developed countries for specific reasons first being flyers safety.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_restriction_laws)

We in India have no dearth of horizontal space that we have to sacrifice aircraft/ residents safety.
In this context two recent news items are significant.
Northwest Airlines pilots missed their landing zone by 150 kilometers.
Yelahanka residents demanded end to nation defending Airforce training sorties from the 46 year old Airforce station.
After development of these 100 floor monsters- take a look at what has happened to the Bangalore skyline last decade- the aircraft may have to follow dangerous noise abatement procedures as required around Regan National Airport in Washington DC USA.
is this illogical move just an manifestation of builders lobbying efforts and bureaucrats pliability and greed?

Let us not blindly follow the developed countries mistakes and provide another World trade centre scenario on a platter.
Thanking you
Sincerely yours
M.B.Nataraj
BSc,MS(Georgetown Univ, Wash DC)
MT(American Medical Technologists) USA
279, Mahalakshmi Lay out
Bangalore-560086.

















Up, up and BEYOND



Buildings Can Scale 100 Storeys Around The Airport, Say New Rules


S Kushala | TNN



Bangalore: Devanahalli, which is emerging as the Aerotropolis — airport city — can now have skyscrapers going up 100 storeys. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Union ministry of civil aviation have stretched the vertical limit around Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) from 150 metres to 300 metres, within a radius of 20 km.
A new rule that’s been implemented from June, it has caught the local area planning authority — Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority (BIAAPA) — unawares. The authority is still sticking to its rule book, which puts the maximum height at 25 metres around the airport.
The regulation, which kicked in for all major airports across the country, came through after builders petitioned the ministry to increase the height around airports as commercial and residential ventures in the vicinity have proved to be good business.

ROUGHLY 100 FLOORS

In May, the AAI notified that buildings within a radius of 20 km from the airport can go up to a maximum height of 300 metres, which means roughly 100 floors. The Union civil aviation ministry has also notified that the airports will have to issue NoCs based on the new rules. Certain parameters have been fixed for the heights, based on the distance from runways, and landing and take-off paths.

Distance from runways

Building 100 metres in height: 1.2 km

150 m in height: 1.5 km

200 m high: 1.9 km

300 m high: 2.6 km

Distance from take-off and landing paths

200-m high: 4.5 km away

300-m high: 6.5 km



BUILDERS HAPPY

To SBM CMD -28 Oct 2009HC

Mr Dileep Mavinkurve,
Chairman, M D, SBM, Bangalore -560002-
via hardcopy/gmos@sbm.co.in gmos@sbm.co.in,

Dear Mr Mavinkurve,
This is in continuation of my justified, now justiciable, grouse against SBM(my yesterdays letter to the editor copy sent to (gmos@sbm.co.in for info).
Your centralized clearing processing centre stinks. It is grossly ill prepared to deal with centralized check processing. You seem to have gone into it under “me too johnny” pressure of all other banks doing it.
My check (the form 1455 reason 13 with added note) was bounced because of NO IMAGE. That itself speaks of VOLUMES OF HOW WELL YOU HAVE PLANNED BEFORE GOING ONLINE.
AS A CUSTOMER WAS I BEGGING YOU TO CENTRALIZE CHECK CLEARANCE?
WHY COULD NOT SOMEONE FROM CCPC HAVE THE COMMON SENSE OR TECHNICAL ABILITY OF CHECKING UP WITH THE BRANCH ?
WITH THE TECHNOLOGY YOUR BANK SUPPOSED TO POSSESS IT WAS A SECOND’S MATTER TO HAVE THE SIGNATURE IMAGE UPLOADED IF THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AS A LAY MAN WHO HAS BECOME A COMPUTER EXPERT WITH USE I CAN TELL YOU, GIVING A COMPUTER TO AN IDIOT DOESN’T MAKE HIM A GENIUS BUT MAKES THE COMPUTER AN IDIOT.IF I AM UNSPARING IN MY CRITICISM, IT iS BECAUSE I AM VERY VERY VERY ANGRY AND UPSET AT THIS GROSS DEFICIENCY IN SERVICE. BEFORE HASTILY CENTRALIZING DID IT NOT STRIKE YOU THAT THE RECORDS MAY NOT BE UPTODATE? YOU SHOULD HAVE EVOLVED FOOLPROOF PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT THE BANK’S INEFFICIENCIES ARE NOT HIGHLIGHTED AS PERFORMANCES IN THIS WAY ON A CENTRE STAGE.I AM ALSO SURE THAT ADDING THAT NO IMAGE to REASON # 13, IS BESIDES SHOWING UP THE BANK’S OWN FAILURE IS A GROSS VIOLATION OF BANKING/RBI RULES AND CANNOT FORM A VALID REASON.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IN WRITING IMMEDIATELY AS TO WHAT MEASURES THE BANK PROPOSES TO RESTITUTE MY REPUTATION/IMAGE BESIDES REFUNDING THE RETURN CHARGES ACCRUED TO ME AND THE PAYEE. AS IT IS SOME THOUGHTLESS AUTOMATON HAS RUINED OUR RELATIONSHIPS ,MY IMAGE AND REPUTATION. QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT DON’T YOU THINK?IF I DONOT GET A SATISFACTORY ACTION WITHIN TWO WEEKS I WILL PRESUME I HAVE YOUR MUTE BLESSINGS TO APPROACH THE LEGAL AVENUES OPEN TO ME FOR RESTITUTION.
Sincerely yours
M B Nataraj,

