Poll panel notifies
new civic wards Objections could be raised with State Election Commission in 10 days
DI L I P PATEL
The State Election Commission
(SEC) has issued a notification
increasing the number of wards
in the city to 64 from its present
43. Accordingly, the number of councillors
to be elected in the Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation election scheduled
for October this year will be 192.
Commission Secretary P N Shah
said, “We have carried out the delimitation
of wards on the basis of population.
According to the census conducted
in 2001, population in 64 wards
was 45 lakh. We have tried to divide
the population equally in each ward,
but there could be 10 per cent variation.
Each ward will have about 77,000
people as against about 63,000 earlier.”
The increase in the number of wards
will also result in corresponding increase
in the number of corporators to
192 from the earlier 139. There is a provision
of 33 per cent reservation for
women. Accordingly, at least 64
women will get elected to the civic
body.
The new wards are mostly the 30
gram panchayats and 19 municipalities
that were merged with AMC three
years ago. They are: Gota, Chandlodia,
Kali, Chandkhera, Ranip, Ghatlodia,
Bodakdev, Noblenagar, Meghaninagar,
Bodekdev 2, Sarkhej, Jodhpur, Ambawadi,
India Colony, Krushnnagar,
Viratnagar, Vejalpur, Akahbarnagar,
Vastral, Mahavirnagar, Lambha, Isanpur,
Ghodasar and Ramol.
Three wards have been merged with
the existing wards of Gandhigram,
Potaliya and Baghefirdaus.
If any person has any question, objection
or suggestion, he or she can
write to the commission office at
Gandhinagar Sachivalaya, Block No. 9
within 10 days, the notification said.
After 10 days, the commission will
issue the final notification. A fresh voters
list will be compiled by the collector
office in about three months. For
the first time, the voters list will include
photos of the voters.
Also for the first time, voters will
have an option of e-voting. the commission
has already issued tenders for
developing the entire system and software
for e-voting.
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NO PULP FICTION THIS: MANGO THAT WEIGHS 1.6 KG!
Navsari Agricultural University has grown on its campus mangoes weighing five times more than normal yield
Anand varsity produces Kuchi dates using tissue culture
DILIP PATEL
The Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) has grown a hybrid variety of mangoes each weighing up to a staggering 1,600 gm, or 1.6 kg. Normally, mangoes weigh between 150 and 300 gm.
The vice-chancellor of the varsity, A R Pathak, on Monday delivered a box of the ‘bulky’ mangoes to State Agriculture Minister Dileep Sanghani, who will send them to the chief minister.
“There are two mango trees on our campus. This year’s yield is their first,” Pathak said. “The mangoes that they have produced are each 18 to 22 cm long.” Each tree, he said, had produced more than 120 kg of the summer fruit.
“Our mangoes are not very sweet, which makes them the ideal ingredient for pickles,” Pathak said.
Apart from NAU, the Anand Agricultural University (AAU) also showed its “wonder yield” to Sanghani. AAU has produced Kutchi dates using tissue culture techniques. The university claims this is the first time in India that this variety of dates has been produced using tissue culture methods.
“To grow such dates, we began an extensive research in 2000. After 10 years, our efforts have bore fruit,” the vice-chancellor of the institute, M C Varshneya, said. There are 2,000 date plants on AAU’s campus. Varshneya said that they produce 5,000 Kutchi dates a year.
“With the help of methods we have used, these dates can be grown even in Saurashtra and north Gujarat,” he said. “Many farmers import date plants, each costing Rs 3,000, from Arabian countries. By using methods we have employed, they will be able to save this money.”
Dates produced by AAU have low fibre content and have a rich colour (see picture). The varsity says they can be used for preparing wine.
“For the first time in India, Kutchi dates have been grown using tissue culture. Such techniques will help increase date output,” the state agriculture minister said. These type of dates are most sought after in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
People who have tasted the variety produced by AAU said that dates were not only sweet, but also soft. “One rarely gets to see such good variety of the fruit,” Bhavna Patel said.
------------
PHEW!
Just three more days of this sweltering heat
DILIP PATEL
Respite from searing heat is round the corner. A cyclone is brewing in the Arabain Sea that will usher in rain and squally wind in the state’s coastal districts. Lower temperature in Ahmedabad will be the offshoot, say experts.
Mercury that breached 45 degrees Celsius and killed 55 in the city over the past few days will dip to around 36 degrees on June 3. After that the cyclonic storm and the imminent monsoon will ensure the mercury stays below 40 degrees.
JUNE 3
• Cyclone building in Arabian Sea, around 1,000 km from Mumbai
• Met dept officials say depression in the sea likely to hit south
Gujarat and Saurashtra coast on June 3, bringing with it rains
JUNE 2
• City will see 40 °C for the last time this summer on this date
JUNE 3, 4, 5
• Thundershowers predicted in city, chances of rain on these days: 60% Max temp: 36, 34, 38 respectively
Rain to visit state by June 3: Weatherman
Says Ashok Patel, the director of the state’s first private weather station Ring Road, “On Thursday and Friday, temperature will go down by up to four degrees due to clouds. If it rains temperature will slide down further.”
Patel’s forecast was reaffirmed by the US weather web site www.weather.com which had correctly predicted mercury hitting 46.8 degrees in the city on May 21. The site forecast temperature rising to 38 degrees on June 5 but said it would stay well below for the rest of the summer.
An ISRO scientist, earlier attached with the weather bureau, said it is natural for the temperature to fall due to formation of cloud as it cuts the sunrays.
“You can expect the temperature to fall by up to four degrees Celsius, thanks to the cyclonic clouds,” he said.
According to Indian Meteorological Department, coastal Gujarat is likely to experience rain in the next three days and with monsoon arriving in Kerala on Monday people in Gujarat can expect rains soon.
Latest satellite imageries and surface observations indicate the formation of a depression in the Arabian Sea about 1050 km southwest of Mumbai and 1050 km south-southwest of Naliya in Kutch at 5.30 pm on Monday. The depression was moving northwestward and likely to hit South Gujarat and Saurashtra coast on June 3 after correcting its course.
“The current environmental condition and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models suggest that the system would intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm and continue to move initially in a northwesterly direction for the next 48 hours and then recurve northeastwards towards Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coast,” the Indian Meteorological Department said in its weather bulletin on Monday evening.
The system will usher in fairly widespread rainfall with very heavy rain at some places over the coastal Gujarat on June 3. Squally winds with speed reaching 55 kmph would hit the coast a day earlier, the met report said.
The state disaster management authority has taken note of the bulletin and alerted collectors of the coastal district.
Said Sanjay Joshi, the CEO of the Gujarat State Disaster Control Room, “The Met Department has warned of a cyclone. Even if the intensity of the cyclone lessens, Saurashtra and south Gujarat will experience heavy rain under its influence. The IMD warning has been forwarded to the districts and all collectors concerned have been alerted.”
The IMD bulletin also warned of very rough seas along and off the Gujarat coast from June 2 and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during that period.
After a year of drought, the eagerly-awaited seasonal monsoon rains have reached Kerala, the weather office said.
“South-west monsoon has reached Kerala and we expect it to cover coastal Karnataka within a day,” Ajit Tyagi, IMD Director General announced in New Delhi earlier in the day.
However, Tyagi said due to the storm brewing in the Arabian Sea, the progression of the monsoon was expected to be along the western coast and interior parts of the peninsula would get rains later.
The onset of monsoon over Kerala sets the stage for the fourmonth rainy season. The IMD has forecast normal monsoon rains for the season beginning June 1.
A good monsoon could help in sowing of rice, sugarcane, soybean and corn and lead to a rebound in the agricultural output.
The current environmental condition and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models suggest that the system would intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm and continue to move initially in a northwesterly direction for the next 48 hours and then recurve northeastwards towards Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coast
– the Indian Meteorological Department
You can expect the temperature to fall by up to four degrees Celsius, thanks to cyclonic clouds which cuts the sunrays
– An ISRO scientist
On Thursday and Friday, temperature will go down by up to four degrees due to clouds. If it rains, the temperature will slide down further
– Ashok Patel, the director of the state’s first private weather station Ring Road
----------------
Big B visits Kala Dungar, feeds foxes at temple
Bollywood icon now heads for Gir after shooting in Kutch for three days
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Concerned with the lack of greenery in Kutch, Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday contributed his mite by planting a sapling at main town of Bhuj. Sunday was the last day for Big B in Kutch where he was shooting an advertisement for Gujarat’s Tourism Department. Bachchan spent most of the time at Kala Dungar, a hill off Bhuj city.
Bachchan attended a Forest Department function and planted a sapling there. He said there should be more plantation drives to increase the green cover.
He also offered his prayers at Duttatreya temple at Kala Dungar, and distributed prasad to foxes, a tradition at the temple. The priest of the temple makes a special sound hearing which foxes from nearby areas assemble at the temple and have prasad given by him.
Bachchan also took a look at the Indo-Pak border through a binocular. He saw an Indian checkpost of the Border Security Force which was 25 km away and the India Bridge which is the way to go to the border. Later in the evening, he started shooting on the life of Kutch villagers after which he left for Gir in Junagadh district.
BIG B’S BLOG
DAY 768 SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend Posted on: May 30, 2010 - 1:01 am
Bhuj, Gujarat. Damn ! the alarm did not go off at the appointed hour and that had severe repercussions ! Charged off as I was to the shoot ! Nothing embarrassingly wrong with that, but still ..
It was still dark as we steadily made our way through barren roads. The police pilot GP flashing its orange rotator light ahead and behind, more security - we are just a ‘rann’ away from the Pak territory !! Moon was out shining at 6 in the morning and the entire region looked surreal. There is something uncanny about nothingness. That is what one felt as one strutted about on the salt laden muddy terrain, the wind so harsh even the vanity van shook and quivered.
Within a couple of hours around 8 am it was beginning to indicate to us what the rest of the day would be like in the sun, and the very thought of it was frightening. So we did what was best done. Wrapped for the morning to assemble again by the evening. And so we did and so we did. The normal general look and then the traditional as far as the clothing goes.
The script flew away from my hands as I was reading it and a couple of unit hands sillily ran after it as it bounced away at rapid speed. It was a strange site.A white stark bunch of papers flying off ahead chased by a couple of unit hands, until they became a tiny spot in the horizon and still no where near catching up with the sheet of paper. Until …smart production incharge Mr Kumar did his deed for the day - got on to a bike, readily accessible there as the only machine transport allowed on the Rann and drove off behind paper.
We looked at this site with great amusement and jeered as this chase kept unfolding in front of us, wary of course with the fact that any longer and paper and Kumar would become prized possessions of Pakistan !! We are really just 60 kilometers away from the border… and it can be seen across the Rann !!
That over, shoot over, we are back in the room and turning in early for tomorrow on another early start. In schedule and somewhat satisfied with the results the crew seemed content.The ladies looked less worried.The director, Shoojit of Johnny Mastana fame, gave his typical reserved look and the decorated camels pounced about in the breeze. Breeze or strong wind was incessant but not quite as strong as in Jomsom in Nepal when we were shooting for Khuda Gawah. That wind was awesome. You could actually lie back on it while standing and catch a few winks !! Incredible !!
Power ’s gone off !! Will post and slumber and remember in the number ..
Breathe in the Rann of Kutch !! Come breathe in a bit of Gujarat !
Avo jo !!
Amitabh Bachchan
T13: Just back from a grueling day of some really interesting shoot.. will fill you in asap ..how to put pics on tweet ?
T12: Following request from follower changed background image.. this is Kuch chi dress from Gujarat, where I shoot for their tourism promo
T12: In the Rann a man, a common man, now famous in his own right - he teaches and educates young girls through his own resource..incredible
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AIR EMPLOYEE ASSAULTS COLLEAGUE IN OFFICE
Yogesh Pandya alleges in his complaint that Amul Ahuja also threatened to kill him in front of staff members
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Asenior official of All India Radio has filed a complaint of assault and threat to life against a news reader.
According to the complaint to the Navrangpura police by Yogesh Pandya, news reader Amul Ahuja beat him up, hurled abuses at him in front of members on the staff, broke his chair without any provocation and threatened to kill him.
Pandya heads the Regional News Unit of All India Radio, Ahmedabad.
Ahuja, who Pandya said was transferred from Delhi, shares office with him at All India Radio office at Income Tax Circle.
WHEN IT ALL BEGAN
ON MAY 27, Ahuja picked up a quarrel with Pandya when Pandya intervened in an office routine.
There was no peon in the office as it was a holiday. Pandya asked fellow Sindhi language news reader Heena Agnani to fetch news faxed from Delhi so that it could be translated in Sindhi.
Ahuja allegedly stopped Agnani from doing so and assaulted Pandya.
‘HE ABUSED ME’
“HE ALSO hurled abuses at me and said that he had come from Delhi and would kill me without anyone noticing it,” Pandya said in his complaint in faxed to the Navrangpura police in Gujarati.
According to Pandya, Ahuja had quarrelled with him in April, too, after he demanded joining report from the former.
The latter had joined duty on April 11, but not submitted the same. However, as Ahuja apologised for the incident, Pandya did not file any complaint.
Pandya claimed that he had informed the Director General of News from New Delhi of the incident and had obtained his sanction to file the FIR.
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DANDI HERITAGE ROUTE PROJECT
Valsad village wants inclusion
Four people died, 450 were injured in salt satyagraha that Gandhi planned at Dharasana soon after Dandi event
DILIP PATEL
The people of Dharasana, a village associated with Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha, are demanding its inclusion in the Central government’s Dandi heritage route project. They have formed a trust that also wants the government to renovate the structures that have survived since the colonial days.
Four people had died and about 450 were injured in an event that Gandhi planned at Dharasana in Valsad district as a follow-up to the defiance of the infamous Salt Act at Dandi.
Dharasana, a village of about 700 people, was the hotspot after Dandi. Soon after breaking the Act that prohibited people from making salt, Gandhi announced that the satyagrahis or volunteers would take control of the stock of salt at the government factory at Dharasana, about 22 km away.
Gandhi assigned the leadership of the seizure event to Sarojini Naidu and wrote a letter to the British government informing it of the volunteers’ intention. However, Gandhi and many of his followers were arrested on May 5 at Karadi where he had stayed for about three weeks after the Dandi event.
Naidu, who was in Kolkata those days, arrived at Dharasana on May 14, 1930, to lead the agitation, but she was arrested the very next day at the village as nearly 2000 people assembled at the small village.
Imam Abdul Qadir Bavjir took over the leadership and went ahead with the seizure programme on May 21. A total of 897 villagers and volunteers formed several groups and marched to the factory.
The cops welcomed them with a hail of canes, killing three of them and injuring about 450. The cops let amok their horses who crushed many volunteers under their hooves. As many as 40 people became unconscious after getting seriously injured. One of them died at the hospital the next day, taking the death roll four — Bhailalbhai Patel (Kheda), Bholabhai Nayak (Navsari), Narottam Patel (Surat) and Hulla (Solapur).
Says Mahesh Kothari, 73-year-old Gandhian and chairman of Dandi Meetha Satyagraha Trust, “Dharasana should be included in the heritage route project because the village is an inalienable part of the Dandi March. The villagers and the volunteers presented to the world the perfect display of Gandhian way of protest: bear the worst assault but don’t react violently.”
Dandi heritage route is a centrally-funded project that envisages connecting Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, from where Gandhi began his Salt March, to Dandi in March 1930. The project includes, widening of road and creating memorials to the events associated with the march.
--------------------
DON GETS INTO ACTION
Big B begins shooting for films on Kutch; will head for Gir next
DI L I P PATEL
The Don is here,” the large crowd erupted as as Gujarat’s tourism ambassador Amitabh Bachchan stepped out of the Bhuj airport where his chartered jet landed at 2.50 pm on Friday. The megastar got out of his car to wave at the crowd and shake hands. As the crowd got uncontrollable, his guards, fearing security breach, usher him back into the car. Sources informed that the star snacked on Kutchi mangoes and some pulav before a brief rest at a friend’s guest house in Kukma village, 12 kms from Bhuj. A scene similar to the one at the airport greeted him at Hotel Ilark at 5 pm where his still shoots were scheduled. Bachchan posed for pictures dressed in kurta pyjama, shirt and trousers and the traditional attire of Kutchi maldharis. He returned to the farm house after the shoot ended at 8 pm. Sources said that on Saturday, Bachchan will be Ghordo Gaam before sunrise for a short film White Desert that will also capture the area’s picturesque sunset. In between, he will be in Kala Dungar to promote its treasure of tree and dinosaur fossils. After shooting at Mandvi beach till Sunday afternoon, he is scheduled to leave for Gir. From June 1 to 4, he will be in Sasan and Somnath to shoot three films, on the Somnath temple, Gir lions and Bhalka Tirth, the place where is it is said Lord Krishna died. Sources say that the megastar will shoot with the lions. Bachchan will then head for Dwarka where a special set, a replica of the Dwarkadhish temple, has been erected for the shoot. His next visit to the state will be in June-end when he will visit Ahmedabad and also shoot at the Adalaj step-well and in Gandhinagar, Patan and Modhera. This is not an all-expenses paid trip. The tourism ambassador has refused hospitality facilities from the state government.
