Don't eat leafy vegetable in Mumbai : Lethal Food Poisoning

If you are living in Mumbai or Bombay, make sure you start away from all leafy vegetables as you may end up dying with food poisoning. All the leafy vegetable are grown in plots next to railway tracks and they are watered by dirty excerata or shit or sewage filled gutter water. Its a scam to fool people, these people water the plants in the night time as no one will notice the same.

Next time you travel near railway tracks, please note the leafy vegetables grown  there. This same toxic filled vegetables are supplied to all the five stars, four star and other top restaurant chains and people eat them without knowing the source. I have also noticed vegetables like Lady finger, cabbage grown along the tracks.

Recently, a social service organisation, Iron Eagle V Group, randomly tested a few of the vegetables grown on two rail farms at Panvel and Juinagar. The vegetables were then analysed at an FDA-approved laboratory, and the results were far from comforting. Tests revealed the presence of heavy metals like zinc, cadmium, lead, cobalt, chromium and even arsenic in the vegetables, and the concentration of some of these metals was higher than the recommended limits set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA).

According to microbiologist and chemical analyser, Madhuri Deshmukh, of Jubilant Pharma & Chemical Lab that tested the samples, the presence of metal in the samples prove that the soil is contaminated with industrial effluents and domestic waste because of the drain water.

The food department in also turning a blind eye and playing life with peoples life. Next time you are in Bombay or Mumbai think before eating vegetables.

Kumari Selja, Union Minister for Tourism, inaugurates RGIA’s reservation centre in Hyderabad

Monday, August 30, 2010, 17:00 Hrs  [IST] By HBI Staff | Mumbai

According to a PTI report, a 24/7 tourist information cum reservation centre was inaugurated at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad by Kumari Selja, Union Minister for Tourism. Selja said that the Centre would fully support the Andhra Pradesh government in the tourism sector. The Centre had been providing information to the tourists ever since the airport was inaugurated in 2008. Tourists can book reservation in AP Tourism hotels or resorts in the information cum reservation centre. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), which runs the centre at the airport, is planning to open similar information cum reservation centres at Visakhapatnam and Tirupati airports.

Reliance Industries buys 14.12 per cent stake in EIH

Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 11:00 Hrs  [IST] By HBI Staff | Mumbai

According to a PTI report, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has acquired 14.12 per cent stake in EIH Limited, which runs the Oberoi brand of hotels and resorts, for Rs 1,021 crore. The purchase is through RIL’s wholly-owned subsidiary Reliance Industries Investment and Holding Private Limited, from Oberoi Hotels Private Limited and certain other promoters of EIH Limited, RIL said in a statement. The statement said, “RIL’s investment in EIH Limited has been made as the Oberoi family had developed the ‘Oberoi Hotels’ brand into a premier international brand in the luxury hospitality sector and as a result EIH Limited has excellent future prospects.” RIL has full faith in and would support the management of EIH Limited and there is no change of management, operation or control of EIH Limited. Commenting on the stake sell, P R S Oberoi, Chairman, Oberoi Group said, “RIL desired to make a long term financial investment in the luxury hospitality industry. We are happy to encourage their investment in EIH Ltd. There is no change to control, management or operation of EIH.”

Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Puxi opens

Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 14:00 Hrs  [IST] By HBI Staff | Mumbai

The Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Puxi has opened for business. The 456-room hotel, which is owned by Gain Year Development Real Estate Shanghai Co, Ltd, operates under a long-term management agreement with Marriott International. It is headed by Robert Chiang as General Manager and Alex Wu as Director of Marketing. According to a report in asiatraveltips.com, guestrooms feature deluxe bedding, 37-inch LCD panel TVs, iHome docking stations and satellite channels, besides high speed Internet, laptop size safes and the latest in-room technology. In F&B segment, the property offers a culinary treat with its MoMo Café, presenting a menu that blends western dishes with local favourites, from hamburgers to dim sum, pizza to kung pao. An executive lounge on the top floor boasts a panoramic view of the city and offers complimentary breakfast, evening drinks and snacks. The Courtyard Shanghai Puxi also offers a 24-hour fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool. A state-of-the-art ballroom and four function rooms with natural light provide provide a 5,382 square feet of meeting space. Chiang said, “Courtyard is a brand that resonates very well here in Shanghai. It provides great value to our in-house guests but at the same time brings to the neighbourhood a modern, trendy and attractive venue where people can gather, enjoy and relax.”

Au Bon Pain opens its fourth outlet in Bengaluru

Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 17:00 Hrs  [IST] By HBI Staff | Mumbai

US-based bakery café chain Au Bon Pain has opened an outlet in Mantri Square, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. The restaurant is spread across 2,400 square feet with a seating capacity of 120 people. It is the fourth outlet in Bengaluru. Subbanna Kannur, Business Head, Au Bon Pain - India said, “The launch of our fourth outlet in Bengaluru is a testimony of the customers’ preference for Au Bon Pain in the city. Coupled with its growing popularity amongst Bangaloreans, Mantri Square’s unique location in Malleshwaram makes it the perfect choice for us as we expand our footprint to all corners of the city.”

Clarion hotels to expand its footprint in India

Clarion hotels, the mid-segment brand of Choice Hospitality, developed and promoted by Inovoa Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd (a joint venture between Asian Hotels (West) Limited and US-based real estate company Hillwood) is on a major expansion drive in India. Currently operating a 150-room property in Whitefield, Bengaluru, Clarion will soon set up properties in Pune, Lonavala in Maharashtra and Greater NCR region of Delhi. The property in Pune will be operational by early next year with 100+ rooms. The brand is considering cities like Nagpur, Kolkata, Goa and Chennai for its further expansion.

Talking about the expansion plans, Sandeep Gupta, Executive Director, Asian Hotels (West) Limited said, “With the improving number of tourism figures and surge in corporate travel, the demand for room supply is increasing in the market. The potential for mid-segment brand in India is huge and is growing at strong pace. We are looking at establishing Clarion as a well known and preferred mid-segment brand in India. The room tariffs for all the properties would range from USD 100-200.