Living room lighting ideas to add elegance to your space

 If you want to oomph up your living room space for making a distinct statement before your guests, it is about time that you turn your focus to living room lighting ideas. Be it an oversized chandelier or a DIY pendant light, these lighting fixtures can jazz up the area of your home. This can create a great impression in the minds of your visitors and instill a sense of pride in you.

The living room is the busiest space of our home during weekends or parties. While exploring the living room lighting ideas, you have many options to consider, including wall lights and smart LED lights. Let us dive deep into this article to gain insights into the lighting dynamism for the space:

What is the best type of lighting for a living room?

If you are looking to decorate your house with enchanting lighting fixtures, you should consider these living room lighting ideas:

• Ambient lights should be considered for giving a diffused background light effect. Some of the best resources for ambient light are chandeliers, and wall sconces
• Desk lamps, floor lamps, and reading lamps, among others, can be used for task lighting to illuminate a particular area while keeping other areas dark in the living room
• If you are willing to use lighting for decorative purposes, accent lamps and picture lamps are best to serve the purpose

How should you light your living room?

Living room lighting ideas should be contemplated when planning to renovate the existing lighting systems. Here are some suggestions to improve the living room aesthetics:

• If the design of your living room is simple, using unusual designs of lighting fixtures will complement them
• Wall lights are trendy living room lighting ideas that not only add a soft glow to the room but also help the light to bounce back, adding a layer of cosiness
• Industrial-themed big chandelier lights are known to bring the next-level vibe to the room instantly
• For adding a vintage touch to your living room, you can also keep electrical lanterns

Ceiling light ideas for living room

Following are the living room lighting ideas to make it eye-catching:

• Use functional and decorative lights on the ceiling to bring an element of sophistication to the space
• Always choose lights that are subtle and amplify the aesthetics of the living room
• You can go for a quirky pendant design lighting idea to amp up your living room art decor
• Use a mid or large-sized chandelier to give a vintage vibe to your living room. You can choose vintage or contemporary-style chandeliers to compliment the interiors

How do you light a cosy living room?

Living room lighting ideas are considered best when it comes to heightening cosiness and welcoming ambience. Here are the suggestions to light up your living room:

Pendant lights

The pendant light is often regarded as the best living room lighting idea. These are available at affordable pricing in different shapes and sizes. You can choose pendant lights as per your suitability to boost the comfort and cosiness of your living room. What is more, you can go for a pendant light with a metallic touch as it helps in reflecting light.

Dimmer lights

The warm tones of dim lighting evoke a feeling of luxury in your living room. You can go for easily available dimmer lights in the market. If you choose the smart versions, you can also choose the level of dimness to set the mood and requirements. These are cost-effective as compared to regular lighting as well as help save electricity costs.

Layer lights

Layer lights are also regarded as a wonderful living room lighting idea if you wish to create a balance of cool and warm lighting. The bulbs are usually placed in layers in a way that you easily switch to the brightness and warmness you want. The bulbs should be chosen depending on the area of the living room you want to install them.

Smart LED bulbs

Smart LED bulbs are one of the popular living room lighting ideas. This usually comes as a single bulb with multiple lighting options. You have to simply connect this product with your voice assistant or smartphone and set the lights on at your convenience.

What colour light is the best for the living room?

Choosing suitable lighting for the living room is very tricky, and one wrong move can destroy the vibe you wish to exhibit. While pondering over the living room lighting ideas, it is better to ask yourself what suits your needs. If you want a relaxed environment, soft warm tones can be chosen. Whereas, if you love brightness and gleam, cool tones of light are worth considering. To make this selection process simple, we have discussed the features of both:

Warm tone light

Warm tone lights add a sense of relaxing and comforting vibe to the living room. Thanks to the orange or yellow undertones that make the room more welcoming for guests. This living room lighting idea is also used in the bedroom as soft light is known to help in falling asleep faster.

Cool tone light

While exploring the living room lighting idea, ponder over cool-tone lights that work well with living rooms that have dark-coloured furniture or flooring. An advantage of having cool tone light is that it improves mental productivity within the dwellers.

East Facing House Vastu Plan: Direction and Useful Tips for Apartments Facing East

 Is east-facing property lucky according to Vastu Shastra? Let’s find out. Here is all you need to know about east facing house Vastu plan.

Buying a property in India is a long and tedious process, often accompanied by Vastu considerations. Although Vastu Shastra experts say that all directions are equally good, several myths prevail on the subject. For example, a south or west facing house Vastu is considered less favourable for owners, whereas an east facing house is believed to be luckier for the residents. East facing house in Vastu is preferred by most homebuyers as it is regarded auspicious. Sometimes, people are ready to pay extra for Vastu-compliant homes. However, is it worth it? Let us find out.

What is an east facing house?

If you are inside the house, in front of the entrance door, it is the direction you face while coming out of your home. If you face east while exiting the home, you have an east- facing house.