T11: Off to have Gujju dinner .. the desert winds make me hungry and rough and determined .. my determination will come from you and you ..
• T11:Tomorrow morning call at 4 am !! The Rann gets inceredibly hot and dusty beyond 10 or 11 AM .. so need to do those early shots !!
• T11: Dressed up as the typical ‘Kutch i’, everyone loved it. Reference was my dress in SRK film Paheli .. ShahRukh you reading ?
• T11:Almost 90% of this city was devastated in the terrible earthquake some years back.. now fresh constructions abound ..
• T11: Bhuj .. where Abhishek gave his first shot for film career.spoke to him in Istanbul, was getting nostalgic.. will visit the spot later
• T11: back from first few hours of shoot in Gujarat, Bhuj ... interesting .. so much history, glory, diversity.. will describe detail in blog
• T11: Flying over sea and land incredible patterns below of my beautiful country.. places look unexplored untouched, as nature made them...
• T11: Landed in Bhuj ! Strong winds, dry arid land but smiling screaming enthusiastic crowds at the airport. Off for the shoot immediately ..
• T11: In a few hours Gujarat and the campaign for its Tourism.This trip Rann of Kutch, Somenath, Gir lions ... love to all and for all..
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Beginning today, state to count hoofed animals
DILIP PATEL
The state embarks upon its first ever counting of hoofed wild animals today. Except wild ass, all animals that form part of the food chain of the cat family will be counted.
The state had undertaken a similar exercise of ungulate animals in 2006 but it was limited to blue bulls who numbered 96,000.
The Forest Department began the survey on Thursday across the state, employing almost all its field staff. The actual three-day counting will begin on Friday in which wildlife wardens, van mitras (friends of forests) and hundreds of volunteers from NGOs will take part, said Conservator of Forest (wildlife) AV Gamit. “We are conducting the count to ascertain the carrying capacity of our forests and check the number of animals available for lions and leopards. We will be ready with the count in about 15 days,” he said. The count will also help the department to plan and manage wildlife sanctuaries, he added.
Incidentally the state had counted its lions last month and found there were 411 of them. The animals to be counted include black buck, chinkara or Indian gazelle, four horned antelope, barking deer, sambar, spotted deer, and blue bull. Of these spotted deer and blue bull are expected to number more than a lakh each and black buck about 50,000, according to forest officials.
Nilgais and spotted deer are expected to number more than a lakh each
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LEOPARD DESERTS CUBS, INDRODA PARK ADOPTS THEM
The 30-day-old cubs were found in a sugarcane field near Navsari by farmers and handed over to the Forest Department who fed goat milk to keep them alive
DILIP PATEL
Two leopard cubs deserted by their mother at a village in Navsari have been provided special care at the Indroda Nature Park in Gandhinagar by the Forest Department. Brought three days ago at the park, the 30-day-old cubs are the youngest in the wildlife gallery.
Farmers working at a sugarcane field in Bodvak village of Chikhli taluka in Navsari came across one of the cubs on April 29.
At first they thought it was a kitten, but once they brought it out of the farm they realised it was a leopard cub. Worried that the cub’s mother would come looking for it, they handed it over to the Forest Department.
On May 9, the farmers found another leopard cub from the place. This baby too was handed over to the Forest Department.
Interestingly, none of the cubs had even opened their eyes when they were found by the villagers. After taking charge of the cubs, forest officials started looking for the cub’s mother.
On May 11, forest officials kept meat in a cage and placed it in the area where the cubs were found. Their plan to catch the leopard worked and it was caught. Subsequently, the officials placed the cubs in the cage. However, the leopard showed no intimacy or emotion towards the cubs. She did not even allow the babies to suckle, literally rejecting them.
Worried about the survival of the cubs, Range Forest Officer K Gharia and his team took them away and fed them goat milk for 10 days. The entire incident was brought to the notice of Chief Wildlife Warden A Asari in Gandhinagar, who directed the officials to bring the cubs to the Indroda Park. Simultaneously, the leopard was set free at the Vansda National Park, near Navsari.
SPECIAL CARE
INDRODA PARK’S wildlife keeper Rasik Patel said, “The cubs are around 30 days old and need special care. They are kept in separate rooms and anyone coming in contact with them have to be sanitised first with potassium permanganate. We have been giving vitamins, egg yolk, milk and cream to the cubs. They are our youngest guests. We are all very attached to them. Though separation from their mother has affected their weight, there is no medical complication and we are taking good care
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Mitsubishi to develop ‘smart community’ city in Gujarat
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Japanese major Mitsubishi Corporation plans to develop smart community and eco-friendly township
project in Sanand and Changodar industrial areas on Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) near Ahmedabad.
Keiichi Nakagaki, CMD of Mitsubishi Corporation of India Pvt Ltd, on Wednesday called on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him about the project for which survey work will begin very shortly.
“The company will build advanced infrastructure facilities like waste water recycle plant, industrial waste recycle plant, logistics park, electric bus and advanced transportation facilities,” a senior official of the state government said.
According to him, survey work for the project, which will be spread in 50 square kms area and will be expanded at later stage, will be over by the end of this year.
Moreover, Mitsubishi has also submitted a proposal to set up a state-ofthe-art and environment-friendly ship breaking and recycling yard in Alang in partnership with Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB). GMB and Japan Development Institute (JDI) are currently preparing detailed project report for the project in Alang.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Grab that bite of asli KESAR
Grab that bite of asli KESAR
For a month, Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation will help growers from Junagadh sell naturally ripened Kesar mangoes directly to Amdavadis
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
The delectable Kesar mango, whose taste and quality have deteriorated due to excessive use of calcium carbide as ripening agent, may soon regain its mouth-watering taste, if the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation has its way.
GAIC Managing Director D Thara convened a meeting of mango growers from Vanthali and Talala areas of Junagadh, to facilitate the direct sale of naturally ripened Kesar mango to Amdavadis for a month. “This is the first time that the state government has taken such an initiative,” she said.
As many as 15-16 co-operative societies based in Junagadh have been tasked with the responsibility of getting these farmers to the city. “The GAIC will bear the transportation cost of the fruits,” Thara said.
The managing director’s resolve was strengthened after a 10-kg box of Kesar mangoes she had ordered four days ago contained small packets of calcium carbide. This carcinogen is used to ripen mangoes quickly. “The mangoes had turned black due to overripening. I instantly dumped the entire contents of the box in the dustbin.”
‘FOR PROFIT, VENDORS MUST NOT PLAY WITH LIVES’
“THE DETERIORATION of Kesar mango, that has titillated the tastebuds of people the world over for years, pained and angered me at the same time. Even as the Corporation embarks on a route to cleanse Kesar of calcium carbide, I appeal to all fruit vendors and wholesalers — who take the shortcut to make a fast buck — not to play with the lives of people. I also ask mango lovers to administer the highest caution when they purchase the fruit,” she said.
Thara claimed she had decided to give the people of Ahmedabad a fruit that is free of carcinogenic effect.
FRUIT RIPENING PLANT SET UP IN NARODA
THE GUJARAT Agro Industries Corporation has also set up a 15,000 tonne fruit ripening plant at Naroda. Thara claims the ethylene gas is a WHO-approved process of ripening mangoes and is used by progressive countries as it is harmless.
“The mangoes are passed through a chamber and the gas is released into the chamber depending on the quantity of mangoes in the channel. The mangoes are given a 12-hour dose of the gas and then kept in the open for day. This is a safe method and we are aspiring for safety,” Thara said.
She said the use of gas will be minimal but naturally ripened mangoes will be given a preference over mangoes ripened through the ethylene gas.
DIRECT SALE IN OTHER CITIES OF GUJARAT SOON
THE EXPERIMENT of direct sale of mangoes through farmers if successful will also be replicated in other cities of the state.
Pointing out the differences between naturally ripened mangoes and artificially ripened ones, she said the naturally ripened ones had green and yellow skin, a rich taste and smell. “Its pulp is saffron. That is why it is called Kesar. If calcium carbide has been used to ripen mangoes, it will have uniform yellow skin. The fruit will not smell and the pulp will taste bland,” she explained.
For a month, Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation will help growers from Junagadh sell naturally ripened Kesar mangoes directly to Amdavadis
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
The delectable Kesar mango, whose taste and quality have deteriorated due to excessive use of calcium carbide as ripening agent, may soon regain its mouth-watering taste, if the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation has its way.
GAIC Managing Director D Thara convened a meeting of mango growers from Vanthali and Talala areas of Junagadh, to facilitate the direct sale of naturally ripened Kesar mango to Amdavadis for a month. “This is the first time that the state government has taken such an initiative,” she said.
As many as 15-16 co-operative societies based in Junagadh have been tasked with the responsibility of getting these farmers to the city. “The GAIC will bear the transportation cost of the fruits,” Thara said.
The managing director’s resolve was strengthened after a 10-kg box of Kesar mangoes she had ordered four days ago contained small packets of calcium carbide. This carcinogen is used to ripen mangoes quickly. “The mangoes had turned black due to overripening. I instantly dumped the entire contents of the box in the dustbin.”
‘FOR PROFIT, VENDORS MUST NOT PLAY WITH LIVES’
“THE DETERIORATION of Kesar mango, that has titillated the tastebuds of people the world over for years, pained and angered me at the same time. Even as the Corporation embarks on a route to cleanse Kesar of calcium carbide, I appeal to all fruit vendors and wholesalers — who take the shortcut to make a fast buck — not to play with the lives of people. I also ask mango lovers to administer the highest caution when they purchase the fruit,” she said.
Thara claimed she had decided to give the people of Ahmedabad a fruit that is free of carcinogenic effect.
FRUIT RIPENING PLANT SET UP IN NARODA
THE GUJARAT Agro Industries Corporation has also set up a 15,000 tonne fruit ripening plant at Naroda. Thara claims the ethylene gas is a WHO-approved process of ripening mangoes and is used by progressive countries as it is harmless.
“The mangoes are passed through a chamber and the gas is released into the chamber depending on the quantity of mangoes in the channel. The mangoes are given a 12-hour dose of the gas and then kept in the open for day. This is a safe method and we are aspiring for safety,” Thara said.
She said the use of gas will be minimal but naturally ripened mangoes will be given a preference over mangoes ripened through the ethylene gas.
DIRECT SALE IN OTHER CITIES OF GUJARAT SOON
THE EXPERIMENT of direct sale of mangoes through farmers if successful will also be replicated in other cities of the state.
Pointing out the differences between naturally ripened mangoes and artificially ripened ones, she said the naturally ripened ones had green and yellow skin, a rich taste and smell. “Its pulp is saffron. That is why it is called Kesar. If calcium carbide has been used to ripen mangoes, it will have uniform yellow skin. The fruit will not smell and the pulp will taste bland,” she explained.
The taste of Kesar in gujarat, junagadh
Branded: The taste of Kesar
GAIC plans to certify naturally ripened Kesar mangoes and build Brand Kesar to market fruit nationally as well as internationally
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
With a rich haul of Kesar mangoes, the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation has decided to brand the fruit nationally. Production of the fruit is estimated to cross 10 lakh tonnes this season.
The Junagadh Agriculture University and the GAIC has estimated the production of Kesar at 10 lakh tonnes, which is more than three times the production registered last year.
The Corporation is also planning to certify naturally ripened Kesar mangoes and build Brand Kesar to market the fruit nationally as well as internationally.
As part of the Corporation’s efforts to distribute the fruit nationally, 50,000 boxes of Kesar will be transported to the Delhi Haat for display and sale.
“The sale of Kesar mango is the highest in Ahmedabad. People in Delhi are hardly aware of the taste of the mango. An effort will be made to popularise the fruit by encouraging people to taste the fruit. No one can resist the taste. We are confident that they will keep coming back for more,” said D Thara, Managing Director of the GAIC.
The GAIC is also in touch with the National Horticulture Board at Gurgaon. The Board has tie-ups with several malls in Delhi. The mangoes will be distributed through these malls.
Once the fruit gains popularity in Delhi, it will be then distributed across six major cities including Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Thara said that to get certification, the fruits will have to meet the standards prescribed for organic mangoes.
The managing director said the production of mango has been good due to good weather. “We have decided to export Kesar mangoes in a big way. We have invited the opinion of traders regarding possible markets where the fruits can be sold. We have a rich tradition to live up to. Gujarat will turn 50 on May 1 but the Kesar is 75 years old. We will celebrate it’s diamond jubilee
GAIC plans to certify naturally ripened Kesar mangoes and build Brand Kesar to market fruit nationally as well as internationally
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
With a rich haul of Kesar mangoes, the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation has decided to brand the fruit nationally. Production of the fruit is estimated to cross 10 lakh tonnes this season.
The Junagadh Agriculture University and the GAIC has estimated the production of Kesar at 10 lakh tonnes, which is more than three times the production registered last year.
The Corporation is also planning to certify naturally ripened Kesar mangoes and build Brand Kesar to market the fruit nationally as well as internationally.
As part of the Corporation’s efforts to distribute the fruit nationally, 50,000 boxes of Kesar will be transported to the Delhi Haat for display and sale.
“The sale of Kesar mango is the highest in Ahmedabad. People in Delhi are hardly aware of the taste of the mango. An effort will be made to popularise the fruit by encouraging people to taste the fruit. No one can resist the taste. We are confident that they will keep coming back for more,” said D Thara, Managing Director of the GAIC.
The GAIC is also in touch with the National Horticulture Board at Gurgaon. The Board has tie-ups with several malls in Delhi. The mangoes will be distributed through these malls.
Once the fruit gains popularity in Delhi, it will be then distributed across six major cities including Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Thara said that to get certification, the fruits will have to meet the standards prescribed for organic mangoes.
The managing director said the production of mango has been good due to good weather. “We have decided to export Kesar mangoes in a big way. We have invited the opinion of traders regarding possible markets where the fruits can be sold. We have a rich tradition to live up to. Gujarat will turn 50 on May 1 but the Kesar is 75 years old. We will celebrate it’s diamond jubilee
GIZMO KID in gandhinagar
GIZMO KID
His development would be behind schedule, but 3-yr-old with genetic disorder has zapped everyone with the ease he uses gadgets
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
At his birth, the doctor had said his development will run a year ‘behind schedule’. Maharshi, an achondroplastic child, has proved to be the opposite. He has zapped his parents and doctors alike by being year ahead in schedule in development of brain, intelligence and grasping power. The gizmo-loving three-year-old can operate almost all electronic gadgets. No, he hasn’t been taught about them, say his parents Atul and Dharni. His favourite is the iPhone.
Although Atul, a Gujarat Technological University employee does not possess an iPhone, he is forced to borrow it from a colleague some days to calm Maharshi’s tantrums. He is inconsolable when the phone is returned, says Atul. “He has seen the iPhone with a relative and learnt operating it instantly, surprising us all,” says the father. We tested him with a new phone and he clicked!
Not only the iPhone, Maharshi, they say, can operate any electronic gadget, can click pictures on camera, record, open program files in a computer and select and play a desired song on his father’s mobile phone memory.
Sights and sounds kind of get embedded in his memory. Dharni says her son cannot read, but “remembers nursery rhymes by their page numbers”. He is the blue-eyed boy of Polytechnic Staff Quarters, Gandhinagar. Kids in the neighbourhood love to see him re-enact scenes from the hit film 3 idiots
His development would be behind schedule, but 3-yr-old with genetic disorder has zapped everyone with the ease he uses gadgets
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
At his birth, the doctor had said his development will run a year ‘behind schedule’. Maharshi, an achondroplastic child, has proved to be the opposite. He has zapped his parents and doctors alike by being year ahead in schedule in development of brain, intelligence and grasping power. The gizmo-loving three-year-old can operate almost all electronic gadgets. No, he hasn’t been taught about them, say his parents Atul and Dharni. His favourite is the iPhone.
Although Atul, a Gujarat Technological University employee does not possess an iPhone, he is forced to borrow it from a colleague some days to calm Maharshi’s tantrums. He is inconsolable when the phone is returned, says Atul. “He has seen the iPhone with a relative and learnt operating it instantly, surprising us all,” says the father. We tested him with a new phone and he clicked!
Not only the iPhone, Maharshi, they say, can operate any electronic gadget, can click pictures on camera, record, open program files in a computer and select and play a desired song on his father’s mobile phone memory.
Sights and sounds kind of get embedded in his memory. Dharni says her son cannot read, but “remembers nursery rhymes by their page numbers”. He is the blue-eyed boy of Polytechnic Staff Quarters, Gandhinagar. Kids in the neighbourhood love to see him re-enact scenes from the hit film 3 idiots
45 lion DEATHS LAST YEAR gujarat
in newer areas they are migrating to
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
The official Asiatic lion population figures following the census stands at 411. Quite impressive, looking at the fact that about a century ago there were just 20, standing on the brink of extinction. In the past five years, the number has increased from 358 to 411, an addition of 53.