Bank computerization boon or bane?-LEDS 25Oct2009

In the frenzy of computerization, all the banks are switching over to centralized clearing.
This instead of improving, speeding up bank transactions, appears to be working otherwise looking at customer experiences.
Checks are being returned despite having sufficient funds, from correct accounts and proper signatures.
It is not yet clear to us as whether this centralized clearing is separate for individual banks or common for all. Eitherway efficiency and service are the victims and customers suffer.
Scanned card signatures are being compared on a computer screen, as opposed to a physical card.
The quality of the scanner, signature, screen resolution, sheer numbers to be scrutinized, training, experience and ability of the some unknown operator somewhere decide in a fraction of a second the fate of these checks.
In my own experiences with Canara bank, the last name in a joint account was totally missing, forget the signature, a ECS valid since 8 years was returned due to this advance technology. In State Bank of Mysore, the signed checks are cleared over the counter, while A/C payee deposited checks of the same individual are returned.
Earlier atleast, the branch used to scrutinize the signature and consider the customer's standing and normal variations in signature pattern. Now this personal touch is totally missing.
As a result Canara Bank, State Bank of Mysore and others are opening up their customers to unjust, unfair criminal charges due to their system failure.
We the customers have repeatedly experienced that technological progress does not translate into improved service or efficiency.Anyone who has tried to get a passbook updated in any bank now a days can vouch for that.
It requires atleast three or more visits and waits of half an hour or longer per account per branch, because "Printer is out of order".
Courts should make the Banks the primary defendants if criminal charges are pressed against customers.
Banks should wake up to the deteriorating conditions.

More on MaxNYLife:2

IRDA seems to be sleeping on this issue. I even petitioned the president of India, Prime minister etc on an earlier issue with this company. Now they are charging me service tax on the to term 100 policy. They said they were paying earlierout of their pocket.Now they think I should pay it. When I pointed out that this is a breach of contract-my policy is about 10 years old- they restate contract law to say that they can add any clause if it is not specifically forbidden. The fact is they must be losing money and they are cutting losses. IRDA seems to be blind to this robbery. We the customers should petition IRDA, its ombundsman and then approach consumer courts for redressal.

Hi,

Couple of years back, like any responsible person.. I choose to make some investment in the most safe way possible.. so I

choose Max newyork life (India) ! not because I was attracted by its policy rates or promises but because of the wonderful service I got from one of the Agent.

Things were very smooth until i made my mind to buy some more policies.

