Navi Mumbai can claim to be on par with the `developed' cities of the world in at least one respect: the high cost of living. At the risk of being accused of generalising against the trader community, it must be pointed out that dishes like idli, dosa, or the typical filter coffee or the locally brewed tea, no gourmet dishes but the common man's food, are comparatively costlier than what they are back in town. This was proved by social worker P N Padhmanabhan, who compared the menu cards.

He found that masala dosa, for instance, is priced at Rs 16 in Vashi, compared to Rs 13 in P M Road and Rs 12 in Matunga. Coffee has the privilege of being sold for Rs eight here, as against Rs 5 in Matunga and P M Road.And although the wholesale markets have shifted to Vashi, the retail market farm products are cheaper in Chembur than at Vashi.Too many dadas n Thane guardian minister Ganesh Naik, referred to as dada (elder brother in Marathi) by those close to him is now a dada in a different sense altogether. He has now got a grandson.

Commented a local hack, ``The Marathi dada has become a Hindi dada. Does that mean he will join national politics sooner or later?''Tax woesn The NMMC is facing a slew of court cases pertaining to disputes arising out of property tax bills. The call of the Navi Mumbai Action Committee asking citizens not to pay what it terms ``unjust and illegal'' bills has led to a rush to the Thane court. In fact, the NMMC reportedly feels that the present panel of advocates who attend to NMMC work when needed is not enough, and it is looking for an advocate who can devote his or her time entirely to property tax related matters. Meanwhile, tax payers have found to their consternation that the tax notices served to them are dated March 30, 1997, although they have been served only last week.

The irony is that in true governmental style, they are supposed to have been paid or represented to the corporation by the end of April. Can someone remind them that we are in second week of July?Commissioner Sudhakar Kulkarni has asked people to treat the date of delivery as the date of issuing the notice. Perhaps he could pass this message on to the delivery boys as well, as the assessees have no grounds to argue on about the date of delivery as the bills get dumped in letter boxes, only to lie there.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.