A area-wise break-up of the 13th Asiatic lion population estimate shows that numbers have increased in Girnar, Mitiliya and Paniya which have been declared sanctuaries in the last three years. The highest increase has been in coastal areas (Una, Kodinar, Sutrapada and Chhara), from 12 to 21.
Chhara in Junagadh is a new area outside the sanctuary limits were lions have begun migrating to.
However, it has been noted that there hasn’t been much increase in the number of big cats in the Gir national park sanctuary and adjoining areas; only six in the national park and seven in Girnar sanctuary. The total increase in surrounding areas is 46, which means that the lions are moving to newer areas which may have human threat, but are are naturally safer for their habitat.
“There are two main reasons why population has increased in newer areas. First, locals where the animals are moving to, are supporting conservation efforts. Second, a substantial nilgai population in these areas,” said principal secretary, forest and environment S K Nanda.
Announcing the estimate results on Sunday, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said, of the total 411 lions, 77 were cubs less than one year old and another 75 were in the one to three year age-group. Thus, almost 40 per cent of the lion population comprises the young as does India’s, which bodes well for the future.”
Modi pointed out that India and many other countries of the world are worried about the gender imbalances creeping into its demographic profile.
“Not so in the case of the Asiatic lion. Their latest population profile shows 97 males against 162 females, making for a ratio of 1:1.67,” he said.
“The immediate result of the rise in female population is that the incidents of male lions devouring cubs have decreased with the females bunching together to ward off such attempts,” he added. The number of females has increased from 124 in 2005 to 162 in 2010.
The chief minister said the Rs 40-crore special package for the Sasan Gir lion sanctuary and its environs announced by the state government had reaped rich dividends following enhanced communication facilities and a crash programme to cover open wells.
“We would lose ten cubs on an average every year due to these open wells. This last year the loss was only one,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
45 DEATHS LAST YEAR
Forty-five lions have died in 2009-10; 41 of these were natural deaths. Of the total deaths, 31 took place inside santuary limits. Three lions died outside the limits; one in a road accident, one by falling off the bridge and one by electric shock. The year also recorded one death by poaching inside the sanctuary.
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
The official Asiatic lion population figures following the census stands at 411. Quite impressive, looking at the fact that about a century ago there were just 20, standing on the brink of extinction. In the past five years, the number has increased from 358 to 411, an addition of 53.
A area-wise break-up of the 13th Asiatic lion population estimate shows that numbers have increased in Girnar, Mitiliya and Paniya which have been declared sanctuaries in the last three years. The highest increase has been in coastal areas (Una, Kodinar, Sutrapada and Chhara), from 12 to 21.
Chhara in Junagadh is a new area outside the sanctuary limits were lions have begun migrating to.
However, it has been noted that there hasn’t been much increase in the number of big cats in the Gir national park sanctuary and adjoining areas; only six in the national park and seven in Girnar sanctuary. The total increase in surrounding areas is 46, which means that the lions are moving to newer areas which may have human threat, but are are naturally safer for their habitat.
“There are two main reasons why population has increased in newer areas. First, locals where the animals are moving to, are supporting conservation efforts. Second, a substantial nilgai population in these areas,” said principal secretary, forest and environment S K Nanda.
Announcing the estimate results on Sunday, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said, of the total 411 lions, 77 were cubs less than one year old and another 75 were in the one to three year age-group. Thus, almost 40 per cent of the lion population comprises the young as does India’s, which bodes well for the future.”
Modi pointed out that India and many other countries of the world are worried about the gender imbalances creeping into its demographic profile.
“Not so in the case of the Asiatic lion. Their latest population profile shows 97 males against 162 females, making for a ratio of 1:1.67,” he said.
“The immediate result of the rise in female population is that the incidents of male lions devouring cubs have decreased with the females bunching together to ward off such attempts,” he added. The number of females has increased from 124 in 2005 to 162 in 2010.
The chief minister said the Rs 40-crore special package for the Sasan Gir lion sanctuary and its environs announced by the state government had reaped rich dividends following enhanced communication facilities and a crash programme to cover open wells.
“We would lose ten cubs on an average every year due to these open wells. This last year the loss was only one,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
45 DEATHS LAST YEAR
Forty-five lions have died in 2009-10; 41 of these were natural deaths. Of the total deaths, 31 took place inside santuary limits. Three lions died outside the limits; one in a road accident, one by falling off the bridge and one by electric shock. The year also recorded one death by poaching inside the sanctuary.
BJP’s bid to attack CBI foiled , gujarat
BJP’s bid to attack CBI foiled
BJP state unit’s spokesperson Vijay Rupani fumbles to answer uncomfortable questions on Sohrabuddin fake encounter case
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Some uncomfortable queries hurled at the BJP’s state unit spokesperson Vijay Rupani on Sunday compelled him to go on the backfoot, spoiling his party’s bid to go on an offensive against the CBI probe into Sohrabuddin encounter.
In the presence of the present and former presidents of the BJP in Gujarat — RC Faldu and Purshottam Rupala, respectively — Rupani termed the CBI probe a ploy of the Congress to put the BJP in a tight spot and announced to launch a protest campaign against the agency. Rupani also accused the CBI of partisan role. “It has not taken any action in alleged scams involving Mayawati or Lalu Prasad. Nor it has thoroughly probed into phone tapping,” he said.
Thus far, Rupani was at his attacking best. But then came the bouncers and his evasive action. He refused to answer if Sohrabuddin was killed in a fake encounter. He also ducked the query on if Minister of State for Home Affairs Amit Shah would be arrested. When mediapersons counter-attacked Rupani asking how could he term CBI’s action politically motivated when the state-run CID arrested 14 persons in connection with the case and CBI only one, he remained tight-lipped.
There was no answer from Rupani on if he was calling the agency’s action political because Shah might be arrested. Nor did he respond to if his statements were contempt of the Supreme Court. Answering to a query on where was Shah during the Swarnim Gujarat celebrations on Saturday, Rupani said the minister was busy seeking legal advice.
BJP state unit’s spokesperson Vijay Rupani fumbles to answer uncomfortable questions on Sohrabuddin fake encounter case
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Some uncomfortable queries hurled at the BJP’s state unit spokesperson Vijay Rupani on Sunday compelled him to go on the backfoot, spoiling his party’s bid to go on an offensive against the CBI probe into Sohrabuddin encounter.
In the presence of the present and former presidents of the BJP in Gujarat — RC Faldu and Purshottam Rupala, respectively — Rupani termed the CBI probe a ploy of the Congress to put the BJP in a tight spot and announced to launch a protest campaign against the agency. Rupani also accused the CBI of partisan role. “It has not taken any action in alleged scams involving Mayawati or Lalu Prasad. Nor it has thoroughly probed into phone tapping,” he said.
Thus far, Rupani was at his attacking best. But then came the bouncers and his evasive action. He refused to answer if Sohrabuddin was killed in a fake encounter. He also ducked the query on if Minister of State for Home Affairs Amit Shah would be arrested. When mediapersons counter-attacked Rupani asking how could he term CBI’s action politically motivated when the state-run CID arrested 14 persons in connection with the case and CBI only one, he remained tight-lipped.
There was no answer from Rupani on if he was calling the agency’s action political because Shah might be arrested. Nor did he respond to if his statements were contempt of the Supreme Court. Answering to a query on where was Shah during the Swarnim Gujarat celebrations on Saturday, Rupani said the minister was busy seeking legal advice.
FOSSIL DATING BACK 165 MILLION YEARS FOUND IN KUTCH gujarat
FOSSIL DATING BACK 165 MILLION YEARS FOUND IN KUTCH
The fossil is a giant shell of an oyster-like sea creature; its find in Khatrod hill range suggests the region was once under water
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
Agiant fossilised shell of an oyster-like sea creature has been found on a hill of Khatrod range in Kutch. The shell, which is 2 feet long and 1.75 feet wide, is believed to be 165 million years old.
The fossil was discovered by Dr Budhia, who is the president of Kutch Science Foundation, about six months ago. It’s type and age, however, were confirmed recently by Andes Geology Society in Chile, claims Nishant Gor, who accompanied Budhia in the latter’s search for fossils.
The discovery of the shell in Khatrod range indicates that region was once under water. Interestingly, similar shells were found in the Andes, the world’s longest mountain range, in South America a few years ago.
The find in Kutch was initially mistaken for a dinosaur egg because of its size. “After it was found, a conference of geologists was held in Kutch. None of the participants were able to exactly tell what it was,” Budhia said.
Samples of the shell, he said, were then sent to Andes Geology Society. “Recently, the body informed us that the fossil is a bivalve shell,” he said. Bivalve is a type of mollusc such as an oyster.
Budhia believes many more such shells could be discovered in the Khotrad range and near the famous Gangeshwar temple. The bivalve shell is likely to be displayed at an exhibit in UK on July 4.
Fossil finds are not new to Gujarat. In 1987, the director of Palaeontology in Geological Survey of India (GSI), Dhananjay Mohabey, found a fossil in a dinosaur nesting ground by a riverbed near the present-day Dholi Dungri village bordering Kheda district’s Balasinor taluka.
A study published in the Public Library of Sciences journal only last month revealed the fossil was that of a 3.5-metre-long snake that preyed on dinosaur eggs and hatchlings
The fossil is a giant shell of an oyster-like sea creature; its find in Khatrod hill range suggests the region was once under water
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
Agiant fossilised shell of an oyster-like sea creature has been found on a hill of Khatrod range in Kutch. The shell, which is 2 feet long and 1.75 feet wide, is believed to be 165 million years old.
The fossil was discovered by Dr Budhia, who is the president of Kutch Science Foundation, about six months ago. It’s type and age, however, were confirmed recently by Andes Geology Society in Chile, claims Nishant Gor, who accompanied Budhia in the latter’s search for fossils.
The discovery of the shell in Khatrod range indicates that region was once under water. Interestingly, similar shells were found in the Andes, the world’s longest mountain range, in South America a few years ago.
The find in Kutch was initially mistaken for a dinosaur egg because of its size. “After it was found, a conference of geologists was held in Kutch. None of the participants were able to exactly tell what it was,” Budhia said.
Samples of the shell, he said, were then sent to Andes Geology Society. “Recently, the body informed us that the fossil is a bivalve shell,” he said. Bivalve is a type of mollusc such as an oyster.
Budhia believes many more such shells could be discovered in the Khotrad range and near the famous Gangeshwar temple. The bivalve shell is likely to be displayed at an exhibit in UK on July 4.
Fossil finds are not new to Gujarat. In 1987, the director of Palaeontology in Geological Survey of India (GSI), Dhananjay Mohabey, found a fossil in a dinosaur nesting ground by a riverbed near the present-day Dholi Dungri village bordering Kheda district’s Balasinor taluka.
A study published in the Public Library of Sciences journal only last month revealed the fossil was that of a 3.5-metre-long snake that preyed on dinosaur eggs and hatchlings
MINISTER SAAB amit shah OUT OF RANGE gujarat
MINISTER SAAB OUT OF RANGE
Amit Shah, not spotted in any public function after April 30, has remained incommunicado for the past three days
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
After the arrest of DCP Abhay Chudasama, one of the trusted confidants of Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, by the CBI on charges of trying to influence witnesses in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, the state government seems to be rattled, so much so that the minister of state for home seems to be missing from all the action.
After the hurriedly-called press conference on Sunday by BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani, threatening to launch a statewide agitation against the CBI “as it was being misused by the UPA government”, there seems to be a lull in the home minister’s office.
According to Sachivalaya sources, Amit Shah has not been seen in office since April 30. The minister was last seen along with the chief minister at the inauguration of a fountain at Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar on April 30. Since then he has not been seen at any public place.
He has remained incommunicado for the past three days. No calls to his residence or his mobile phone were received. His personal secretary said, “He is not at his bungalow or in his office, so please contact him on his mobile phone.”
However, umpteen number of calls remained unanswered..
Sources said, this is the second time Shah has gone missing. In 2007, he had gone underground for some days when the then DIG Rajnish Rai investigating the Sohrabuddin case was set to initiate legal action against him.
When Rai was the investigating officer in the case, he had procured all the telephonic conversations Shah had with the police officers who have been jailed in the case. The original CD is in the possession of the CBI at present, sources said.
Senior Congress leader Arjun Modhvadia told Mirror, “This case involves political leaders of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Action against Om Mathur and Amit Shah can be taken under Section 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of IPC since the entire case was known to both of them.
Action can also be taken against them for trying to coerce the witnesses into submission. At one of police officers meeting, Shah had even said ‘you will take action if Kauserbi will be found’.”
Amit Shah, not spotted in any public function after April 30, has remained incommunicado for the past three days
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
After the arrest of DCP Abhay Chudasama, one of the trusted confidants of Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, by the CBI on charges of trying to influence witnesses in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, the state government seems to be rattled, so much so that the minister of state for home seems to be missing from all the action.
After the hurriedly-called press conference on Sunday by BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani, threatening to launch a statewide agitation against the CBI “as it was being misused by the UPA government”, there seems to be a lull in the home minister’s office.
According to Sachivalaya sources, Amit Shah has not been seen in office since April 30. The minister was last seen along with the chief minister at the inauguration of a fountain at Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar on April 30. Since then he has not been seen at any public place.
He has remained incommunicado for the past three days. No calls to his residence or his mobile phone were received. His personal secretary said, “He is not at his bungalow or in his office, so please contact him on his mobile phone.”
However, umpteen number of calls remained unanswered..
Sources said, this is the second time Shah has gone missing. In 2007, he had gone underground for some days when the then DIG Rajnish Rai investigating the Sohrabuddin case was set to initiate legal action against him.
When Rai was the investigating officer in the case, he had procured all the telephonic conversations Shah had with the police officers who have been jailed in the case. The original CD is in the possession of the CBI at present, sources said.
Senior Congress leader Arjun Modhvadia told Mirror, “This case involves political leaders of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Action against Om Mathur and Amit Shah can be taken under Section 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of IPC since the entire case was known to both of them.
Action can also be taken against them for trying to coerce the witnesses into submission. At one of police officers meeting, Shah had even said ‘you will take action if Kauserbi will be found’.”
BJP now says no protest against CBI
BJP now says no protest against CBI
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
In a major turnaround, state BJP president R C Faldu said on Tuesday that the party did not plan to launch protests against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the Sohrabuddin fake encounter. We have not announced any campaign against the CBI, Faldu told Mirror.
Asked about the protests it had planned at sheri level across the state, Faldu said, “We have not planned any protest. This is a figment of the media’s imagination.”
This statement comes two days after the party called the CBI the ‘Congress Bureau of Injustice’. At a media briefing on Sunday, the state BJP had hit out at the Congress and the UPA government at the Centre for misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and using the Sohrabuddin encounter probe to tarnish the image of the Gujarat government. The party declared it would launch an agitation against the UPA government.
In a press release dated May 2, senior BJP leaders had warned that “if the CBI did not stop acting as a hand maiden of Congress in Gujarat, then the enlightened people of Gujarat would not sit idly by”. They also alleged that though the CBI had been handed over the case months ago, the officers deliberately chose the occasion of Swarnim Jayanti to taint Gujarat’s name.
Meanwhile, sources in the party said there were strong reasons for withdrawing the planned protests. “The party’s legal counsel has advised the party against holding protests as the Supreme Court has ordered the probe. Allegations that the investigation is politically motivated is wrong. The BJP leadership in Delhi too disapproved of the plan. Expressing their inability to help the state unit in the case, they directed the local members against politicising the issue,” the source added. The central leadership’s decisions are believed to be guided by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Arun Jaitley.
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
In a major turnaround, state BJP president R C Faldu said on Tuesday that the party did not plan to launch protests against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the Sohrabuddin fake encounter. We have not announced any campaign against the CBI, Faldu told Mirror.
Asked about the protests it had planned at sheri level across the state, Faldu said, “We have not planned any protest. This is a figment of the media’s imagination.”
This statement comes two days after the party called the CBI the ‘Congress Bureau of Injustice’. At a media briefing on Sunday, the state BJP had hit out at the Congress and the UPA government at the Centre for misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and using the Sohrabuddin encounter probe to tarnish the image of the Gujarat government. The party declared it would launch an agitation against the UPA government.
In a press release dated May 2, senior BJP leaders had warned that “if the CBI did not stop acting as a hand maiden of Congress in Gujarat, then the enlightened people of Gujarat would not sit idly by”. They also alleged that though the CBI had been handed over the case months ago, the officers deliberately chose the occasion of Swarnim Jayanti to taint Gujarat’s name.
Meanwhile, sources in the party said there were strong reasons for withdrawing the planned protests. “The party’s legal counsel has advised the party against holding protests as the Supreme Court has ordered the probe. Allegations that the investigation is politically motivated is wrong. The BJP leadership in Delhi too disapproved of the plan. Expressing their inability to help the state unit in the case, they directed the local members against politicising the issue,” the source added. The central leadership’s decisions are believed to be guided by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Arun Jaitley.