Last year in the mid of July, I was approched by couple of people from Max newyork life who said that there is a policy that has an option of investing 50,000 rs as onetime investment and listed me the stergical outcome of it in over the years. As per my research this policy sounded as something that I just wanted. So, I made the purchase using my credit car. (which was unnecessary at that point but the plan was too good to let go!!!)

A month later I got 2 policies from MaxNewyork each with 25000/- yearly.... to add more pain, I was in US at that time and was unable to catch the agents by person. So that where my mail trail to MaxNY started. Max newyork people demanded that I had to give them a wirten letter personally meeting the regional manager! which was my first thing to do after returning from US (after 3 months)..... I gave him a written letter and I was told that I dont have to worry (it did nt stop there!!!!)

one Month later (which means after 5 months from policy date) I received a letter from Max newyork stating I can change my policy amount to 25000 annualy and stick on to the investment i made. Since the investment was already 6 months old, I agreed to that. But after 2 weeks, i received a letter requesting payment for 2500/- rs on each policy so that it would add up to 15k each per yr (the minimum amt) Which i did.

After coming back to US (end of Dec 07) I jus wanted to check on the status only to find out my policy amount has still not been changed. They have sent me another mail stating I have to make the policy amount 20000 each (so! 40000 rs together).

Since July 07 to July 08. atleast with 50-60 mail converstation with agents and managers, I am still in back of Max Newyork life trying to correct the mistake they have done and hoping to live with it at a minium loss, but I dont see it coming. No matter how many mails I send to the manager Manoj.Shenoy@maxnewyorklife.com requsting him to do something abt this or atleast give me his managers mail id, there hardly is any response!!!

So !! Is that mean that the service cannot be provided if the person is not able to be around!?!?

Maxnewyork life again-9oct2009

9 Oct 2009,

Sir,

You Max Newyork life do not seem to respect the Indian Laws , despite being in business here for the past decade or so.

You interpret it according to your convenience or to reduce your mounting losses .

It is a short sighted policy to lose a potential customer paying 4510 for the next 40 years for 45.10 paise.

Two years ago around the same time during my previous complaint that

you increased premia for riders you quoted some ununderstandable Americanese clause in the policy justifying it.

Now You are claiming nonexistent clauses to permit you to collect!

Your lawyers seem to be rewriting the laws for your American convenience.
What you have forgotten to mention is that Life insurance premia was not under the ambit of the 1996 act.
You entered into a contract when there was no service tax on premia. So you cannot now claim that without a specfic contract contrary etc for a non existent tax you are entitled to claim it.( We wish to inform you that there is no such provision in the policy contact between the company and the customer, which forbids the company from realizing service tax from its customers. Initially service tax was being borne by the company out of its pocket, which ideally should have been borne by the customer. )

By your own admission the company was bearing the tax liability for a post contract liability like any decent insurance company was.

What has changed since the last few years is your company's bad economic performance so that you cannot even pay the 1.03 % tax on the policy. Then where is the question of the glossy bonus/performance projections that were used to entice new customers and hold on to old ones?

I refer to your story on the net which I ran into after I comlained to you.

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Max_NewYork_Life_Insurance-158265-1.html

ladhoo said:
Jun 07, 2009 11:20 PM

max new york life insurance ulip product are charges are vvv high compare to lic these private are making heavy losses as news in economic times date 14/03/07 claim settelment ratio of lic is 96.94% all private com claim settlement ratio is 74%news in economic times 29/04/08 max new york life insurance had ask goverment to give 4 yr grace peroid to carry forward losses as it already in loss from 8 yrnews in dna . losses are due to high expences heavy commision to its agent ,expences on media add , a/c offices rented on high rent .the policy holder pay premium all premium are blone like this way.
visit any lic office its no a/c anywhere as lic care for its policy holder. lic is for the people wealfare .and these comp are here to do business only

By any reading of contract law it amounts to breach of contract and any such terms which breach have to be renegotiated with the customer. You cannot unilaterally enforce it.

If the other party is not willing you need to terminate the contract without any penal clauses since you Max newyork life is the party which is violating it.
I also take serious objections to your staff invoking IRDA provisions, implying that these actions have IRDA sanction, while the premium notice claims authority under finance act of 2004.