An east facing house or apartment is one of the best things according to Vastu Shastra. If one looks at it from a scientific point of view, the Sun rises in the east thus providing the early morning sunrays to those in an east facing house. The early morning sunrays are good for health. This direction extracts maximum positive energy.

East facing house Vastu plan

If you are planning to construct an east facing house, it is important that you adhere to a Vastu-compliant house plan, to ensure flow of positive energy inside the home. You can also consult with an architect or a planner, who can come up with a customised east facing Vastu house plan, as per your requirements. Here is a brief about how your house plan should look like, if you have an east facing house:

The east facing house plan is shown in the picture above. It has been divided into nine padas from north to south.

Here are some Vastu tips for east facing house you should keep in mind when planning the construction:

• Place the main doors in fifth pada, if your home is east-facing. It attracts respect, fame and recognition. If the fifth pada is small, you can also use the third, fourth, sixth or seventh padas.
• Avoid the first, second, eighth and ninth padas for planning the main door here.
• Eighth and ninth padas are prohibited for the main entrance of the east faced house in Vastu since it is the place from where illness can enter the house. In case there is a main door, one should apply Vastu remedies.
• If you are placing the door in the first pada, then leave a minimum of six inches of space from the northeast wall.

How to determine east facing house Vastu?

When understanding the Vastu for an east facing house, it is essential that you understand what east facing means and correctly identify an east facing flat. However, many people make the common mistake of assuming that a house that faces the rising sun is an east facing house. To understand this, one should be aware that the earth’s axis of rotation is tilted by 23.5 degree and that the direction of the rising sun changes in a year, over a certain period. That is, there are season changes as the earth completes one revolution around the sun. The sun rises in the exact east direction twice in a year, on 20th March or 21st March and 22nd September or 23rd September. In order to determine the east facing house direction as per Vastu, use a compass that accurately points the north direction. Using a compass is a trusted way to determine the east direction. Now, move out of the house through the main entrance. If the direction that you are facing is east, then you have an east facing door, which means it is an the east facing house.

Vastu for east facing house or flat

According to Vastu Shastra guidelines, east-facing properties are believed to be good for buildings and multi-storey apartments. However, for independent houses and bungalows, this direction is not counted amongst the best choices. Also, there are certain Vastu rules, guidelines and principles that have to be followed when it comes to Vastu for an east-facing property.

East facing house main door Vastu

The main door connects the outside world to the house and it is the point from where positive energies flow into the house. Hence, it is essential to ensure right placement of the main door as per Vastu rules. Misalignment can make the house inauspicious and have negative effects for the family.

In order to figure out where to design the main door in an east-facing home, firstly imagine and divide the east length of the house from the northeast corner (first step/pada) to southeast corner (ninth step/pada) in nine equal parts. As per the guidelines of main door vastu for east facing house, each part is referred to as pada or step. The fifth pada is auspicious for the main door as it is the location of Sun, the god of fame. It will invite name, fame and respect for the residents.

As per Vastu experts, the east corner has eight pada – Agni, Jayanta, Indra, Surya, Satya, Bhrisha, Antariksha, and Anila, when named from the top to the bottom. In the east facing house Vastu, the Jayanta or Indra pada are regarded the most auspicious places for the main door entrance. This alignment is believed to attract prosperity and happiness for the family members.

If you have an east-facing home, take caution while placing the main door entrance. Always ensure that your entrance is exactly in the middle and not in the south-east or north-east, as these two corners are considered unlucky for placing the main door in the east-facing property, according to Vastu.

If your entrance is in the north-east corner, make sure the main door does not touch the north-east corner. For this, you can leave at least 6 inches (1/2 ft) gap between the wall and the main door.

If you have a south east facing house main entrance, follow these remedies to nullify the Vastu dosha:

1. Place three Vastu pyramids, one on each side of the door and the third one on the top of the main door, in the centre.
2. You can also place the symbol of Om, Swastik and Trishul, on both sides of the door.
3. Install a Siddha Shukra Yantra for eliminating negative energy from the home.
4. Alternatively, you can also use a Siddha Vastu Kalash, to amplify the positive energy generated in this part of the corner.

Kitchen Vastu for east facing house

For an east facing house, kitchen Vastu suggests that the kitchen should be in the south-east direction of the house. If that is not feasible, then, the north-west should also work. However, avoid the north, north-east and west directions. The person who is cooking the meals, should face the east direction in a south-east facing kitchen and the west direction in a north-west facing kitchen. Place the cooking stove, oven and toasters in the south-east area for positive energy. Storage and refrigerator should be in the south-west direction, as per the east facing house vastu plan.