Modi opposes central review committee on Narmada
Union Environment Ministry has formed panel to monitor ecological safeguard measures in Sardar Sarovar project
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
The state government has opposed the constitution of a review panel, being set up by the central government, to monitor the implementation of ecological safeguard measures in Sardar Sarovar project.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Narendra Modi sought to withdraw the environment and forest ministry order to form the review committee for the project.
“The decision of the union environment and the forest ministry taken on April 28 is not in accordance with the present provisions of Narmada Yojana and the Supreme Court order of Oct 20, 2000,” stated the letter handed over to the prime minister on Monday evening.
In the letter, Modi said the project has passed through many legal disputes and hurdles and a positive hand from the central government and the prime minister has helped it to set many benchmarks.
Construction of 458-km main canal has been completed in 2008, and has delivered drinking water to more than 2.2 crore people but to extract maximum benefits from this inter-state multipurpose project, it is imperative to take the dam’s height to the full reservoir level, he said.
The 48th meeting of environmental sub-group of the Narmada Control Authority presided over by the environment and forest secretary had approved a height of 138 metres for the Sardar Sarovar dam, he said. Formation of another high-level committee would work to the detriment of the project and would raise a question mark on the numerous decisions taken by other central bodies in the past, he added.
“The Narmada Control Authority has a complete monitoring setup and the environmental subgroup is empowered to take any decision related to the project, thus there is no need for any other independent body for the purpose,” he said.
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
The state government has opposed the constitution of a review panel, being set up by the central government, to monitor the implementation of ecological safeguard measures in Sardar Sarovar project.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Narendra Modi sought to withdraw the environment and forest ministry order to form the review committee for the project.
“The decision of the union environment and the forest ministry taken on April 28 is not in accordance with the present provisions of Narmada Yojana and the Supreme Court order of Oct 20, 2000,” stated the letter handed over to the prime minister on Monday evening.
In the letter, Modi said the project has passed through many legal disputes and hurdles and a positive hand from the central government and the prime minister has helped it to set many benchmarks.
Construction of 458-km main canal has been completed in 2008, and has delivered drinking water to more than 2.2 crore people but to extract maximum benefits from this inter-state multipurpose project, it is imperative to take the dam’s height to the full reservoir level, he said.
The 48th meeting of environmental sub-group of the Narmada Control Authority presided over by the environment and forest secretary had approved a height of 138 metres for the Sardar Sarovar dam, he said. Formation of another high-level committee would work to the detriment of the project and would raise a question mark on the numerous decisions taken by other central bodies in the past, he added.
“The Narmada Control Authority has a complete monitoring setup and the environmental subgroup is empowered to take any decision related to the project, thus there is no need for any other independent body for the purpose,” he said.
Togadia sets May 10 date with SIT but conditions apply
Togadia sets May 10 date with SIT but conditions apply
DILIP PATEL
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international general secretary Pravin Togadia will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the post Godhra riots cases, in person on May 10. But conditions apply.
In a letter to SIT, the VHP leader’s lawyer Deepak Shukla has sought a copy of the questions his client would be asked.
He also demanded a duly certified copy of all the questions SIT asks Togadia on May 10 and his client’s answers to them immediately after the quizzing was over. Besides, Shukla wants mediapersons to be present during Togadia’s interrogation.
Confirming the date of Togadia’s appearance before SIT, sources close to the development said the VHP leader was keen on getting his interrogation video recorded. They also said that Togadia demanded the questionnaire and dococuments pertaining to the summon issued to him because the investigation procedure of SIT was allegedly unreliable.
Claiming that Togadia had nothing to do with the riots, sources close to him said the VHP leader was not in Gujarat during the violence. “How can Togadia be involved in the riots when he was not in the state?” asked a close confidante of the VHP leader.
DILIP PATEL
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international general secretary Pravin Togadia will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the post Godhra riots cases, in person on May 10. But conditions apply.
In a letter to SIT, the VHP leader’s lawyer Deepak Shukla has sought a copy of the questions his client would be asked.
He also demanded a duly certified copy of all the questions SIT asks Togadia on May 10 and his client’s answers to them immediately after the quizzing was over. Besides, Shukla wants mediapersons to be present during Togadia’s interrogation.
Confirming the date of Togadia’s appearance before SIT, sources close to the development said the VHP leader was keen on getting his interrogation video recorded. They also said that Togadia demanded the questionnaire and dococuments pertaining to the summon issued to him because the investigation procedure of SIT was allegedly unreliable.
Claiming that Togadia had nothing to do with the riots, sources close to him said the VHP leader was not in Gujarat during the violence. “How can Togadia be involved in the riots when he was not in the state?” asked a close confidante of the VHP leader.
spurious bottle of Coca Cola ahmedabad
Tere ghar ke samne ek ‘fake’ pilaunga
Old Sachivalaya canteen, opposite the Food and Drugs Administration office, served spurious Coke
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
There was a disturbance of sorts in Old Sachivalaya canteen over a bottle of spurious Coca Cola on Wednesday. The matter has taken a serious turn with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials having sent the sample for testing to the Food and Drugs Laboratory in Vadodara.
Legal action will be taken once the test report is received by FDA.
Samir Shah of Valsad, who had come to Gandhinagar on government-related work, visited the canteen and asked for a bottle of Coca Cola, his favourite soft drink. Much to his disgust, the drink he got had no fizz and tasted like coloured sweet water. The taste was so unlike the usual that he felt it was a fake.
Speaking to Mirror, Samir said, “Since it is my favourite brand, I am very familiar with the taste. This drink tasted weird. I immediately complained to the manager of the canteen and asked for another bottle.”
The canteen is run by the Government Employee Cooperative Society which has hired contractor Kamlesh Upadhyaya.
The manager, Suresh Patel, refused to give him another bottle and shouted at Shah. He said he had given him the bottle from the stock he had got from the company’s dealer in Gandhinagar. The entire staff of the canteen gathered around Shah, in support of Patel. They told him he could take any action he wanted.
Shah went to the FDA office nearby and complained about the spurious Coke bottle.
At once, three food inspectors came to the canteen and checked the stock of the soft drinks in the fridge. They started official proceedings immediately.
Senior food inspector B M Trivedi said, “The bottle belonged to batch no. 37/A dated April 5, 2010. I have sent that bottle and another belonging to the same batch and date and sent them for testing to Vadodara.”
He said the colour of the liquid and bottle that the complainant had drunk was different from that of the other samples. Moreover, the bottle which Shah had drunk from had Coca Cola written on one side and Coke on the other side while the other bottle had Coca Cola printed on both sides. “I am shocked to find such fake cold drinks in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, where people come from all corners of the state. That’s why I decided to take action,” said Shah.
Old Sachivalaya canteen, opposite the Food and Drugs Administration office, served spurious Coke
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
There was a disturbance of sorts in Old Sachivalaya canteen over a bottle of spurious Coca Cola on Wednesday. The matter has taken a serious turn with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials having sent the sample for testing to the Food and Drugs Laboratory in Vadodara.
Legal action will be taken once the test report is received by FDA.
Samir Shah of Valsad, who had come to Gandhinagar on government-related work, visited the canteen and asked for a bottle of Coca Cola, his favourite soft drink. Much to his disgust, the drink he got had no fizz and tasted like coloured sweet water. The taste was so unlike the usual that he felt it was a fake.
Speaking to Mirror, Samir said, “Since it is my favourite brand, I am very familiar with the taste. This drink tasted weird. I immediately complained to the manager of the canteen and asked for another bottle.”
The canteen is run by the Government Employee Cooperative Society which has hired contractor Kamlesh Upadhyaya.
The manager, Suresh Patel, refused to give him another bottle and shouted at Shah. He said he had given him the bottle from the stock he had got from the company’s dealer in Gandhinagar. The entire staff of the canteen gathered around Shah, in support of Patel. They told him he could take any action he wanted.
Shah went to the FDA office nearby and complained about the spurious Coke bottle.
At once, three food inspectors came to the canteen and checked the stock of the soft drinks in the fridge. They started official proceedings immediately.
Senior food inspector B M Trivedi said, “The bottle belonged to batch no. 37/A dated April 5, 2010. I have sent that bottle and another belonging to the same batch and date and sent them for testing to Vadodara.”
He said the colour of the liquid and bottle that the complainant had drunk was different from that of the other samples. Moreover, the bottle which Shah had drunk from had Coca Cola written on one side and Coke on the other side while the other bottle had Coca Cola printed on both sides. “I am shocked to find such fake cold drinks in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, where people come from all corners of the state. That’s why I decided to take action,” said Shah.
Saputara, Gujarat’s only hill station
Saputara to get a new, bigger, fuller lake
A lake city, cable cars, mountain rail, perennial waterfall will be the added attractions at state’s only hill station once it gets a makeover
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
Saputara, Gujarat’s only hill station, is readying for a makeover and a Rs 500 crore one at that. That is government money; tourism ministry sources say private investment will be much more than this amount.
In the first phase of the mega plan, a new expansive water body, four times the size of the famous Saputara lake will be created.
On Wednesday, the district collector began land auction to private investors. Tenders for lake development will be floated, ministry officials said.
The new water body, a little downstream, will be fed by the excess rainwater that spills from the Saputara Lake. Another part of this ambitious project is to make the tourist spot’s famous waterfall a perennial one.
Officials expect the new water body to remain full throughout the year, fed with excess rainwater and the waterfall.
A check dam will be built on the waterfall’s upstream and will release water at timed intervals to keep both lakes full and the waterfall - which is in its full glory only in monsoons - gushing throughout the year.
The hill station is called Gujarat’s Cherrapunji for highest rainfall in the state, but goes dry in summers. Officials also believe this will solve Saputara’s water woes.
Trees and which can withstand harsh climate and bloom in summers will be planted across the Lake City that will come up on the periphery of the expansive lake.
This Lake City will house hotels, entertainment zones, clubs, a ropeway and a tribal village, Tourism Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said.
Considering environmental aspects, mishaps and convenience of tourists, the Saputara-Nashik highway will be closed for heavy roads and a by-pass road constructed, the minister said. Plans are afoot for a hill train; railway authorities are working on a feasibility report.
Planning of the hill station has been handed over to Architectural College of Surat
A lake city, cable cars, mountain rail, perennial waterfall will be the added attractions at state’s only hill station once it gets a makeover
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
Saputara, Gujarat’s only hill station, is readying for a makeover and a Rs 500 crore one at that. That is government money; tourism ministry sources say private investment will be much more than this amount.
In the first phase of the mega plan, a new expansive water body, four times the size of the famous Saputara lake will be created.
On Wednesday, the district collector began land auction to private investors. Tenders for lake development will be floated, ministry officials said.
The new water body, a little downstream, will be fed by the excess rainwater that spills from the Saputara Lake. Another part of this ambitious project is to make the tourist spot’s famous waterfall a perennial one.
Officials expect the new water body to remain full throughout the year, fed with excess rainwater and the waterfall.
A check dam will be built on the waterfall’s upstream and will release water at timed intervals to keep both lakes full and the waterfall - which is in its full glory only in monsoons - gushing throughout the year.
The hill station is called Gujarat’s Cherrapunji for highest rainfall in the state, but goes dry in summers. Officials also believe this will solve Saputara’s water woes.
Trees and which can withstand harsh climate and bloom in summers will be planted across the Lake City that will come up on the periphery of the expansive lake.
This Lake City will house hotels, entertainment zones, clubs, a ropeway and a tribal village, Tourism Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said.
Considering environmental aspects, mishaps and convenience of tourists, the Saputara-Nashik highway will be closed for heavy roads and a by-pass road constructed, the minister said. Plans are afoot for a hill train; railway authorities are working on a feasibility report.
Planning of the hill station has been handed over to Architectural College of Surat
Rajput Samaj wants Chudasama probe to be scrapped
Rajput Samaj wants Chudasama probe to be scrapped
It is believed that influential leaders and government are putting pressure on CBI
DILIP PATEL
The members of Rajput Samaj want the probe against jailed DCP Abhay Chudasama to be stopped. This was decided at a meeting of leaders of six districts in Gandhinagar on Tuesday.
They are Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Surat, Rajkot and Junagadh. There were around 60 people at the meeting.
It is believed that since skeletons are tumbling out of the cupboard in the Chudasama case, influential leaders of both communities and the government are trying to apply pressure on CBI.
Karadiya Rajput Samaj Council is the supreme authority of the community. Its chairman Jasa Barad, ex-minister and senior Congress leader, said: “Abhay Chudasama is a popular member of our community. There should not be an unjustified inquiry against him. He should not face social injustice.”
The community members went to meet Chief Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader, Shankersinh Vaghela, and opposition leader, Shaktisinh Gohil. Members of all parties were present in the delegation. A BJP leader from Bharwada said he met Modi at 4 pm in his office. “I told Modi that the probe that CBI was conducting was politically motivated and the investigating agency was harassing Chudasama. The probe has hurt the Rajput Samaj,” he said.
Pratapsinh Bharad, president of Bharwada Rajput Samaj, said the inquiry into Chudasama’s property and money was not justified. Mirror asked Ajitsinh Jadav, Rajput Samaj leader from Dhandhuka, that since 200 complaints had been filed against Chudasama, wasn’t he trying to protect a criminal?
“The complaints are mala fide and vindictive and the CBI probe is not being conducted as per Supreme Court guidelines,” he replied.
It is believed that influential leaders and government are putting pressure on CBI
DILIP PATEL
The members of Rajput Samaj want the probe against jailed DCP Abhay Chudasama to be stopped. This was decided at a meeting of leaders of six districts in Gandhinagar on Tuesday.
They are Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Surat, Rajkot and Junagadh. There were around 60 people at the meeting.
It is believed that since skeletons are tumbling out of the cupboard in the Chudasama case, influential leaders of both communities and the government are trying to apply pressure on CBI.
Karadiya Rajput Samaj Council is the supreme authority of the community. Its chairman Jasa Barad, ex-minister and senior Congress leader, said: “Abhay Chudasama is a popular member of our community. There should not be an unjustified inquiry against him. He should not face social injustice.”
The community members went to meet Chief Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader, Shankersinh Vaghela, and opposition leader, Shaktisinh Gohil. Members of all parties were present in the delegation. A BJP leader from Bharwada said he met Modi at 4 pm in his office. “I told Modi that the probe that CBI was conducting was politically motivated and the investigating agency was harassing Chudasama. The probe has hurt the Rajput Samaj,” he said.
Pratapsinh Bharad, president of Bharwada Rajput Samaj, said the inquiry into Chudasama’s property and money was not justified. Mirror asked Ajitsinh Jadav, Rajput Samaj leader from Dhandhuka, that since 200 complaints had been filed against Chudasama, wasn’t he trying to protect a criminal?
“The complaints are mala fide and vindictive and the CBI probe is not being conducted as per Supreme Court guidelines,” he replied.
ahmedabad City gets 21 new wards
City gets 21 new wards
The number of wards in the city has gone up to 64
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
The state election commission has completed work on the delimitation of 21 wards of Ahmedabad for ensuing civic elections. A notification, in this regard, will be issued shortly.
After the new wards coming into effect, the number of wards in the city has gone up to 64. The need to form new wards arose after the merger of 18 municiaplties and 30 villages three years ago. The state government had asked the poll panel to divide the merged areas in 64 wards. The number of councillors have also been raised to 192.
“The state had asked the election commission to finish delimiataion of wards ahead of civic elections. Ahmedabad District Collector has submitted its report in this reagrd and we will soon come up with a notification. Each ward will have three councillors and a population of 70,000,” said State Election Commission Secretary Prakash Shah.
The poll panel will soon start work on voters’ list and is planning to incorporate voters’ photograph in the list. “A first in the country, e-voting will be introduced in Ahmedabad for civic elections,” Shah added.
The number of wards in the city has gone up to 64
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
The state election commission has completed work on the delimitation of 21 wards of Ahmedabad for ensuing civic elections. A notification, in this regard, will be issued shortly.
After the new wards coming into effect, the number of wards in the city has gone up to 64. The need to form new wards arose after the merger of 18 municiaplties and 30 villages three years ago. The state government had asked the poll panel to divide the merged areas in 64 wards. The number of councillors have also been raised to 192.
“The state had asked the election commission to finish delimiataion of wards ahead of civic elections. Ahmedabad District Collector has submitted its report in this reagrd and we will soon come up with a notification. Each ward will have three councillors and a population of 70,000,” said State Election Commission Secretary Prakash Shah.
The poll panel will soon start work on voters’ list and is planning to incorporate voters’ photograph in the list. “A first in the country, e-voting will be introduced in Ahmedabad for civic elections,” Shah added.
AMDAVAD’S POPULATION COULD BE 70 LAKH!
AMDAVAD’S POPULATION COULD BE 70 LAKH!