As a to term 100 policy holder I cannot be expected to adhere to future as yet nonexisting laws.

You as a company have not survived one decade, Without breaking all norms of decent life insurance practise as was practised by LIC in pre IRDA India.

I again demand that you return the amount without any penal clauses applied to me since you are the one breaking the contract.

I again reiterate if you apply penal clauses to me for terminating the contract you shall be doing so at your own risk and consequences.

I ask that the paid up amount be refunded immediately or I can take further action as I may deem fit.

I am sending a hard copy of this by snail mail as an added precaution so that you can not claim not to have received a cancellation notice.

Thanking you

Sincerely yours,

Revathi Nataraj,

----- Original Message -----

From: Service.Helpdesk@maxnewyorklife.com

To: mbnataraj@gmail.com

Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 8:16 PM

Subject: Service Tax Clarification regarding the policy number 100090612

Dear Mrs. Nataraj

Thank you for writing to Customer Services at Max New York Life Insurance.

This is with reference to your query regarding the policy number 100090612 about the Service Tax Clarification.

We wish to clarify that under the scheme of service tax and provision of the Finance Act, 1994 the service provider (Insurance company) isresponsible to collect the service tax and deposit the same with the Government. However, the incidence of service tax falls on the recipient of the services (customer). In this regard, we wish to clarify that there has been no change in this scheme of service tax.

Accordingly, the service provider is entitled to realize service tax from its customers unless there is a contract to the contrary between the parties. We wish to inform you that there is no such provision in the policy contact between the company and the customer, which forbids the company from realizing service tax from its customers. Initially service tax was being borne by the company out of its pocket, which ideally should have been borne by the customer.

In light of the above, we wish to inform you that the company is well within its right to charge service tax from its customers. Accordingly, we wish to inform you that with effect from May 01, 2009, service tax shall now have to be borne by the customer himself.

We have started recovering Service Tax on all premiums due on or after May 01, 2009.

Please find the Break up of the service tax Applicable on the base policy and riders as mentioned below:

Name of the Plan and Riders	Modal Premium amoun	Service tax applicable	Service Tax rate as applicable
Whole Life Participating Plan - ND	Rs. 4,510.00	Rs. 46.45	1.03% of the premium
Spouse Rider (Par)	Rs. 939.00	Rs. 96.72	10.30% of the premium
Personal Accident Rider (Par)	Rs. 135.00	Rs. 13.91	10.30% of the premium
Dread Disease 10 Yr Rider (Par)	Rs. 1,466.00	Rs. 151.00	10.30% of the premium

Please find the Service tax Registration number details attached below:



Please write back to us if should you need any further assistance or call us toll free at 1800 180 5577/1800 200 5577 or write to us at service.helpdesk@maxnewyorklife.com
======================================================================================================================================================================
It is our endeavor to keep improving our services to continuously meet your expectation. Hope, the above response to your queries is complete and is to your satisfaction. In case, if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to us at manager.services@maxnewyorklife.com Please quote reference number [] in the subject line.
=====================================================================================================================================================================

" We are pleased to announce launch of our Customer Portal. You can view your policy information, statements, know your fund value instantly, log and track your service requests online, know your payment history and much more. Register now @ www.maxnewyorklife.com and experience the next level of service. "
We assure you that we will continue to provide you with the service that Max New York Life is committed to deliver.

Regards,
Customer Services
Max New York Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
Operation Center, Plot No. - 90 A
Sector - 18, Udyog Vihar
Gurgaon - 122002
Tel - 0124 - 2542001
Toll Free - 1800-180-5577 // 1800-200-5577
Fax number -- 0124 - 4239683

Paperless world -- Register for GREEN MAIL Service, SMS GREEN to 5616155 or simply write to service.helpdesk@maxnewyorklife.com & get all communication only by e mail.