Master bedroom Vastu for east facing house

A master bedroom should be planned in the south-west direction, in east-facing homes, as per the house Vastu plan. The master bedroom should always be bigger than the other rooms in the house. According to Vastu, the perfect place to keep the bed is the south or west wall of the room, so that the head lies in the south or west direction and the legs are in the north or east direction. The best place for a changing room in the master bedroom is the west or north side of the room. Also, the bathroom should not directly face the bed, and the door of the bathroom must be closed at all times.

Living room Vastu for east facing house

For an east-facing house, the living room should be placed in the north-east side as is considered auspicious, as per Vastu plan. Also, make sure that the walls of the north and east side are slightly shorter and thinner than that of the south and west. This attracts prosperity and success in both, personal and professional life.

Dining room Vastu for east facing house

In an east-facing house, the dining room should be in continuation with the kitchen on the east, west or south side. Also, the door of the dining room must not be facing the entrance door. The sitting arrangement, as per the Vastu plan, should be such that one should sit facing east, north or west side. The head of the family must take the east side and the rest of the family can sit facing the east, north or west side.

East facing house Vastu plan with pooja room

When looking at the east facing house vastu plan with pooja room, it is essential to keep the Vastu principles in mind since the mandir or temple is a sacred place where idols of gods is placed.

According to Vastu guidelines for pooja room, for an east-facing home, the pooja room should be in the north-east direction. However, if this location is not available for the pooja room in an east facing house, the vastu plan also provides alternative directions like north or east corner. Make sure the person praying in the room should face these directions. The ceiling of the pooja room should be lower than the other rooms.

It is better to design the east facing house Vastu plan with pooja room away from areas like the bathroom. The pooja room should not be not adjacent to the bathroom.

Study room Vastu in east-facing house

In an east facing flat, as per Vastu, the study room should face the east or west direction of the house, while north is the second-best direction. However, make sure the door is not right behind the study chair. Also, the study table should have an open area in front. You can also leave a slight gap between the study table and the adjoining wall, for the circulation of energies, if you have to place the table along the wall.

Staircase Vastu in east-facing house

According to Vastu for east facing houses, avoid staircases in the north-east corner of the house. The ideal place for a staircase in the east-facing home, is the south-east corner or the north-west corner of the house. The staircase should not be in the central square of the house. The staircase should always turn in a clockwise direction. No room should be built under the staircase but the place can be used for storage.

East facing house bathroom placement

When designing your home as per east facing house Vastu plan, the bathroom should be on the southeast or northwest side. Avoid constructing bathrooms and toilets in the northeast direction.

East facing house Vastu: Wall colours

The choice of wall colours east facing apartment as per Vastu should be based on the idea that the house looks bright and welcoming. Thus, it is important that it gets ample sunlight. Further, to enhance the brightness, make sure you choose the right paint colours for the wall. Green and blue are excellent colour choices for an east facing apartment. Besides giving a calming effect, they make the room look more appealing and sophisticated. For a minimalistic theme, go for colour combination of white and subtle shades of pink.

East facing house Vastu: Tips for placing artwork and artefacts

According to Vastu for apartments facing east, paintings of the rising sun can be placed in the east, to improve relationships with family and friends and also attract fame. Hang a painting of seven horses galloping across the water in the living room, on the wall which is in the east direction. This helps in attracting wealth. The colour dedicated to the air element is green and it governs the eastern direction. A painting of lush green trees, fields, forests, etc., represents growth, as per Vastu Shastra. Such paintings can be displayed in the east wall. Also, for harmony and happiness in the family, place a laughing Buddha idol in the east direction.

Water tank Vastu in east-facing house

The ideal location for an underground water tank is north – north-east. One can also opt for the east – north-east direction for the placement of an underground water tank. The best direction for overhead water tanks, is south-west or west. As per Vastu, never keep any water tank in the centre.

Balcony or open space Vastu in east facing house

As per vastu for east facing house, often there are open spaces left in the east side. It is done to ensure that sunlight can enter the house without any obstruction. It also eliminates the negative energies and promotes positive energies. Thus, this type of east facing house vastu plan brings good health for the residents. Keeping the east corner blocked can lead to health problems, including difficulties during childbirth.

Dos and don’ts for east-facing house

Dos for your east facing home

• Determine the actual east direction using a magnetic compass.
• Ensure the main entrance is positioned only in the two recommended padas namely Jayanta or Indra.
• Walls in the north and east directions, should be slightly shorter and thinner than those in the south and west.
• The kitchen should be planned in the south-east or north-west direction.
• Plan your kitchen in a way that you face east (in a south-east kitchen) or west (in a north-west kitchen), while cooking.
• The pooja room and living room in the north-east direction, are considered very auspicious.
• You can plan the guest room in the north-west direction.
• A plot that slopes from south to north is considered good.
• A master bedroom in the south-west direction is considered the best.
• Leave more open space in the eastern and northern side of the house.
• A wooden nameplate is suitable, if the door is in the east direction.
• The boundary wall should be higher in the southern and western side of the plot.
• When designing an east-facing house, ensure that the slope of the roof is towards the east.The roof or sheets should curve towards east as this is auspicious.
• Consider a property that has a plot attached to it in the northern direction, as it is considered lucky and brings prosperity and fortune.
• If there is any student in the house, keep a crystal globe in the north-east zone.
• Purify the home with mountain salt twice a week, to boost energetic vibes.