Census director says rise in number of dwellings in ‘greater Ahmedabad’ points to this staggering figure
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
Even as the census exercise in the state picks up pace, a senior official indicated on Monday that city’s population had shot up significantly. The director of census operations (government of India), Manish Bharadwaj, told Mirror that the population of greater Ahmedabad could be 70 lakh. This means 26.37 lakh more people may be now living in the city and adjoining areas compared with 2001, when the total count of Amdavadis stood at 46.63 lakh. Bharadwaj’s jaw-dropping projection stems from the fact that the number of dwellings in the city and adjoining areas such as Bopal, Adalaj and Aslali has risen sharply.
“We had obtained 10.1 lakh forms for carrying out the housing census, which is the first phase of the population count. To our surprise, we have found that residential and commercial units in Ahmedabad and nearby pockets have increased considerably. We will now need 4.37 lakh more forms to complete the exercise,” he said.
In 2001, the year the last census was conducted, greater Ahmedabad had 9 lakh dwellings and commercial units. This year, the projected figure is pegged at 14.47 lakh. Greater Ahmedabad comprises areas within city limits and those on the outskirts. Bopal, Aslali, Adalaj and newly developed areas along Sarkhej-Sanand road, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar road and SP Ring Road are all part of larger Amdavad.
The census director said that all major cities of Gujarat had reported a rise in dwellings. “The situation is similar in Surat and Rajkot. In fact, in terms of percentage, Surat leads the pack. Keeping in mind the 2001 data, we had obtained 7 lakh forms for conducting the housing and house-listing census there. It turns out that we will need 3.54 lakh more forms. This is an increase of more than 50 per cent,” Bharadwaj said.
For the count of homes and commercial establishments in Rajkot, the census department had procured 2.41 lakh forms. However, the actual need is 3.84 lakh. “Population projections emerging at this stage have stunned us,” he said. “We have written to the Central government to demand 31.9 lakh forms for Gujarat.”
According to an estimate of the state government, the population of Gujarat is 5.82 crore. In the 2001 count, the figure was 5.06 crore.
Census director says rise in number of dwellings in ‘greater Ahmedabad’ points to this staggering figure
DILIP PATEL
9825045322
Even as the census exercise in the state picks up pace, a senior official indicated on Monday that city’s population had shot up significantly. The director of census operations (government of India), Manish Bharadwaj, told Mirror that the population of greater Ahmedabad could be 70 lakh. This means 26.37 lakh more people may be now living in the city and adjoining areas compared with 2001, when the total count of Amdavadis stood at 46.63 lakh. Bharadwaj’s jaw-dropping projection stems from the fact that the number of dwellings in the city and adjoining areas such as Bopal, Adalaj and Aslali has risen sharply.
“We had obtained 10.1 lakh forms for carrying out the housing census, which is the first phase of the population count. To our surprise, we have found that residential and commercial units in Ahmedabad and nearby pockets have increased considerably. We will now need 4.37 lakh more forms to complete the exercise,” he said.
In 2001, the year the last census was conducted, greater Ahmedabad had 9 lakh dwellings and commercial units. This year, the projected figure is pegged at 14.47 lakh. Greater Ahmedabad comprises areas within city limits and those on the outskirts. Bopal, Aslali, Adalaj and newly developed areas along Sarkhej-Sanand road, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar road and SP Ring Road are all part of larger Amdavad.
The census director said that all major cities of Gujarat had reported a rise in dwellings. “The situation is similar in Surat and Rajkot. In fact, in terms of percentage, Surat leads the pack. Keeping in mind the 2001 data, we had obtained 7 lakh forms for conducting the housing and house-listing census there. It turns out that we will need 3.54 lakh more forms. This is an increase of more than 50 per cent,” Bharadwaj said.
For the count of homes and commercial establishments in Rajkot, the census department had procured 2.41 lakh forms. However, the actual need is 3.84 lakh. “Population projections emerging at this stage have stunned us,” he said. “We have written to the Central government to demand 31.9 lakh forms for Gujarat.”
According to an estimate of the state government, the population of Gujarat is 5.82 crore. In the 2001 count, the figure was 5.06 crore.
BJP steer clear of Togadia
Cong, BJP steer clear of Togadia
DILIP PATEL
The state BJP responded with caution, the Congress with silence and lesser political parties expressed strong vocal support for VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia’s theory of conspiracy against Hindus on Monday.
National vice-president of the BJP Purshottam Rupala said, “Dr Togadia has shown respect for the law of the country by deposing before the SIT. He is the international general secretary of the VHP. It is obvious that he will talk about Hindus.”
When asked about his stand on Dr Togadia’s comments as a leader of a political party, he fell silent. “Only the party spokesperson will be able to respond to this,” he said.
Maha Gujarat Janata Party general secretary Sunil Oza who had gone to the SIT office in support of Dr Togadia on Monday said: “I was present there and I have supported Dr Togadia. BJP has washed hands off Hindutva. They spoke about Hindus earlier but now want to become secular like the Congress.
“They are competing with the Congress in appeasing the Muslims. Chief Minister Narendra Modi also says Gujarat Muslims are happier in the state than in other parts of the country. But the government has shown little concern about the 45,000 Hindus and their families languishing in jails after the post-Godhra riots. The reason is that they want the Hindu votes but still want to portray themselves as secular as they want to have a government at the Centre.”
DILIP PATEL
The state BJP responded with caution, the Congress with silence and lesser political parties expressed strong vocal support for VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia’s theory of conspiracy against Hindus on Monday.
National vice-president of the BJP Purshottam Rupala said, “Dr Togadia has shown respect for the law of the country by deposing before the SIT. He is the international general secretary of the VHP. It is obvious that he will talk about Hindus.”
When asked about his stand on Dr Togadia’s comments as a leader of a political party, he fell silent. “Only the party spokesperson will be able to respond to this,” he said.
Maha Gujarat Janata Party general secretary Sunil Oza who had gone to the SIT office in support of Dr Togadia on Monday said: “I was present there and I have supported Dr Togadia. BJP has washed hands off Hindutva. They spoke about Hindus earlier but now want to become secular like the Congress.
“They are competing with the Congress in appeasing the Muslims. Chief Minister Narendra Modi also says Gujarat Muslims are happier in the state than in other parts of the country. But the government has shown little concern about the 45,000 Hindus and their families languishing in jails after the post-Godhra riots. The reason is that they want the Hindu votes but still want to portray themselves as secular as they want to have a government at the Centre.”
AMDAVADI WOMEN TOP
City women hold more properties than their counterparts elsewhere in the state
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
Women are stamping their name on the realty scene big time. Going by official figures, 19 per cent of the property registered in Ahmedabad in 2009 is owned by women, and that comes to a total worth of Rs 1,111 crore!
Ahmedabad has retained the top slot this year too (in 2008, women owned Rs 1,000 crore worth of property), followed by Rajkot (18 per cent of the total properties) and Surat (16 per cent).
Since the government waived the one per cent registration fee in June 2004 till January 2010, 7.94 lakh properties worth Rs 19,600 crore have been bought by women across the state! Which means that on an average, 21 per cent of the property documents registered in these six years have been in the name of women.
In 2009, one lakh property deals were transacted. Of these, 19,164 were registered in the name of women.
In Rajkot, 15,755 properties worth Rs 465 crore were womenowned of the total 85,486 registered.
In Surat, women became owners of Rs 534 crore worth of properties; a total of 71,210 properties were registered here last year.
The figures will swell, say realty experts as it is being anticipated that from the next financial year the total levy (stamp duty and registration) will be scaled down to 3.5 per cent of the property transaction. Of course, for women it will be just 2.5 per cent, deducting the waiver of 1 per cent registration fee.
Central government’s Urban Development Secretary S Ramachandran on his recent visit to the state had said that Gujarat, to keep receiving JnNURM grant, will have to adopt this measure in 2010-2011.
More than flats, commercial spaces, a majority of holdings are land parcels, says Deputy collector (stamp duty) J D Patel: “Those who deal in land, prefer buying it in the name of their wives, sisters or mothers for income tax benfit,” he says. Land broker Khodaji Thakore agrees.
“Buyers benefit more if the parcel is bought in the name of a woman. In land deals, the on-paper price is much lesser, a mere 20 per cent, of the money that actually exhanges hands. Add to that the one per cent registration fee waiver,” he says.
The trend also has highlights a social facet, that of women’s economic independence. With the rise in earning power, women are looking at realty as a security.
As Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel puts it, “There are social reasons behind this trend. Women are trusted more, the feewaiver benefits them and encourages registrations against their name. The government has forgone Rs 200 crore in six years, but has encouraged property ownership by women.”
OWNERSHIP FIGURES (2009)
Ahmedabad:
19,164 properties worth Rs 1,111 cr (19 per cent of total properties registered)
Surat:
11,723 worth Rs 534 crore (16 per cent)
Rajkot:
15,755 worth Rs 465 crore (18 per cent)
Figures sourced from the Office of Inspecor General of Registration, Gandhinagar
City women hold more properties than their counterparts elsewhere in the state
DILIP PATEL
09825045322
Women are stamping their name on the realty scene big time. Going by official figures, 19 per cent of the property registered in Ahmedabad in 2009 is owned by women, and that comes to a total worth of Rs 1,111 crore!
Ahmedabad has retained the top slot this year too (in 2008, women owned Rs 1,000 crore worth of property), followed by Rajkot (18 per cent of the total properties) and Surat (16 per cent).
Since the government waived the one per cent registration fee in June 2004 till January 2010, 7.94 lakh properties worth Rs 19,600 crore have been bought by women across the state! Which means that on an average, 21 per cent of the property documents registered in these six years have been in the name of women.
In 2009, one lakh property deals were transacted. Of these, 19,164 were registered in the name of women.
In Rajkot, 15,755 properties worth Rs 465 crore were womenowned of the total 85,486 registered.
In Surat, women became owners of Rs 534 crore worth of properties; a total of 71,210 properties were registered here last year.
The figures will swell, say realty experts as it is being anticipated that from the next financial year the total levy (stamp duty and registration) will be scaled down to 3.5 per cent of the property transaction. Of course, for women it will be just 2.5 per cent, deducting the waiver of 1 per cent registration fee.
Central government’s Urban Development Secretary S Ramachandran on his recent visit to the state had said that Gujarat, to keep receiving JnNURM grant, will have to adopt this measure in 2010-2011.
More than flats, commercial spaces, a majority of holdings are land parcels, says Deputy collector (stamp duty) J D Patel: “Those who deal in land, prefer buying it in the name of their wives, sisters or mothers for income tax benfit,” he says. Land broker Khodaji Thakore agrees.
“Buyers benefit more if the parcel is bought in the name of a woman. In land deals, the on-paper price is much lesser, a mere 20 per cent, of the money that actually exhanges hands. Add to that the one per cent registration fee waiver,” he says.
The trend also has highlights a social facet, that of women’s economic independence. With the rise in earning power, women are looking at realty as a security.
As Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel puts it, “There are social reasons behind this trend. Women are trusted more, the feewaiver benefits them and encourages registrations against their name. The government has forgone Rs 200 crore in six years, but has encouraged property ownership by women.”
OWNERSHIP FIGURES (2009)
Ahmedabad:
19,164 properties worth Rs 1,111 cr (19 per cent of total properties registered)
Surat:
11,723 worth Rs 534 crore (16 per cent)
Rajkot:
15,755 worth Rs 465 crore (18 per cent)
Figures sourced from the Office of Inspecor General of Registration, Gandhinagar
Ketan Desai suspended from BJ
Ketan Desai suspended from BJ
Government rejected resignation forwarded by dean; he had sent it five days ago by post
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Medical Council of India President Ketan Desai, arrested on graft charge, has been suspended from the post of head of department of urology at B J Medical College in Ahmedabad.
The fact came to light on Sunday though the family members of Desai were given the suspension order on Saturday evening, said Principal Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department, Rajesh Kishore.
Desai had resigned five days ago and the college sent the resignation letter to the health department on Saturday. He had sent the letter by post to the dean of B J Medical College. The government did not accept the resignation and suspended him instead, added Kishore.
Sources said the matter was sub judice. Any matters related to Gujarat government and B J Medical College that the CBI chargesheet, yet to be filed, mentions would be investigated further.
The suspension is based on the CBI report. Moreover, based on the report, a departmental inquiry would be conducted in the matter.
“Once the CBI provides us its report, we will be able to decide what action should be taken against Desai as per rules,” he said. Desai initially worked as a professor at B J Medical College and was later elevated as head of the department of urology at the medical college. The CBI had on April 22 arrested Desai and three others in connection with a Rs 2 crore bribe for permitting a medical college in Punjab to admit students despite lack of infrastructure.
Desai is currently in judicial custody. He and the other accused were booked by CBI under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption of Act, criminal misconduct and payment of money.
Subsequent searches at various premises of Desai reportedly revealed huge amounts of cash, investments and gold running into crores of rupees.
Government rejected resignation forwarded by dean; he had sent it five days ago by post
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Medical Council of India President Ketan Desai, arrested on graft charge, has been suspended from the post of head of department of urology at B J Medical College in Ahmedabad.
The fact came to light on Sunday though the family members of Desai were given the suspension order on Saturday evening, said Principal Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department, Rajesh Kishore.
Desai had resigned five days ago and the college sent the resignation letter to the health department on Saturday. He had sent the letter by post to the dean of B J Medical College. The government did not accept the resignation and suspended him instead, added Kishore.
Sources said the matter was sub judice. Any matters related to Gujarat government and B J Medical College that the CBI chargesheet, yet to be filed, mentions would be investigated further.
The suspension is based on the CBI report. Moreover, based on the report, a departmental inquiry would be conducted in the matter.
“Once the CBI provides us its report, we will be able to decide what action should be taken against Desai as per rules,” he said. Desai initially worked as a professor at B J Medical College and was later elevated as head of the department of urology at the medical college. The CBI had on April 22 arrested Desai and three others in connection with a Rs 2 crore bribe for permitting a medical college in Punjab to admit students despite lack of infrastructure.
Desai is currently in judicial custody. He and the other accused were booked by CBI under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption of Act, criminal misconduct and payment of money.
Subsequent searches at various premises of Desai reportedly revealed huge amounts of cash, investments and gold running into crores of rupees.
Arrested Dahod SP
Arrested Dahod SP, constables reconstruct Tulsi’s encounter
Vipul Agarwal maintains that he arrived at the crime scene after Tulsi was gunned down; constables confirm that SOG PI Pandya had fired from his service revolver
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Arrested Dahod Superintendent of Police (SP) Vipul Agarwal and five tainted constables of the Special Operation Group (SOG), Banaskantha, on Sunday afternoon reconstructed the fake encounter of Tulsiram Prajapati in the presence of CID Crime sleuths at Chhapri near Ambaji, where the accomplice of Sohrabuddin was gunned down on December 28, 2006.
While Agarwal reiterated he had arrived at the crime scene after the fake encounter at Banaskantha was over, the five arrested SOG constables confirmed the then sub-inspector of SOG MN Pandya had fired at Tulsi from his service revolver. Each constable and Agarwal enacted the fake encounter separately. Their recollections were video recorded in the presence of 15 CID Crime sleuths, including DIG IM Desai and Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID) RK Patel.
According to sources, all the five arrested SOG constables — Vinod Limbachia, Kiransinh Chouhan, Jethusinh Rajput, Karansinh Sisodia, Kanji Kachhi — claimed that they were directed on the intervening night of December 27 and 28 to intercept a white car at Chhapri checkpost and force its passengers out.
A source said: “The arrested constables reconstructed how they stopped the white car and brought out its driver, two unknown persons and Tulsi, whose hands were tied. They enacted how Pandya took out a country-made pistol from one of his pockets and fired at the empty car. Then, they reconstructed the way Pandya fired at Tulsi from his service revolver.”
AT GOD’S MERCY
After the reconstruction of Tulsi Prajapati’s fake encounter, the CID Crime team took Agarwal to Ambaji temple. The shrine’s guard saluted Agarwal, the former SP of Banaskantha. After his visit to the temple, Agarwal was whisked away to Ambaji circuit house. The arrested SP spent the Saturday night at Palanpur circuit house, said sources.
Vipul Agarwal maintains that he arrived at the crime scene after Tulsi was gunned down; constables confirm that SOG PI Pandya had fired from his service revolver
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Arrested Dahod Superintendent of Police (SP) Vipul Agarwal and five tainted constables of the Special Operation Group (SOG), Banaskantha, on Sunday afternoon reconstructed the fake encounter of Tulsiram Prajapati in the presence of CID Crime sleuths at Chhapri near Ambaji, where the accomplice of Sohrabuddin was gunned down on December 28, 2006.
While Agarwal reiterated he had arrived at the crime scene after the fake encounter at Banaskantha was over, the five arrested SOG constables confirmed the then sub-inspector of SOG MN Pandya had fired at Tulsi from his service revolver. Each constable and Agarwal enacted the fake encounter separately. Their recollections were video recorded in the presence of 15 CID Crime sleuths, including DIG IM Desai and Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID) RK Patel.