"M B Nataraj"
To: "M.B.Nataraj" , "Revathi Nataraj" , ,
Date: 10/02/2009 08:34 PM
Subject: Re: Policy Number 100090612



2 Oct 2009,
Sir,
This is in continuation of my travails with your company from day one.
Now I have a notice for service tax of 46.45 on the premium of 4510.
This is purportedly under "SERVICE TAX IS APPLICABLE OR (SIC) RISK COVER CHARGES INCLUDED IN THE LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 65(105)(zx) of finance act 1994, as amended by FIncance(No2) ACT 2004 aat the applicable rates.
Kindly let me know 1) what is the risk cover charges part of the life insurance premium of 4510 agreed upon between us when the policy was underwritten.
2) What is the rate that you have used to calculate this tax
cy
3) where this fraction has been specified in the policy provided to me.
4) Kindly provide the service tax number under which you pay this tax to the government of India.
If this matter is not resolved satisfactorily within one week you may close the policy and refund me whatever is due to me after your extortions.
I get the distinct feeling that this is some loophole that your accountants located to extort some more money from the natives.
Thanking you
Sincerely yours

THIS COMPANY(MAX NEW YORK LIFE) DOESN’T HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY.. I have similar experience with the company where I was rejected for a top-up option on what they say is "on-medical-grounds" for a "good-for-nothing"

traditional policy with Policy Number 284454196 ( I do agree that it is my mistake not to understand the policy before buying it, but its because the company agent who happened to be my friends brother misguided me and suggested me to take this policy). My personal doctor verified my report and said that there is no scope of rejecting the top-up option on medical grounds. To make it worst, they DID NOT PROVIDE ME MY MEDICAL REPORT FOR AN YEAR intentionally to make it INVALID (every medical report stays valid(in effect) only for an year) !
I thought of going to the Consumer court, however not sure if this is going to work as companies like this trap us by making us sign the multiple page confusing contract document. However I do have proof of communication emails that shows that this company has dodged from providing the medical report in time. (NO COMPANY HAS THE RIGHT TO FIDDLE WITH OUR MEDICAL REPORT AND KEEP US IN DARK. THIS IS ILLEGAL TRADE PRACTICE! )
The company customer care is highly arrogant, at the same time having the slightest idea of what is happening within.
I have lost Rs. 26,000 paying for illegal trade practice! My sincere request to all of you is to stay away fromMNYL. I have couple of other polcies with LIC, ING VYSA and all of them have good credibility.
Basically, I hate to write anything negative about any company. However this has crossed the limit. The most painfull thing here is that there is no resource in this whole company who can listen to what a customer has to say! PATHETIC CUSTOMER RELATION!

FRUSTRATED MNYL CUSTOMERPolicy Number 284454196Any suggestion/feedbacks, please reach me at rameshdreams@gmail.com

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Comments on this review (1)

krihar said: Sep 16, 2009 11:05 AM Teach them a lesson. You have a strong case against this Company. All customers must be suffering like you and your efforts will ring warning bells on the top mgmt.. Consumer courts are very favourable to customers and worth trying as odds are in your favor.

Kempegowdru International Airportu?-LEDS2Oct2009

2 Oct 2009

The Editor,

Bangalore

Sir,

This is with reference to the proposed name change of Bengaluru International Airport to Possibly KGIA(Kempegowda Intl Airport).

It is already obvious that this is in the famous city of Bengaluru nee Bangalore of World war II Bangalore Torpedo fame.

Do the politicians lack pressing issues to have to serve up such populist vote grabbing shenanigans?

This is myopically splitting the society along caste,religion and vote bank fault lines.

They are promoting a provincial state.This is a publicity stunt to divert attention from lack of governance.

The very thought vividly recalls my sense of oppressive breathlessness on my visit to the then East Germany even in open air.

The next step should be to Carnaticize all multinationals by ubiquitous U turning- Phillipsu, Microsoftu, Infosyssu, Marthassu, allave guru?

If we have to we can go whole hog and call it kempegowdru international airport.

Will the BIA promoters rigorously defend their turf or awaiting a PIL.

Thanking you

Sincerely yours,

Mr. M.B. Nataraj