Water Contamination Highest In South Mumbai

• Water Contamination. The latest BMC figures indicate a sharp rise in the number of contaminated water cases in the city. While in 2011, the civic body recorded over 4,000 complaints, the number of complaints had already reached nearly 3,500 by the end of June this year. On an average this year, the BMC has been recording about 19 complaints every day, while last year, the daily average was 11. Of the 3,430 complaints this year, 2,272 have been from south Mumbai. According to civic officials, the cause of the problem are the old, leaking pipelines running along sewer lines in the island city. [Hindustan Times]

• Drug Bust. On Wednesday, July 4, while scanning a London-bound consignment of vegetables at the Andheri air cargo complex, customs officials found 22kgs of hashish, valued at Rs1 crore, concealed in yams. Officials found the inside of the yams scooped out to accommodate the drugs, which were sealed in polythene bags. The yams were sealed with glue and the joints were covered with a thin layer of cow dung. [The Times of India]

• Fare Hike. The Railway Ministry will hike fares for tourists in Mumbai on Wednesday, August 1. Under the tourist ticket scheme, passengers can make unlimited trips on the suburban sections of the Central and Western Railway using first class passes that are valid for a day, three days or five days. Currently, tourists have to pay Rs170 for a day pass, Rs330 for three days, and Rs390 for five days. The revised rates will be Rs210, Rs365 and Rs430 for a day, three days and five days respectively. [The Times of India]

• Travel Troubles. A survey conducted by travel portal Skyscanner revealed that Indians find the airport experience to be the most stressful part of their travel. The survey polled 20,000 travellers across India, Brazil, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Russia. Nearly 67 per cent of the Indians polled said that they find the airport experience to be stressful mainly due to terminal congestion. Choosing a holiday destination was the second most time-consuming aspect of travel for Indians, followed by getting cheap air fares. [Hindustan Times]