According to sources, all the five arrested SOG constables — Vinod Limbachia, Kiransinh Chouhan, Jethusinh Rajput, Karansinh Sisodia, Kanji Kachhi — claimed that they were directed on the intervening night of December 27 and 28 to intercept a white car at Chhapri checkpost and force its passengers out.
A source said: “The arrested constables reconstructed how they stopped the white car and brought out its driver, two unknown persons and Tulsi, whose hands were tied. They enacted how Pandya took out a country-made pistol from one of his pockets and fired at the empty car. Then, they reconstructed the way Pandya fired at Tulsi from his service revolver.”
AT GOD’S MERCY
After the reconstruction of Tulsi Prajapati’s fake encounter, the CID Crime team took Agarwal to Ambaji temple. The shrine’s guard saluted Agarwal, the former SP of Banaskantha. After his visit to the temple, Agarwal was whisked away to Ambaji circuit house. The arrested SP spent the Saturday night at Palanpur circuit house, said sources.
CENSUS SKIRTS BOPAL ahmedabad
CENSUS SKIRTS BOPAL
Census 2010, country’s biggest population count exercise, is yet to take off in Bopal. Reason: Collector’s office and AMC were at loggerheads over their jurisdiction
DILIP PATEL
Though the Census work in the state teed off on April 21 with much hype, the survey work is yet to take off in Bopal, the much-advertised satellite town on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Reason: Confusion over who would conduct the survey.
While AMC turned down the Census department’s request to conduct the survey on the grounds that it was not within its limits, the Ahmedabad District Collectorate did not take any extra initiative to do the honours.
But all is well now. After parleys, the collector’s office has decided to conduct the Census and its survey will begin shortly.
Precious time, 21 days to be precise, has already been lost in sorting out the confusion. It could prove crucial in the end as the first phase of the Census involving house survey — the base of the biggest survey of the country — has to be completed in 45 days.
Now, the enumeration has to be done in a hurry. “It could lead to mistakes,” said a source. Director of Census Operations Manish Bharadwaj said: “AMC and the office of the collectorate could not decide on who would conduct the Census at Bopal. We had given the responsibility to AMC. But it refused citing that Bopal was not in its jurisdiction and the collectorate should conduct the survey.”
‘CENSUS IN BOPAL WILL BEGIN SOON’
Ahmedabad District Collector Harit Shukla said: “There was a confusion. We have sorted it out. The appointment of the members of the survey teams started on Wednesday. The Census work in Bopal will start within a few days.”
Census 2010, country’s biggest population count exercise, is yet to take off in Bopal. Reason: Collector’s office and AMC were at loggerheads over their jurisdiction
DILIP PATEL
Though the Census work in the state teed off on April 21 with much hype, the survey work is yet to take off in Bopal, the much-advertised satellite town on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Reason: Confusion over who would conduct the survey.
While AMC turned down the Census department’s request to conduct the survey on the grounds that it was not within its limits, the Ahmedabad District Collectorate did not take any extra initiative to do the honours.
But all is well now. After parleys, the collector’s office has decided to conduct the Census and its survey will begin shortly.
Precious time, 21 days to be precise, has already been lost in sorting out the confusion. It could prove crucial in the end as the first phase of the Census involving house survey — the base of the biggest survey of the country — has to be completed in 45 days.
Now, the enumeration has to be done in a hurry. “It could lead to mistakes,” said a source. Director of Census Operations Manish Bharadwaj said: “AMC and the office of the collectorate could not decide on who would conduct the Census at Bopal. We had given the responsibility to AMC. But it refused citing that Bopal was not in its jurisdiction and the collectorate should conduct the survey.”
‘CENSUS IN BOPAL WILL BEGIN SOON’
Ahmedabad District Collector Harit Shukla said: “There was a confusion. We have sorted it out. The appointment of the members of the survey teams started on Wednesday. The Census work in Bopal will start within a few days.”
gujarat suggests change in rules to pave way for e-voting
Govt suggests change in rules to pave way for e-voting
DILIP PATEL
With civic elections scheduled in October, the state government is gearing up to implement the e-voting system. If that is made possible, the state will be the first to allow its citizens access to online voting system.
To implement this, the urban development department of the state government on Wednesday issued a draft notification for amendment of Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (Registration of Electors) Rules, 1994. It will be published in the official gazette within 15 days. As per the new rules, a voter can cast his vote without having to stand in a queue, by using internet as the medium.
A voter who intends to cast his vote through e-voting will have to register himself by submitting an application to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) which can be obtained for Rs 5. On registration of the voter’s name, a unique biometric e-voter ID Card and personal identification number and/or password as specified by the State EC shall be issued. If the name of the e-voter is included in the electoral roll and if he migrates to other place, the electoral registration officer shall inform him about the inclusion of his name in the electoral roll within reasonable time before the day of voting.
The State EC will also set up e-voting under mobile polling booths at places like bus stops, colleges, universities, railways stations and airports.
The online voting format will be followed in municipal corporation polls in Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar scheduled for December.
State Election Commissioner K C Kapoor said: “We have invited tenders from several companies for the biometric cards and will decide in a few days. E-voting will be open for three days while one day will be allotted to voting through EVM. The e-voters who are unable to cast their vote online can even use the EVM.”
Any objection or suggestion pertaining to the draft notification received by the principal secretary before May 25 will be considered by the state government.
DILIP PATEL
With civic elections scheduled in October, the state government is gearing up to implement the e-voting system. If that is made possible, the state will be the first to allow its citizens access to online voting system.
To implement this, the urban development department of the state government on Wednesday issued a draft notification for amendment of Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (Registration of Electors) Rules, 1994. It will be published in the official gazette within 15 days. As per the new rules, a voter can cast his vote without having to stand in a queue, by using internet as the medium.
A voter who intends to cast his vote through e-voting will have to register himself by submitting an application to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) which can be obtained for Rs 5. On registration of the voter’s name, a unique biometric e-voter ID Card and personal identification number and/or password as specified by the State EC shall be issued. If the name of the e-voter is included in the electoral roll and if he migrates to other place, the electoral registration officer shall inform him about the inclusion of his name in the electoral roll within reasonable time before the day of voting.
The State EC will also set up e-voting under mobile polling booths at places like bus stops, colleges, universities, railways stations and airports.
The online voting format will be followed in municipal corporation polls in Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar scheduled for December.
State Election Commissioner K C Kapoor said: “We have invited tenders from several companies for the biometric cards and will decide in a few days. E-voting will be open for three days while one day will be allotted to voting through EVM. The e-voters who are unable to cast their vote online can even use the EVM.”
Any objection or suggestion pertaining to the draft notification received by the principal secretary before May 25 will be considered by the state government.
staying away from census ahmedabad
1,000 government employees get notices for staying away from census
RUTURAJ JADAV AND DILIP PATEL
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has slapped notices on more than 1,000 government employees for not participating in the census exercise.
Of these, 339 are LIC employees, who have challenged the notices by filing a special civil application against the notices in the Gujarat High Court.
“They claim the civic body does not have the powers to assign census work to LIC employees. The court will give its ruling on the issue tomorrow (Thursday),” an AMC official said.
A senior official of the state census department said that local bodies had the powers to appoint government employees for conducting the exercise. “Section 4 of the Census Act gives local bodies such powers. Any government employee who refuses to participate to take up the work can be fined Rs 1,000 and even sent to prison for up to three years,” he said.
About 12,000 teachers are conducting the population count in Ahmedabad. The AMC had asked government employees to join the exercise to ease their workload
RUTURAJ JADAV AND DILIP PATEL
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has slapped notices on more than 1,000 government employees for not participating in the census exercise.
Of these, 339 are LIC employees, who have challenged the notices by filing a special civil application against the notices in the Gujarat High Court.
“They claim the civic body does not have the powers to assign census work to LIC employees. The court will give its ruling on the issue tomorrow (Thursday),” an AMC official said.
A senior official of the state census department said that local bodies had the powers to appoint government employees for conducting the exercise. “Section 4 of the Census Act gives local bodies such powers. Any government employee who refuses to participate to take up the work can be fined Rs 1,000 and even sent to prison for up to three years,” he said.
About 12,000 teachers are conducting the population count in Ahmedabad. The AMC had asked government employees to join the exercise to ease their workload
CENSUS india, ahmedabad
CENSUS
Volunteers count on foul tactics to ease workload
Some enumerators have shortened the census form
The rule is to fill in the census form on the spot
They drop it off at people’s homes and collect it later
Census director says efforts are on to stop the practice
RUTURAJ JADAV AND DILIP PATEL
Some people tasked with carrying out the census are cutting corners to make their job easier. They have reduced the number of questions to be asked to denizens and have started dropping off census forms at homes instead of filling them up on the spot.
Every enumerator has been given two sets of forms comprising a total of 50 questions. He/she is required to pose these questions to households and jot down the answers in the forms then and there.
However, in a patent disregard of norms set for conducting the exercise, some enumerators have merged the two sets of forms into one, which comprises only nine questions. They leave this shortened version of the form at denizens’ homes and collect it later after it is filled up.
The director of census operations (government of India), Manish Bharadwaj, said that he had received complaints about enumerators resorting to such practice.
“Some teachers who have been appointed as enumerators have prepared duplicate forms for their convenience. We have asked collectors and officials concerned to stop this practice,” he said.
According to Bharadwaj, census forms have to be filled up in the presence of the head of a family or a person in charge of the house.
“Once all details are entered, a census volunteer has to take the signature of the person concerned,” he said. “There can be no shortcuts. This practice has to be followed; even I am following it.”
The census director said every teacher part of the exercise had been asked to complete only four to five forms a day. “This cannot be tedious ” he said.
Volunteers count on foul tactics to ease workload
Some enumerators have shortened the census form
The rule is to fill in the census form on the spot
They drop it off at people’s homes and collect it later
Census director says efforts are on to stop the practice
RUTURAJ JADAV AND DILIP PATEL
Some people tasked with carrying out the census are cutting corners to make their job easier. They have reduced the number of questions to be asked to denizens and have started dropping off census forms at homes instead of filling them up on the spot.
Every enumerator has been given two sets of forms comprising a total of 50 questions. He/she is required to pose these questions to households and jot down the answers in the forms then and there.
However, in a patent disregard of norms set for conducting the exercise, some enumerators have merged the two sets of forms into one, which comprises only nine questions. They leave this shortened version of the form at denizens’ homes and collect it later after it is filled up.
The director of census operations (government of India), Manish Bharadwaj, said that he had received complaints about enumerators resorting to such practice.
“Some teachers who have been appointed as enumerators have prepared duplicate forms for their convenience. We have asked collectors and officials concerned to stop this practice,” he said.
According to Bharadwaj, census forms have to be filled up in the presence of the head of a family or a person in charge of the house.
“Once all details are entered, a census volunteer has to take the signature of the person concerned,” he said. “There can be no shortcuts. This practice has to be followed; even I am following it.”
The census director said every teacher part of the exercise had been asked to complete only four to five forms a day. “This cannot be tedious ” he said.
CBI being used to suppress voice of dissent’
CBI being used to suppress voice of dissent’
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
The BJP took out protest rallies across the state against the Congress and its alleged misuse of the CBI. Activists also raised slogans against the CBI.
The party claimed that the investigating agency is being used as a tool to subdue any voice of dissent to the UPA, and that it is systematically targeting leaders of the opposition, particularly those belonging to the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janta Dal.
“A national investigating agency, which must operate in an objective, unbiased manner has been taking sides and is working as a private company of the ruling government,” said a BJP activist. The demonstrations in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara Mehsana and Gandhinagar were in retaliation to the “harassment and blackmailing” by the CBI.
“The policemen are being hounded in Gujarat, and the CBI is taking charge of all investigations in the state. Why are they doing this? Does the task of managing day-to-day affairs of Gujarat come under the purview of the CBI?” remarked Purushottam Rupala, vice president of the party’s Gujarat cell.
“We don’t want to impede the probe, the CBI’s misuse should stop,” he said, but failed to explain what he meant by ‘misuse’.
When asked if BJP would approach Supreme Court if its finds the probe unsatisfactory, Rupala said the party’s legal cell will answer this. He said that there have been some wrong incidents in the state, but the party cannot be blamed for all of them.
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
The BJP took out protest rallies across the state against the Congress and its alleged misuse of the CBI. Activists also raised slogans against the CBI.
The party claimed that the investigating agency is being used as a tool to subdue any voice of dissent to the UPA, and that it is systematically targeting leaders of the opposition, particularly those belonging to the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janta Dal.
“A national investigating agency, which must operate in an objective, unbiased manner has been taking sides and is working as a private company of the ruling government,” said a BJP activist. The demonstrations in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara Mehsana and Gandhinagar were in retaliation to the “harassment and blackmailing” by the CBI.
“The policemen are being hounded in Gujarat, and the CBI is taking charge of all investigations in the state. Why are they doing this? Does the task of managing day-to-day affairs of Gujarat come under the purview of the CBI?” remarked Purushottam Rupala, vice president of the party’s Gujarat cell.
“We don’t want to impede the probe, the CBI’s misuse should stop,” he said, but failed to explain what he meant by ‘misuse’.
When asked if BJP would approach Supreme Court if its finds the probe unsatisfactory, Rupala said the party’s legal cell will answer this. He said that there have been some wrong incidents in the state, but the party cannot be blamed for all of them.
Protests by BJP contempt of court, says Congress
Protests by BJP contempt of court, says Congress
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU 9825045322
State Congress president Siddharth Patel lambasted the BJP for allegedly protecting its ministers in the controversial case. At a media conference on Wednesday in the city which , he addressed with leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, Patel called the rallies a publicity stunt to garner votes.
He said the protests were contempt of court as the CBI was probing the case on Supreme Court’s orders. Not satisfied with the several reported submitted by Gujarat police, the apex court had handed over the investigation to CBI. Therefore, the protest are overruling SC’s order, Patel added.
Patel suggested that if BJP actually wants proper insight into the case, it should approach the Supreme Court rather than protesting against CBI.
He said the state government was trying to cover the involvement of its leaders and ministers by crying foul. An issue of posters displaying abusive words against CBI was also brought to notice. along advertisements in regional dailies. Patel said that those involved in the act must be traced and punished
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU 9825045322
State Congress president Siddharth Patel lambasted the BJP for allegedly protecting its ministers in the controversial case. At a media conference on Wednesday in the city which , he addressed with leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, Patel called the rallies a publicity stunt to garner votes.
He said the protests were contempt of court as the CBI was probing the case on Supreme Court’s orders. Not satisfied with the several reported submitted by Gujarat police, the apex court had handed over the investigation to CBI. Therefore, the protest are overruling SC’s order, Patel added.
Patel suggested that if BJP actually wants proper insight into the case, it should approach the Supreme Court rather than protesting against CBI.
He said the state government was trying to cover the involvement of its leaders and ministers by crying foul. An issue of posters displaying abusive words against CBI was also brought to notice. along advertisements in regional dailies. Patel said that those involved in the act must be traced and punished
Gujarat farmers reap fruits of cashew tree
Gujarat farmers reap fruits of
cashew trees
Drop in average temperature by five degrees has helped Saurashtra farmers grow cashew nuts in the hills of Rajkot, Junagadh and Surendranagar districts
DILIP PATEL 9825045322
Gujarat is traditionally known for its exportquality mangoes. But it may soon make a name in cashew production. A drop in the average temperature in the hilly areas of Saurashtra has helped farmers grow cashew nuts there.
Farmers in the state have always been keen to experiment with crop. They already produce seedless Taiwanese papayas, black tomatoes, violet capsicum, sugarfree potatoes, cashews and square-shaped watermelons.
BOOST IN PRODUCTION
TILL THREE years ago, cashew nuts were also alien to the region. Now, climate change has boosted cashew production here. This time, farmers saw a 30 per cent rise in production of the nuts compared to last year.
K B Kikani, scientist and former vice-chancellor of Junagadh Agriculture University, said, “Temperature has gone down by five degrees over the past few years. Also, good rainfall in the last six years has made cashew cultivation a viable option.”
RENEWED FARMING EFFORTS
THE UNIVERSITY had tried to grow cashew trees fifteen years ago. “However, we did not get the desired results then. We conducted experiments on cashew nut farming in our university farmhouse. We have finally got positive results in terms of growth and production. The hilly areas in Saurashtra is suitable for cashew cultivation,” he said.
Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Rajkot are good places to plant cashew trees, said Kikani. “We have got good results from places where mangoes were earlier cultivated. The temperature in these areas used to be 45 degrees in summer. It has dropped to around 40 degrees now,” added Kikani.
Farmers in Surat, Valsad and Dang districts too are growing cashews that many believe are superior to Goa cashews in terms of taste, whiteness and crunchiness. Two years ago, 6100 hectare of land in this area was used to produce 14,000 tonnes of cashew nuts.
Most cashew plantations in South Gujarat are done on co-operative basis with NGOs, committed to rural development, acting as facilitators to motivate farmers for cashew plantations.