Don’ts for your east facing home

• Avoid determining the east direction as per rising sun
• Do not plant tall trees in the east, which will block the valuable and positive morning sunlight.
• Do not place a fountain or place any decorative item at the exterior of the main entrance.
• Avoid plots with ‘T’ junction from any side. Avoid veedhi shoola (street focus) projecting to the south-east corner of the plot.
• Never place the shoe rack in the south-east, or east direction.
• Avoid buying property, which is attached to the land in the south or west direction.
• There should be no bedroom, toilets and septic tanks in the north-east corner.
• There should be no kitchen in the north-east corner.
• There should be no big trees in the northern and eastern side of the house
• There should be no clutter, dirt, dustbins, etc., in the north and north-east corner.
• Avoid designing the garage and stairs in the north east direction.
• Make sure there are no sharp edges or cut in the north east corner.
• Do not block the east side completely as it can make the negative energies accumulate inside the house.

Is east facing house good?

It is often believed that the houses that are more spacious in the east, are blessed with more fortune and luck. Homes that are broad and at a lower level in the east than other directions, are considered luckiest. Some people also believe that an east facing house help one to gain huge amounts of gold. However, purchasing such a property may not be good for some people and hence not recommended.

As per Vastu experts, a property’s directional orientation alone cannot determine the overall Vastu. The position of various rooms in the house, including living room, bedroom, kitchen, toilets, and pooja room, have a role to play. The right placement of these rooms as per Vastu will ensure the home flourishes.

Who are suitable for east-facing houses?

As per Vastu consultants, every home is unique, just like individuals. Not every home suits everyone. In an east-facing house, the Sun is the dominant object and relates to jobs which have authority, power and elegance. The east direction also represents air, agility, creativity, focus and protection.

• East facing homes are ideal for people who are in government offices or have businesses.
• Other than this, east-facing homes are good for creative professionals, such as artists, musicians and dancers, jewellery designers, photography, writing, etc.
• East facing homes are ideal for entrepreneurs, and people in travel industry, event management, and academics.

Knowing if having an east facing entry of a house in Vastu is suitable for a person, it is also essential to check one’s astrological chart. When living in a family that has many members with their unique astrological charts, one should consider the astrological chart of the head of the family. Similar, for a commercial property, one must take into account the astrological chart of the property owner. People of certain sun signs will find an east facing plot or a property as per Vastu quite favourable. These sun signs are:

• Aries (Mesha)
• Leo (Simha)
• Sagittarius (Dhanus)

Common Vastu defects in east-facing house

• If you are facing difficulty in getting recognition or facing health issues or strained relationships within the family, there could be some negative energy in the east direction. This could be due to the presence of stairs, bathrooms, or kitchens in the eastern direction.
• Another common Vastu defect is doors facing east and opening outward. Also, according to Vastu, the total number of doors should not be odd and the count should not end with a zero.
• Too much clutter in the eastern direction also brings negative energy. Home owners should keep east-facing homes ventilated and airy.

Plants for east-facing home

Here are few plants that may grow well in a house facing east:

• Holy basil plant
• Lucky bamboo plant
• Money plant
• Neem plant
• Banana plant
• Chrysanthemum
• Plum blossoms
• Citrus plant
• Daffodils
• Lotus
• Aloe vera

East facing house construction tips

When considering east facing house plan, keep enough open space in the east before constructing a house. This will ensure that the residents are blessed with wealth and progeny.

On the site, the main gate should be in the northeast but the height of the eastern front compound wall should be less than the western back compound wall of the property.

At the planning stage, have a verandah or patio area in the eastern part as it ensures prosperity and good health to the residents.

Avoid keeping any clutter, even during the construction stage in the front portion. Debris, or garbage obstructs the positive energy that comes from cosmic space towards the main entrance.

All that you need to know about Vastu Compass

 To construct and design a house as per Vastu, one needs to figure out the accurate directions with the help of the Vastu compass. Here is all the information that you need regarding buying and using a Vastu compass.

What is the Vastu compass and how does it help in Vastu?

In the earlier days, Vastu experts figured out the correct direction with the help of the sun’s shadow. Today, thanks to technology, the Vastu compass is a simple device to learn about directions. The Earth is a huge magnet that has two centres of force – the North and the South poles. The core of the planet, which is mainly molten iron, creates a magnetic field as it spins around. This is what makes the north and south poles magnetic, based on which compasses can work. A compass is a device with a magnetic needle that aids in determining the direction of the Earth’s magnetic poles. It is a self-pointing tool that helps to check the directions. The Vastu compass is an instrument that has the main Vastu directions marked on it – north, south, east, west, northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast. Some vastu compasses may also have pointers for directions in-between. Vastu is a science of direction that considers the five elements of nature and space that balance everything. The Vastu Shastra gives immense importance to the correct directions for construction of the house, placement of each room and the arrangement of the furniture. For the ideal flow of energies, every room needs to be located in a particular direction as per Vastu. A Vastu compass can help you build or convert your home to attract positive energies.

Different types of Vastu compass

There are two types of Vastu compass – the pivotal vastu compass and the floating vastu compass.

Pivotal vastu compass

The pivotal vastu compass is one of the most commonly used devices for Vastu. The magnetic needle is balanced on a pivot point so one has to place the pivotal vastu compass on the ground, or a level surface, in the centre of the house. Once on a level surface, the compass aligns itself automatically. The red arrow or a needle with a black or white end will point to the north and every other direction will be properly aligned.

Floating vastu compass The floating vastu compass does not need to be placed on the ground. One just needs to stand in the centre of the house or plot while holding the vastu compass. Wait till the needle with the red tip stops moving and check if the needle aligns with the N mark. When using a floating vastu compass, ensure that there are no magnetic or electromagnetic objects nearby.

How are directions marked in a vastu compass?

In a vastu compass, a magnetic needle (pointed by red, black, green, or the letter N) is used to find out the north direction, based on the earth’s magnetic field, and is considered the 0-degree or the 360-degree. Following this pattern, east is 90-degree, west is 270-degree and south is 180-degree.

Four cardinal directions: north (N), east (E), south (S) and west (W); at 90-degree angles on the compass.

Four intercardinal (or ordinal) directions: northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW) and northwest (NW).

Importance of directions in Vastu

To apply all the Vastu principles, you need to find out the accurate directions of your house. Each direction, based on its elements and deity, is apt for certain activities and unsuitable for others. If a specific direction does not adhere to a specific activity as per Vastu, one can feel the negative effects of the imbalanced energies. Hence, it is important to understand each direction and its significance to create an environment of happiness, peace, prosperity and overall well-being.

How to use your smartphone as a vastu compass?

Compasses today can be found on smartphones. Vastu compass functionality in phones and tablets is enabled by a sensor called a magnetometer, which is used to measure the direction of the magnetic fields. The sensor allows a phone to determine its orientation accurately. Phones that do not have a compass app can download Digital Field Compass for Android or Gaia GPS for iPhone and Android. However, when using a compass on your phone, ensure that it is properly calibrated. The vastu compass will rotate before coming into position with the direction you face. Check that the dial and the needle are in sync.

Tips to use Vastu compass

• While checking the directions with vastu compass, stand in the centre of the plot.
• Hold the base of the vastu compass flat in front of your chest.
• The vastu compass needle will float freely and point to the magnetic north.
• Ensure that you are away from structures that could affect the magnetic needle and hence, the reading, of the vastu compass.
• Avoid proximity with a mobile phone, laptop or any iron object when using a vastu compass.
• Use your vastu compass away from your car, metallic objects or high-voltage power lines.

Where to buy a Vastu compass and its cost

Vastu compass is available online, in stationery stores and in various stores that keep Vastu accessories. Vastu compass is priced between Rs 150 and Rs 1,000 (approximatley), depending on the size and material of the vastu compass.

Ways to store Vastu compass at home

Always keep your vastu compass away from direct heat sources. Do not store a vastu compass near a magnet or electronic field. Over time, exposure can demagnetise the needle. Do not place your vastu compass in your pocket next to your cell phone.

MMRDA plans high-speed Thane road, 1.5-hour travel time to be cut to 10 minutes

 MMRDA is exploring the plan for a bypass that would skirt Thane’s congested streets by cutting through parts of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP). If constructed, it would be primarily of benefit to traffic moving between Mulund, Airoli, Chembur and onwards to Palghar and Gujarat.

Starting point: Northernmost tip of Mulund at Shrinagar off LBS Road

Ending point: Gaimukh on the outskirts of Thane on Ghodbunder Road

Areas to be covered: The road would pass along the Yeour Hills, crossing Indira Nagar, Lokmanya Nagar, Upwan lake, Manpada, Dongaripada and Anand Nagar

Who will it benefit

Motorists from Mumbai’s central and eastern suburbs & those from Thane travelling northwards.

1.5 hours Time taken at present to cross the 20km stretch between Mumbai-Thane boundary at LBS Road and Gaimukh.

10 minutes Time taken to travel between the same points on the proposed Foothill Road (to be designated as a high-speed corridor) at an average speed of 70kmph.