STATE PRODUCTION’S: 17,000 TONNES
DEPUTY DIRECTOR from Department of Horticulture said,. “Last year, the production of cashew nuts in the state was over 17,000 tonnes. Out of this, the best produce in terms of quality was received from Valsad district. This year, more farmers have started growing cashews. About 700 hectare of land was used to grow cashews last year.”
cashew trees
Drop in average temperature by five degrees has helped Saurashtra farmers grow cashew nuts in the hills of Rajkot, Junagadh and Surendranagar districts
DILIP PATEL 9825045322
Gujarat is traditionally known for its exportquality mangoes. But it may soon make a name in cashew production. A drop in the average temperature in the hilly areas of Saurashtra has helped farmers grow cashew nuts there.
Farmers in the state have always been keen to experiment with crop. They already produce seedless Taiwanese papayas, black tomatoes, violet capsicum, sugarfree potatoes, cashews and square-shaped watermelons.
BOOST IN PRODUCTION
TILL THREE years ago, cashew nuts were also alien to the region. Now, climate change has boosted cashew production here. This time, farmers saw a 30 per cent rise in production of the nuts compared to last year.
K B Kikani, scientist and former vice-chancellor of Junagadh Agriculture University, said, “Temperature has gone down by five degrees over the past few years. Also, good rainfall in the last six years has made cashew cultivation a viable option.”
RENEWED FARMING EFFORTS
THE UNIVERSITY had tried to grow cashew trees fifteen years ago. “However, we did not get the desired results then. We conducted experiments on cashew nut farming in our university farmhouse. We have finally got positive results in terms of growth and production. The hilly areas in Saurashtra is suitable for cashew cultivation,” he said.
Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Rajkot are good places to plant cashew trees, said Kikani. “We have got good results from places where mangoes were earlier cultivated. The temperature in these areas used to be 45 degrees in summer. It has dropped to around 40 degrees now,” added Kikani.
Farmers in Surat, Valsad and Dang districts too are growing cashews that many believe are superior to Goa cashews in terms of taste, whiteness and crunchiness. Two years ago, 6100 hectare of land in this area was used to produce 14,000 tonnes of cashew nuts.
Most cashew plantations in South Gujarat are done on co-operative basis with NGOs, committed to rural development, acting as facilitators to motivate farmers for cashew plantations.
STATE PRODUCTION’S: 17,000 TONNES
DEPUTY DIRECTOR from Department of Horticulture said,. “Last year, the production of cashew nuts in the state was over 17,000 tonnes. Out of this, the best produce in terms of quality was received from Valsad district. This year, more farmers have started growing cashews. About 700 hectare of land was used to grow cashews last year.”
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) ahmedabad
YMCA International Centre will come up on an area of 4 lakh sq ft on SG Highway
DILIP PATEL 9825045322
Atrack for joggers, a gymnasium, a western spa, a stadium for indoor games, swimming pools, a discotheque, plush rooms, a banquet hall, a minitheatre — all this and probably more at one place.
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) has started work on what is being trumpeted as mother of all clubs.
The club, christened YMCA International Centre, will come up on the organisation’s sprawling plot on SG Highway. “Construction work has begun. We expect the place to be ready within 16 months,” the secretary of YMCA and chairman of its cultural committee, Charul Vakta, said. “We focused on the tastes of youngsters and foreign tourists while preparing its design.”
He said that the four-storey club would be spread over 4 lakh sq feet. “A banquet hall will come up on an area of 20,000 sq ft. It will be the largest such hall in the city,” Vakta said. “There will also be a lawn on 1 lakh sq ft space.”
This ambitious project, whose design has been prepared by UK-based firm Lewis & Hickey, will require an investment of Rs 100 crore. It promises to add to the appeal of SG Highway.
“With more than 30 rooms and six suites, YMCA International Centre will vie for a major share of foreign tourists arriving in the city,” he said.
The YMCA secretary said that the organisation was examining the possibility of building a hotel behind its plot on SG Highway.
“There are no concrete plans at present. We will explore options after the international centre is ready,” he said.
HOST OF FACILITIES
THE CLUB, which will be affiliated to 15,000 YMCA centres and clubs across the world, will have a host of facilities.
It will have a basement parking for a staggering 1,000 cars. It will have a gym and four swimming pools for kids and adults. One of the pools, interestingly, will be reserved for women. There will be a stadium for indoor games and sports such as table tennis, volleyball, basketball, badminton and billiards.
A discotheque will be constructed on an area of 4,000 sq feet. “There will also be a dining room for guests, a western spa and a 150-seat movie hall,” Vakta said.
IN DA CLUB
A track for joggers A gymnasium A western spa A stadium for indoor games 34 plush rooms A banquet hall A dinning hall A 150-seat theatre 4 swimming pools A discotheque
DILIP PATEL 9825045322
Atrack for joggers, a gymnasium, a western spa, a stadium for indoor games, swimming pools, a discotheque, plush rooms, a banquet hall, a minitheatre — all this and probably more at one place.
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) has started work on what is being trumpeted as mother of all clubs.
The club, christened YMCA International Centre, will come up on the organisation’s sprawling plot on SG Highway. “Construction work has begun. We expect the place to be ready within 16 months,” the secretary of YMCA and chairman of its cultural committee, Charul Vakta, said. “We focused on the tastes of youngsters and foreign tourists while preparing its design.”
He said that the four-storey club would be spread over 4 lakh sq feet. “A banquet hall will come up on an area of 20,000 sq ft. It will be the largest such hall in the city,” Vakta said. “There will also be a lawn on 1 lakh sq ft space.”
This ambitious project, whose design has been prepared by UK-based firm Lewis & Hickey, will require an investment of Rs 100 crore. It promises to add to the appeal of SG Highway.
“With more than 30 rooms and six suites, YMCA International Centre will vie for a major share of foreign tourists arriving in the city,” he said.
The YMCA secretary said that the organisation was examining the possibility of building a hotel behind its plot on SG Highway.
“There are no concrete plans at present. We will explore options after the international centre is ready,” he said.
HOST OF FACILITIES
THE CLUB, which will be affiliated to 15,000 YMCA centres and clubs across the world, will have a host of facilities.
It will have a basement parking for a staggering 1,000 cars. It will have a gym and four swimming pools for kids and adults. One of the pools, interestingly, will be reserved for women. There will be a stadium for indoor games and sports such as table tennis, volleyball, basketball, badminton and billiards.
A discotheque will be constructed on an area of 4,000 sq feet. “There will also be a dining room for guests, a western spa and a 150-seat movie hall,” Vakta said.
IN DA CLUB
A track for joggers A gymnasium A western spa A stadium for indoor games 34 plush rooms A banquet hall A dinning hall A 150-seat theatre 4 swimming pools A discotheque
Census hits map hurdle gujarat
Faulty maps miss houses, lead to unequal distribution of survey work
DILIP PATEL
Shifted to a new house recently but not emunerated yet though the first phase of the Census involving house survey is over half-way through in Ahmedabad? Blame it on erroneous survey maps supplied by Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space in Gandhinagar, not the surveyors.
The maps, known as blocks in Census parlance, may have missed out on spotting your new home. Reason: Use of old satellite data while making the blocks.
The Directorate of Census Operations Gujarat had given the responsibility of making the blocks, each comprising 125-150 houses, to Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space in 2008. Two years on, the institute handed over the maps, including all the wards of the city, to the Census directorate in January, 2010 with errors.
Several new houses were left out. Some societies were also not included in the maps, leading to confusion among the surveyors.
That’s not all. Unequal distribution of houses in blocks have left some surveyors jittery. While a lucky few have got blocks comprising just 60 houses, unfortunate ones have maps comprising 600 houses. Some maps do not bear the break-up of houses in a particular block.
Census in charge, Ahmedabad, DP Shah said: “We have received complaints on houses going missing in maps. A few blocks have more houses, some too few.”
Shah said the erroneous maps have overburdened some of the surveyors. “We have received complaints on unequal distribution of survey work. Officers in charge of areas concerned have been instructed to sort out these problems and divide the emuneration work equally.”
Shah said: “Possibly old satellite data was used while creating the maps. Several new houses have come up in the 43 old wards over the past three years. Mostly, they are missing in the blocks.”
Sources in the Census directorate said Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space was supposed to create maps linking every ward. “But it has failed to so. Naturally, a few societies have gone missing,” a source said.
Repeated attempts to contact Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space officials went in vain.
DILIP PATEL
Shifted to a new house recently but not emunerated yet though the first phase of the Census involving house survey is over half-way through in Ahmedabad? Blame it on erroneous survey maps supplied by Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space in Gandhinagar, not the surveyors.
The maps, known as blocks in Census parlance, may have missed out on spotting your new home. Reason: Use of old satellite data while making the blocks.
The Directorate of Census Operations Gujarat had given the responsibility of making the blocks, each comprising 125-150 houses, to Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space in 2008. Two years on, the institute handed over the maps, including all the wards of the city, to the Census directorate in January, 2010 with errors.
Several new houses were left out. Some societies were also not included in the maps, leading to confusion among the surveyors.
That’s not all. Unequal distribution of houses in blocks have left some surveyors jittery. While a lucky few have got blocks comprising just 60 houses, unfortunate ones have maps comprising 600 houses. Some maps do not bear the break-up of houses in a particular block.
Census in charge, Ahmedabad, DP Shah said: “We have received complaints on houses going missing in maps. A few blocks have more houses, some too few.”
Shah said the erroneous maps have overburdened some of the surveyors. “We have received complaints on unequal distribution of survey work. Officers in charge of areas concerned have been instructed to sort out these problems and divide the emuneration work equally.”
Shah said: “Possibly old satellite data was used while creating the maps. Several new houses have come up in the 43 old wards over the past three years. Mostly, they are missing in the blocks.”
Sources in the Census directorate said Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space was supposed to create maps linking every ward. “But it has failed to so. Naturally, a few societies have gone missing,” a source said.
Repeated attempts to contact Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space officials went in vain.
wildlife at all the 22 sanctuaries
Super shield for wildlife
Eco-sensitive zones to protect wildlife at all the 22 sanctuaries, including Nal Sarovar, in Gujarat
DILIP PATEL
In a bid to protect wildlife, the state government has decided to develop eco-sensitive zones on the periphery of all the 22 sanctuaries in Gujarat.
The proposals to develop the environmentfriendly zones along the perimeter of Girnar, Narayan Sarovar, Purna, Ratanmahal and Jambughoda sanctuaries have been sent to the Centre. Plans are afoot to develop similar shields for birds and animals at Nal Sarovar, Marine National Park and Gir sanctuary.
Environment and Forests Department Secretary SK Nanda said: “Migratory birds come to Nal Sarovar every year. In a bid to protect them, we will develop eco-friendly zone on its periphery.”
The eco-sensitive zone will stretch between 2 km and 10 km along the perimeter of the bird sanctuary near Ahmedabad. Nanda said a survey would be conducted around Nal Sarovar to check the pollution level. Based on that, a proposal would be drafted and sent to the Centre, said Nanda.
The eco-sensitive zones are being developed along the sanctuaries to protect the wildlife from industrial pollution. “Mining and triggering blasts using dynamites are a strict no-no in eco sensitive zones. As houses and industries cannot be built in those areas, water and air near the sanctuaries will remain clean,” Nanda said.
Admitting that colonies near Nal Sarovar, or for that matter near any sanctuary, would be a threat to wildlife, Nanda said: “Societies should not be developed near any sanctuary. They can lead to air and water pollution.”
Sources said Regional Forest Officer of Nal Sarovar had sent a proposal on developing the eco-sensitive zone on its periphery two years ago. But the forest department had rejected it because it had earmarked 1-km area under the zone in some areas. “The forest department had instructed him to redo the plan because the zone should stretch at least 2 km. But no new proposal has been drafted yet,” said a source
Eco-sensitive zones to protect wildlife at all the 22 sanctuaries, including Nal Sarovar, in Gujarat
DILIP PATEL
In a bid to protect wildlife, the state government has decided to develop eco-sensitive zones on the periphery of all the 22 sanctuaries in Gujarat.
The proposals to develop the environmentfriendly zones along the perimeter of Girnar, Narayan Sarovar, Purna, Ratanmahal and Jambughoda sanctuaries have been sent to the Centre. Plans are afoot to develop similar shields for birds and animals at Nal Sarovar, Marine National Park and Gir sanctuary.
Environment and Forests Department Secretary SK Nanda said: “Migratory birds come to Nal Sarovar every year. In a bid to protect them, we will develop eco-friendly zone on its periphery.”
The eco-sensitive zone will stretch between 2 km and 10 km along the perimeter of the bird sanctuary near Ahmedabad. Nanda said a survey would be conducted around Nal Sarovar to check the pollution level. Based on that, a proposal would be drafted and sent to the Centre, said Nanda.
The eco-sensitive zones are being developed along the sanctuaries to protect the wildlife from industrial pollution. “Mining and triggering blasts using dynamites are a strict no-no in eco sensitive zones. As houses and industries cannot be built in those areas, water and air near the sanctuaries will remain clean,” Nanda said.
Admitting that colonies near Nal Sarovar, or for that matter near any sanctuary, would be a threat to wildlife, Nanda said: “Societies should not be developed near any sanctuary. They can lead to air and water pollution.”
Sources said Regional Forest Officer of Nal Sarovar had sent a proposal on developing the eco-sensitive zone on its periphery two years ago. But the forest department had rejected it because it had earmarked 1-km area under the zone in some areas. “The forest department had instructed him to redo the plan because the zone should stretch at least 2 km. But no new proposal has been drafted yet,” said a source
MUNNA MEETS MODI
MUNNA MEETS MODI
Actor discusses his plans for setting up a film city in Gujarat with the chief minister
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
After Amitabh Bachchan, another star has reached out to Narendra Modi. Actor-cum-neta Sanjay Dutt met the chief minister on Monday to discuss his plans for setting up a film city in Gujarat. At the end of their hour-long meeting at Modi’s office in New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, the munnabhai gave Modi a jaadu ki jhappi.
Dutt, along with his Chicago-based family friend Paresh Ghelani, wants to set up a film city as grand as studios of MGM and Universal. He conveyed this desire to Modi, who then proposed Kutch as the ideal location for the project. Dutt, 50, welcomed the suggestion, but sought time to examine the feasibility of setting up a film city in the arid region.
“The chief minister has proposed Kutch, which has many scenic sites, as the location for the project. He said that the Gujarat government would offer all possible support for the venture,” Dutt told reporters outside block number 1 of New Sachivalaya. “Ghelani and I will see whether Kutch is the ideal place or Saurashtra.”
When asked about the money he was willing to put into the project, he said he was yet to take a decision. During his meeting with Modi, he saw a video presentation on Gujarat’s development and key projects, including the Sabarmati Riverfront.
“Gujarat is a fast-growing state. A lot of industrial development is taking place here. The chief minister is a visionary,” the actor
Actor discusses his plans for setting up a film city in Gujarat with the chief minister
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
After Amitabh Bachchan, another star has reached out to Narendra Modi. Actor-cum-neta Sanjay Dutt met the chief minister on Monday to discuss his plans for setting up a film city in Gujarat. At the end of their hour-long meeting at Modi’s office in New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, the munnabhai gave Modi a jaadu ki jhappi.
Dutt, along with his Chicago-based family friend Paresh Ghelani, wants to set up a film city as grand as studios of MGM and Universal. He conveyed this desire to Modi, who then proposed Kutch as the ideal location for the project. Dutt, 50, welcomed the suggestion, but sought time to examine the feasibility of setting up a film city in the arid region.
“The chief minister has proposed Kutch, which has many scenic sites, as the location for the project. He said that the Gujarat government would offer all possible support for the venture,” Dutt told reporters outside block number 1 of New Sachivalaya. “Ghelani and I will see whether Kutch is the ideal place or Saurashtra.”
When asked about the money he was willing to put into the project, he said he was yet to take a decision. During his meeting with Modi, he saw a video presentation on Gujarat’s development and key projects, including the Sabarmati Riverfront.
“Gujarat is a fast-growing state. A lot of industrial development is taking place here. The chief minister is a visionary,” the actor
NO MAN’S ISLAND marin
NO MAN’S ISLAND
Forest department bans tourists from visiting famed Pirotan island after widespread damage to corals
DILIP PATEL
The state Forest Department has finally bitten the bullet. The ecologically fragile Pirotan island in the Bay of Kutch is offlimits for tourists.
The 5000-odd eco-tourists who visit the island every year, mostly in the winter months, will have to now be content with Narara island, said Forest and Environment Secretary S K Nanda.
“Many visitors prefer to walk on the sea bed to get a better view and feel of the corals. While they experience it first hand, they damage the soft corals. Once damaged, it takes nearly 50 years to form coral polyps,” Nanda said. The island will remain open to researchers, however, Nanda said.
Disappointed eco-tourists can take heart from the fact that they will be allowed to go to Narara island, about 18 nautical miles from Pirotan island. Tourists usually go to Bedi port, about 7 km from Jamnagar, to travel to Pirotan. Narara can be accessed from Vadinar port, about 7 km away.