Mumbai: 388 Mhada buildings set to get redevelopment push before BMC poll

 Officials said that the Shinde-Fadnavis government is given an in-principle nod to redevelop these old buildings under section 33 (7) of the Development Control Regulation (DCR) with a floor space index (FSI) of 3 or additional incentive FSI of minimum 78%.

MUMBAI: Ahead of the BMC polls, the Shinde-Fadnavis government in the state will soon issue a notification which will pave the way for the redevelopment of Mhada’s 388 reconstructed buildings that are more than 30-years old with added incentives to fast-track their redevelopment. Most of these buildings located in south Mumbai are in a dilapidated condition. Around 30,000 to 40,000 residents live in these buildings.

Officials said that the Shinde-Fadnavis government is given an in-principle nod to redevelop these old buildings under section 33 (7) of the Development Control Regulation (DCR) with a floor space index (FSI) of 3 or additional incentive FSI of minimum 78%.

“Earlier, only 66 of Mhada’s reconstructed buildings were redeveloped with the added incentives under Prime Minister’s Grant Project (PMGP). Now the remaining 388 buildings in south Mumbai will get these additional benefits. These are buildings that have been reconstructed in the past but now need to be pulled down and redeveloped,” an official said.

The state government’s decision is seen as a move to woo voters ahead of the BMC elections now scheduled for early next year. Cessed building is a building which pays cess or tax which is actually a repair fund to Mhada.

“The government is positive about the redevelopment of buildings by amending clause 33(24) of the DCR and applying all the benefits of clause 33(7). A decision will be taken within a week. This will bring relief to thousands of people living in old and dilapidated buildings. This decision will fulfil the dream of residents now living in 160/225-sqft area homes to get new homes of 400 sq ft,” an official said.

“Suggestions and objections were invited and said proposal was submitted to the government by Mhada. Out of more than 14,000 old and dilapidated buildings in the city, many buildings have been reconstructed by Mhada. Due to this maintenance cost of the buildings has increased. There was a demand for redevelopment of these buildings. Developers were not coming forward for the redevelopment of the buildings as there was not enough FSI available for the redevelopment of these buildings. But a concrete decision will be taken soon. It is expected that a notification will be issued by next week,” said an official.

Maharashtra revenue department website resolves 5,000 land-related issues

 The website now has over 2500 officers on board and dozens of land related queries from across the state are answered every week.

The website now has over 2500 officers on board and dozens of land related queries from across the state are answered every week. The website, maharashtracivilservice(dot)org was designed and developed by a senior Deputy Collector (Suburban Mumbai) Dr. Vikas Naik, a veterinarian by education but a tech savvy official who worked extensively in the Vidarbha and Marathwada region.

"People from my native place would often ask me about land problems, which led me to think about having and developing a website where people from anywhere could ask questions. On the website, people can raise questions on land transfers, mutation, changing names on property cards, acquisition, succession, inheritance and they are answered by officers with solutions, suggesting the correct process in 4-5 days. Citizens can then take the answers to their local offices and follow the process," said Dr Naik.

The website is supported by the Maharashtra Civil (Revenue) Services Organisation whose members sign up on the website and answer queries. The website's Janpith tab is most popular where visitors ask questions, and another section Dnyan-Kendra features laws and acts related to land matters, Government Resolutions (GRs), books and presentations.

"This is a voluntary web-based service started by a few Deputy Collector's after seeing hundreds of land-related problems and lack of awareness about land laws .

Many queries are also related to deletion of daughters' names from 7/12 extracts. Any revenue department officer can sign up, and start answering queries based on his expertise. They offer free help," Dr Naik adds.

While there are many officers who have signed up, any registered Revenue Department officer can answer queries, some like Kiran Panbude, Deputy Collector, working in the Stamps Department are most prompt in replying to citizens.

Officials said that they receive many queries where property rights are denied to daughters. "Many questions are related to the deletion of daughters' names from the 7/12 extract, even though the amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, 2005, gave daughters' property rights as that of sons in the coparcenary property. People get answers to their questions from experienced officers with domain knowledge and experience acquired by dealing with complicated land matters," Dr Naik explains.

The website is in Marathi, so it is easy for people from regular areas to access and raise questions too.

Soon, MahaRERA valuers to check progress of projects

 These valuers or inspectors would be certified by the income tax department or the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and carry out site visits.

PUNE: : With an increase in complaints about the progress of real estate projects, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority is all set to appoint valuers to inspect delayed as well as ongoing projects.

These valuers or inspectors would be certified by the income tax department or the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and carry out site visits. Their reports will be accepted as they are professionals certified by the Union government, a MahaRERA official said.

The authority has put out an expression of interest for the appointment of valuers. They will first be appointed in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur.

For other cities and districts, certified engineers who have prior experience with government authorities like the state public works department (PWD) or the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), among others, would act as valuers.

"These investigators would go to the site and submit the actual position of work at site in the format enlisted by MahaRERA and also mention the approximate cost incurred on the construction. This will enable the authority to know if there is a mismatch between the physical progress and the expenditure reported," said a senior official from MahaRERA.

"It will also enable us to understand and get an idea about the time that would be required to complete the project," the official added.

The MahaRERA expects these inspections to begin after two months as tenders have to be floated for the empanellment of valuation firms.

Housing federations and representatives from citizens groups said that while it is a good initiative, they are not sure if it would help speed up work, unless there is a penalty ingvolved.

Ramesh Prabhu, the chairman of Maharashtra Society Welfare Association, said these valuers will keep a check on developers as they will not be able to use the amount collected for any other purpose.

"It will be a check on the amount collected and the work completed, so this will ensure the developer does not siphon off the money for any other purpose," he said.

Over 125 notices issued for non-compliance

Senior officials from MahaRERA told TOI that more than 125 notices have been issued to developers for not complying with the authority's rules or if their projects have lapsed.

"Replies post showcause notices to developers are being assessed and are under examination," an official said.

The notices have been issued to lapsed projects or those that will lapse in the next few months, and where 90% of the work is completed. Nearly 4,500 lapsed projects worth Rs 78,000 crore, were identified by the authority.

The official said that these developers will be asked why the authority should not initiate action under Section 7 of RERA Act against them.

Section 7 of the Act has a provision to appoint a new developer or hand over an incomplete project to an association of allottees.

Vastu Shastra: Tips to boost positive energy in your home

 Here is a guide that will help you ensure that every part of your home turns into a Vastu-compliant space

A large part of how happy your future life would be in a new home, depends on how efficient your home is built. For this reason, many people are applying rules prescribed under Vastu Shastra, an ancient Hindu architectural doctrine that states that directional alignments result in spiritual harmony. While a majority of us may be aware of the significance of Vastu Shastra, not many of us have a clear idea about how to incorporate Vastu for home. This article is meant to act as a guide for those who plan to make their homes Vastu-compliant.

Apart from discussing directional alignments for various areas in your home, we also provide additional Vastu Shastra tips to ensure overall harmony in your dream abode.

Vastu Shastra for main entrance

Let us begin from the very beginning of your home – the entrance. For positive energies to flow freely in a home, the owner has to ensure that certain key Vastu Shastra rules are obeyed.

Vastu Shastra directions for main entrance

The main door in your house must face either of the following directions:

• North
• East
• North-east
• West

This also means that you must face north, east or north-east directions when you are getting out of your main entrance.

Directions to avoid: If you can, avoid having the main door in the south, south-west, north-west (north side), or south-east (east side) directions.

Things that improve entrance/main door Vastu

• Your main door must be built using a solid material. According to Vastu, you may choose between wood and metal, to build a robust main door for your home.
• Your main door should always be slightly bigger than any other door in the house. It should be at least seven ft high and three ft wide. Similarly, make sure it appears grander than any other door even though design symmetry has to be followed.
• It is ideal to place a name plate at your home entrance. The simpler the design, the better!

• Cleanliness must be maintained at all times at the entrance of your home. An unkempt main door is considered a serious flaw according to Vastu and is something that will disturb the flow of positive energies.

Things that may disturb entrance/main door Vastu

• If the entrance door of your house opens in an anti-clockwise manner, it could lead to serious Vastu defects.
• Vastu recommends against placing shoe racks and dustbins close to the main door or entrance of your home, something very common in apartment living.
• When building your new home, do not build a bathroom close to the entrance either.
• Vastu prescribes that the main door should not be painted black. Go for light shades or neutral hues.
• Animal figurines and décor items of the same must not be placed close to the entrance.
• You should have a well-lit entrance main door, but avoid red lights at the main door. The light must always be switched on during the evening, and switched off when you go to sleep at night. Make sure the area is not left pitch dark though. For this, use a low-voltage night bulb.

Vastu Shastra for living room

The living room is an area that sees the most action during the day. More of a social space, the living room is the area where each member of the family gathers, to catch up with one another. This is also the place where you try to relax after a hard day at work. This is also the place where you entertain your guests. All these things make your living room a highly important area.

Vastu Shastra directions for living room

According to Vastu Shastra, the living room of your new home must be located in the east, north or north-east directions.

Vastu colour for living room

Depending on the location of the living room, Vastu prescribes different paint colours for a living room. If the living room is in the east, a direction ruled by the sun, opt for white colour to piant your living room. If the living room is located in the west, a direction ruled by Saturn, go for blue paint. Generally, light shades of yellow and green are the ideal choices for the living room. Avoid red and black paints in the living room.

Vastu Shastra for living room furniture

Place the furniture in the west or the south-west direction in your living room. Also note that Vastu emphasises that the articles of furniture should be shaped square or rectangular.