“Narara island offers quite diverse marine life. Tourists will get to see almost identical eco-system. Besides, it is easily accessible as they can walk over to the island during low tide,” Nanda said.
According to marine officials, the decision to close Pirotan for tourists was taken after widespread damage to the eco-system was reported by experts.
“Tourists generally spend up to 12 hours on the island once they cross over to it. They have to wait for the next high tide to return. As they have ample time at their command, they walk on the beach and in the shallow waters, damaging the fragile corals,” Deputy Conservator of Forest P H Sata said.
Narara has been kept open because tourists can return to the mainland after spending a couple of hours.
“No tourist for Pirotan is good news for corals formation and preservation,” Sata said.
Incidentally, the state government is jointly implementing a federal and World Bank project aimed at restoration of coral reefs and mangrove forests at a cost of Rs 350 crore.
THE ISLANDS
PIROTAN AND Narara are among the 42 coral islands within the Marine National Park in the Bay of Kutch, off Jamnagar. The park is spread over 162 sq km while 457 sq km area is declared a sanctuary. A total of 712 sq km area is treated as protected area.
NARARA:
It is one of the important tourists’ destinations. Although Narara is an island, it is well connected with the mainland. It is also known for its vast inter-tidal zone, facilitating viewing of marine invertebrates. It is a good nature education site.
PIROTAN:
It is another tourist attraction where all kinds of invertebrates are easily visible. Tourists have to wait for high tide to reach the island by boat from the creeks (20 nautical miles). There is a time gap of 12 hours between two high tides in a day. Therefore, once tourists cross the creek to the island, they are able to return only during next tide after about 12 hours.
FLORA:
Six species of mangroves, several species of herbs, grasses and shrubs and 120 species of algae.
FAUNA:
Colourful sponges and corals (see pictures) including 42 hard coral and 10 soft coral species, sea anemones, jelly fishes, sea horse, octopus, pearl oyster, sabela, starfish, bonellia, sepia, lobster, crabs, prawns, sea turtles, dolphin, dugong, porpoise, shark, etc.
MANGROVE FOREST:
The mangroves grow in saline soils in the coastal areas along the shores. They survive in difficult conditions of high salinity, low oxygen and nutrient availability in the soil, wind and wave action and substrate instability.
Forest department bans tourists from visiting famed Pirotan island after widespread damage to corals
DILIP PATEL
The state Forest Department has finally bitten the bullet. The ecologically fragile Pirotan island in the Bay of Kutch is offlimits for tourists.
The 5000-odd eco-tourists who visit the island every year, mostly in the winter months, will have to now be content with Narara island, said Forest and Environment Secretary S K Nanda.
“Many visitors prefer to walk on the sea bed to get a better view and feel of the corals. While they experience it first hand, they damage the soft corals. Once damaged, it takes nearly 50 years to form coral polyps,” Nanda said. The island will remain open to researchers, however, Nanda said.
Disappointed eco-tourists can take heart from the fact that they will be allowed to go to Narara island, about 18 nautical miles from Pirotan island. Tourists usually go to Bedi port, about 7 km from Jamnagar, to travel to Pirotan. Narara can be accessed from Vadinar port, about 7 km away.
“Narara island offers quite diverse marine life. Tourists will get to see almost identical eco-system. Besides, it is easily accessible as they can walk over to the island during low tide,” Nanda said.
According to marine officials, the decision to close Pirotan for tourists was taken after widespread damage to the eco-system was reported by experts.
“Tourists generally spend up to 12 hours on the island once they cross over to it. They have to wait for the next high tide to return. As they have ample time at their command, they walk on the beach and in the shallow waters, damaging the fragile corals,” Deputy Conservator of Forest P H Sata said.
Narara has been kept open because tourists can return to the mainland after spending a couple of hours.
“No tourist for Pirotan is good news for corals formation and preservation,” Sata said.
Incidentally, the state government is jointly implementing a federal and World Bank project aimed at restoration of coral reefs and mangrove forests at a cost of Rs 350 crore.
THE ISLANDS
PIROTAN AND Narara are among the 42 coral islands within the Marine National Park in the Bay of Kutch, off Jamnagar. The park is spread over 162 sq km while 457 sq km area is declared a sanctuary. A total of 712 sq km area is treated as protected area.
NARARA:
It is one of the important tourists’ destinations. Although Narara is an island, it is well connected with the mainland. It is also known for its vast inter-tidal zone, facilitating viewing of marine invertebrates. It is a good nature education site.
PIROTAN:
It is another tourist attraction where all kinds of invertebrates are easily visible. Tourists have to wait for high tide to reach the island by boat from the creeks (20 nautical miles). There is a time gap of 12 hours between two high tides in a day. Therefore, once tourists cross the creek to the island, they are able to return only during next tide after about 12 hours.
FLORA:
Six species of mangroves, several species of herbs, grasses and shrubs and 120 species of algae.
FAUNA:
Colourful sponges and corals (see pictures) including 42 hard coral and 10 soft coral species, sea anemones, jelly fishes, sea horse, octopus, pearl oyster, sabela, starfish, bonellia, sepia, lobster, crabs, prawns, sea turtles, dolphin, dugong, porpoise, shark, etc.
MANGROVE FOREST:
The mangroves grow in saline soils in the coastal areas along the shores. They survive in difficult conditions of high salinity, low oxygen and nutrient availability in the soil, wind and wave action and substrate instability.
Forest department bans tourists from visiting famed Pirotan island after widespread damage to corals
DILIP PATEL
The state Forest Department has finally bitten the bullet. The ecologically fragile Pirotan island in the Bay of Kutch is offlimits for tourists.
The 5000-odd eco-tourists who visit the island every year, mostly in the winter months, will have to now be content with Narara island, said Forest and Environment Secretary S K Nanda.
“Many visitors prefer to walk on the sea bed to get a better view and feel of the corals. While they experience it first hand, they damage the soft corals. Once damaged, it takes nearly 50 years to form coral polyps,” Nanda said. The island will remain open to researchers, however, Nanda said.
Disappointed eco-tourists can take heart from the fact that they will be allowed to go to Narara island, about 18 nautical miles from Pirotan island. Tourists usually go to Bedi port, about 7 km from Jamnagar, to travel to Pirotan. Narara can be accessed from Vadinar port, about 7 km away.
“Narara island offers quite diverse marine life. Tourists will get to see almost identical eco-system. Besides, it is easily accessible as they can walk over to the island during low tide,” Nanda said.
According to marine officials, the decision to close Pirotan for tourists was taken after widespread damage to the eco-system was reported by experts.
“Tourists generally spend up to 12 hours on the island once they cross over to it. They have to wait for the next high tide to return. As they have ample time at their command, they walk on the beach and in the shallow waters, damaging the fragile corals,” Deputy Conservator of Forest P H Sata said.
Narara has been kept open because tourists can return to the mainland after spending a couple of hours.
“No tourist for Pirotan is good news for corals formation and preservation,” Sata said.
Incidentally, the state government is jointly implementing a federal and World Bank project aimed at restoration of coral reefs and mangrove forests at a cost of Rs 350 crore.
THE ISLANDS
PIROTAN AND Narara are among the 42 coral islands within the Marine National Park in the Bay of Kutch, off Jamnagar. The park is spread over 162 sq km while 457 sq km area is declared a sanctuary. A total of 712 sq km area is treated as protected area.
NARARA:
It is one of the important tourists’ destinations. Although Narara is an island, it is well connected with the mainland. It is also known for its vast inter-tidal zone, facilitating viewing of marine invertebrates. It is a good nature education site.
PIROTAN:
It is another tourist attraction where all kinds of invertebrates are easily visible. Tourists have to wait for high tide to reach the island by boat from the creeks (20 nautical miles). There is a time gap of 12 hours between two high tides in a day. Therefore, once tourists cross the creek to the island, they are able to return only during next tide after about 12 hours.
FLORA:
Six species of mangroves, several species of herbs, grasses and shrubs and 120 species of algae.
FAUNA:
Colourful sponges and corals (see pictures) including 42 hard coral and 10 soft coral species, sea anemones, jelly fishes, sea horse, octopus, pearl oyster, sabela, starfish, bonellia, sepia, lobster, crabs, prawns, sea turtles, dolphin, dugong, porpoise, shark, etc.
MANGROVE FOREST:
The mangroves grow in saline soils in the coastal areas along the shores. They survive in difficult conditions of high salinity, low oxygen and nutrient availability in the soil, wind and wave action and substrate instability.
Forest department bans tourists from visiting famed Pirotan island after widespread damage to corals
DILIP PATEL
The state Forest Department has finally bitten the bullet. The ecologically fragile Pirotan island in the Bay of Kutch is offlimits for tourists.
The 5000-odd eco-tourists who visit the island every year, mostly in the winter months, will have to now be content with Narara island, said Forest and Environment Secretary S K Nanda.
“Many visitors prefer to walk on the sea bed to get a better view and feel of the corals. While they experience it first hand, they damage the soft corals. Once damaged, it takes nearly 50 years to form coral polyps,” Nanda said. The island will remain open to researchers, however, Nanda said.
Disappointed eco-tourists can take heart from the fact that they will be allowed to go to Narara island, about 18 nautical miles from Pirotan island. Tourists usually go to Bedi port, about 7 km from Jamnagar, to travel to Pirotan. Narara can be accessed from Vadinar port, about 7 km away.
“Narara island offers quite diverse marine life. Tourists will get to see almost identical eco-system. Besides, it is easily accessible as they can walk over to the island during low tide,” Nanda said.
According to marine officials, the decision to close Pirotan for tourists was taken after widespread damage to the eco-system was reported by experts.
“Tourists generally spend up to 12 hours on the island once they cross over to it. They have to wait for the next high tide to return. As they have ample time at their command, they walk on the beach and in the shallow waters, damaging the fragile corals,” Deputy Conservator of Forest P H Sata said.
Narara has been kept open because tourists can return to the mainland after spending a couple of hours.
“No tourist for Pirotan is good news for corals formation and preservation,” Sata said.
Incidentally, the state government is jointly implementing a federal and World Bank project aimed at restoration of coral reefs and mangrove forests at a cost of Rs 350 crore.
THE ISLANDS
PIROTAN AND Narara are among the 42 coral islands within the Marine National Park in the Bay of Kutch, off Jamnagar. The park is spread over 162 sq km while 457 sq km area is declared a sanctuary. A total of 712 sq km area is treated as protected area.
NARARA:
It is one of the important tourists’ destinations. Although Narara is an island, it is well connected with the mainland. It is also known for its vast inter-tidal zone, facilitating viewing of marine invertebrates. It is a good nature education site.
PIROTAN:
It is another tourist attraction where all kinds of invertebrates are easily visible. Tourists have to wait for high tide to reach the island by boat from the creeks (20 nautical miles). There is a time gap of 12 hours between two high tides in a day. Therefore, once tourists cross the creek to the island, they are able to return only during next tide after about 12 hours.
FLORA:
Six species of mangroves, several species of herbs, grasses and shrubs and 120 species of algae.
FAUNA:
Colourful sponges and corals (see pictures) including 42 hard coral and 10 soft coral species, sea anemones, jelly fishes, sea horse, octopus, pearl oyster, sabela, starfish, bonellia, sepia, lobster, crabs, prawns, sea turtles, dolphin, dugong, porpoise, shark, etc.
MANGROVE FOREST:
The mangroves grow in saline soils in the coastal areas along the shores. They survive in difficult conditions of high salinity, low oxygen and nutrient availability in the soil, wind and wave action and substrate instability.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
GSRTC to launch ladies-only buses
50 buses to ply to Vadodara Rajkot and Surat; more routes in Phase II
DILIP PATEL
For the convenience of women, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) along with the State Transport Department will soon introduce 50 intercity buses exclusively for ladies. With a view to begin the services soon, GSRTC has already floated tenders for 1,760 buses. “We are keen to begin this special service soon as the demand for it has been pending for long. In the first phase, we will start 50 buses on Ahmedabad-Rajkot, Ahmedabad-Surat and Ahmedabad-Vadodara routes. The decision has been taken considering women’s security, said B K Sinha, principal secretary, Transport Department.
Working women had approached the department several times demanding specual buses. Maharashtra has some women-special buses plying on certain routes. “City buses and trains have special coaches and seats for women, but GSRTC does not have any special buses for women,” said Geeta Patel who commutes frequently between Ahmedabad and Rajkot.
GSRTC plans to add 2,000 new buses to its fleet by the end of 2010. In the next two years, the agency plans to purchase 3,500 buses to meet the increasing demand of commuters.
BUSES ON TOURIST ROUTES
THE TRANSPORT Department has come up with a proposal to run special buses on tourism routes which will cover Jamnagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Vadodara and Mehsana. These buses will run only on weekends , a department source said.
300 BUSES FOR KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR
FOR THE convenience of students, the department has also proposed to introduce 300 buses on 1,200 destinations along the knowledge corridor which is spread across Vallabh Vidyanagr, Changa, Ganpat and Vadodara.
DILIP PATEL
For the convenience of women, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) along with the State Transport Department will soon introduce 50 intercity buses exclusively for ladies. With a view to begin the services soon, GSRTC has already floated tenders for 1,760 buses. “We are keen to begin this special service soon as the demand for it has been pending for long. In the first phase, we will start 50 buses on Ahmedabad-Rajkot, Ahmedabad-Surat and Ahmedabad-Vadodara routes. The decision has been taken considering women’s security, said B K Sinha, principal secretary, Transport Department.
Working women had approached the department several times demanding specual buses. Maharashtra has some women-special buses plying on certain routes. “City buses and trains have special coaches and seats for women, but GSRTC does not have any special buses for women,” said Geeta Patel who commutes frequently between Ahmedabad and Rajkot.
GSRTC plans to add 2,000 new buses to its fleet by the end of 2010. In the next two years, the agency plans to purchase 3,500 buses to meet the increasing demand of commuters.
BUSES ON TOURIST ROUTES
THE TRANSPORT Department has come up with a proposal to run special buses on tourism routes which will cover Jamnagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Vadodara and Mehsana. These buses will run only on weekends , a department source said.
300 BUSES FOR KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR
FOR THE convenience of students, the department has also proposed to introduce 300 buses on 1,200 destinations along the knowledge corridor which is spread across Vallabh Vidyanagr, Changa, Ganpat and Vadodara.
Gandhi memorial in gandhinagar
Work on Gandhi memorial begins in Gandhinagar
Mahatma Mandir promises to be the second most important attraction after the Sabarmati Ashram for tourists seeking to know more about Bapu
DILIP PATEL
The construction of a memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhinagar has begun. The memorial, called Mahatma Mandir, is coming up on an area spread over 60,000 sq mt beside the Gandhinagar railway station.
It promises to be the second most important attraction after the Sabarmati Ashram for foreign tourists seeking to know more about the Father of the Nation.
A host of structures, including a concrete mound to be called ‘Salt Mountain’, will be built on the sprawling premises.
The mound-like structure will house a meditation hall and a museum. A convention centre, three halls and a bridge depicting the Dandi Bridge will also be constructed. Interestingly, the terraces of the three halls will have lush lawns.
A giant charkha, murals and sculptures depicting 365 most important events of Bapu’s life — including those related to his stay in South Africa — be among the key attractions at Mahatma Mandir.
The entire project will cost the
government Rs 132 crore.
NEXT VIBRANT SUMMIT TO BE HELD AT MAHATMA MANDIR
CERTAIN SECTIONS of the memorial, which will have many green spaces, are expected to ready by 2011. This is because the state government wants to hold the next Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) there. A lush green corridor, Central Vista, will lead to Mahatma Mandir from the state assembly
Mahatma Mandir promises to be the second most important attraction after the Sabarmati Ashram for tourists seeking to know more about Bapu
DILIP PATEL
The construction of a memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhinagar has begun. The memorial, called Mahatma Mandir, is coming up on an area spread over 60,000 sq mt beside the Gandhinagar railway station.
It promises to be the second most important attraction after the Sabarmati Ashram for foreign tourists seeking to know more about the Father of the Nation.
A host of structures, including a concrete mound to be called ‘Salt Mountain’, will be built on the sprawling premises.
The mound-like structure will house a meditation hall and a museum. A convention centre, three halls and a bridge depicting the Dandi Bridge will also be constructed. Interestingly, the terraces of the three halls will have lush lawns.
A giant charkha, murals and sculptures depicting 365 most important events of Bapu’s life — including those related to his stay in South Africa — be among the key attractions at Mahatma Mandir.
The entire project will cost the
government Rs 132 crore.
NEXT VIBRANT SUMMIT TO BE HELD AT MAHATMA MANDIR
CERTAIN SECTIONS of the memorial, which will have many green spaces, are expected to ready by 2011. This is because the state government wants to hold the next Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) there. A lush green corridor, Central Vista, will lead to Mahatma Mandir from the state assembly
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