Vastu Shastra for living room setup and decor

• While electrical appliances are best placed in the west or the north corner of the room, place the TV in the south-east corner.
• In case you want to adorn your living room with a chandelier, place it right at the centre, but slightly towards the west.

Vastu Shastra for kitchen

Vastu Shastra lays a great deal of emphasis on how a kitchen must be built and maintained, so that it blocks negative energies and attracts positivity, health and wellbeing. This is done by creating a perfect balance among the five elements of earth, air, water, fire and sky.

Vastu direction for kitchen

Build your kitchen in the south-east corner, the seat of the lord of fire (Agni). If that is not a possibility, you can opt for the north-west direction to build a Vastu-compliant kitchen. The person cooking in the kitchen must face the east direction. Avoid building it in the north, the north-east or the south-west corner of the house.

For wash basins, water pipes and the kitchen drain, the north or the north-east direction is prescribed. Since water and fire are opposing elements, different platforms must be used, to place the washbasin and the cooking range in your kitchen. This is help you avoid accidents.

Vastu Shastra for placement of kitchen appliance

• Most appliances that we use in the kitchen represent the fire element - the gas stove, the microwave oven, the toaster and the food processor. By the same logic then, the south-east corner is the ideal place to position these instruments.
• The refrigerator should be kept in the south-west direction.
• Your kitchen stock should be stored in the south-west direction.

Vastu Shastra for bathroom

This is an area which is quite prone to attracting negative energy and causing an imbalance among the five elements. This is why utmost attention must be paid to incorporate Vastu rules in building and maintaining bathrooms in your new home.

Bathroom direction as per Vastu

Vastu says that your bathroom must be in the north or north-west part. The south and the south-east or south-west direction must be avoided when building the bathroom.

It is recommended that the bathroom does not share a wall with the puja room or the kitchen.

Vastu tips for bathroom fixture and usage

• Since water and fire are opposing elements, avoid taking bath while the geyser is still running.
• Opt for white colours to paint the bathroom.
• After each bath, the bathroom must be thoroughly wiped so that it dries quickly. Not doing so might increase the chances of accidents.
• If the bathroom shares a wall with your bedroom, place your bed in such a way that it does not recline against the bathroom wall.
• Bathrooms must have proper ventilation in place, so that negative energies and foul smells do not get trapped within. Your bathroom must also have access to enough sunlight, to stay warm and clean. The bathroom windows must open towards the east, the north or the west. They must always open outwards.

Vastu Shastra for bedroom

Your bedroom plays a great role in how healthy you are – the body repairs itself while your sleep. This is why ample arrangements must be made to make sure you are able to enjoy peaceful sleep in your bedroom. This can be done by adhering to Vastu guidelines for bedroom construction and maintenance.

Vastu direction for bedroom

Vastu experts are of the view that the bedroom must be constructed in the east, the north or the south-west corner of your home. The north-east and the south-east directions are not recommended for building bedrooms. Since the central area of your home is the ‘Brahmasthan’, the source of energy, building a bedroom in this area would be a major Vastu defect.

Vastu Shastra for shape of bed

Vastu recommends a rectangular or a square shape for your bed. Even though they might appeal to your aesthetics, do not opt for round or oval-shaped beds.

Vastu Shastra tips for a positive home

1. Before you perform the griha pravesh puja ceremony, do not shift any of your belongings to your new home. Vastu recommends that everything must be shifted only after the griha pravesh puja ceremony is conducted.


2. Homes that have no proper ventilation will become abodes of negative energy. Vastu views this highly adversely. Make proper arrangements for an efficient ventilation system.


3. The shape of all the rooms must be square or rectangular. They must also follow a straight line. This rule also applied to articles of furniture and other large household items.


4. Discard all broken items. This is especially true of the electronic waste that is often found in plenty in modern homes. These attract negative energy and impact your health adversely.


5. Adding greenery in your home is the best possible way to attract positive energy. If having an independent lawn or courtyard is not possible, use the balcony in your home to create a house garden. Also add water elements like a fountain or an aquarium to attract calm and peace.


6. Do not treat the storage areas in your home like a dumping ground. Sort the stuff out, place them properly and clean the storage area regularly. Also, get rid of the stuff that you will not be needing in future.


7. Water flowing towards the north ensures happiness. On the other hand, water flowing towards the east brings financial gains. This is why wastewater outlets and the main drainage should be built towards the east or the north direction. Wastewater flow out of the south or the south-west direction can have a negative impact.


8. Stairs act like a mode of transportation within your home. If not constructed property, your staircase might become a great cause of inconvenience. Make sure you follow Vastu rules when building a staircase.


9. One sure-shot way to bring prosperity in your home is to install the calf-cow statue in your home. According to Vastu, bringing a statue of the Kamdhenu is sure to bring good luck. The same is said about Buddha statues. You can place multiple Buddha statues in your home to bring peace and good luck.