NRGs look for investment in Gujarat as US faces threats Sunday, October 28, 2001
BY PRIYA ADHYARU-MAJITHIA, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: Osama bin Laden's chilling threat of more attacks from the skies seems to have had its desired effect.
Americans today are a scared people, ready to vent their frustration at any one who even vaguely looks like a terrorist to their geographically-ignorant eyes. As a result, many Non-Resident Gujaratis have started investing back into their homeland to escape an increasingly anti-immigrant environment in their adopted country.
"The Indian community has received a few hate mail messages," confirms Sumir Meghani of Stanford University Hindu Council. "We are worried that racial profiling by the authorities may target Hindus and Sikhs. Many NRIs undertake outings and travel only when it is absolutely necessary."
Anxious to safeguard their hard-earned money, NRGs are busy searching for the safest investment options in their home towns. "Many Gujaratis in the US are considering investing in their native land.
The inquires are rising as the war goes on," says Vijay Shah, director of Gujarat Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. The first beneficiaries are real estate agents in Ahmedabad as this has traditional favourite for NRG investment. "The property market is a considerably cool investment option," says Rajesh Thakkar, an NRG. "The recession and steady land prices are attracting the frightened NRGs."
Nilesh Patel, a chartered accountant from Chicago, says the trend of investing back home emerged long ago. "However, in the wake of the war, more than 60 per cent of NRGs prefer to have a second base in Gujarat. Not putting all your eggs in a single basket is the logic."
"NRGs find investing here easier than before," avers Mahesh Mistry, an NRG and a retired banker. "Investing in banks seems less attractive because of the low interest rates. Land is a good option."
Mistry's sentiments are echoed by Dinesh Patel, president of the Gujarat Institute of Housing & Estate Developers. "This is the right time for investment when the property market has become a buyers' market," he says. Better construction rules and more transparency in the construction business have also led to the increased interest.
Sighting examples of NRGs investing in real estate in the city, Vijay Shah mentions industrialists based in London who have invested in office and residential properties in the city, and clients from the US who have invested in thousands of acres of farm land.
"This trend has picked up in Gujarat with stricter General Development Control Regulation (GDCR) laws and other construction by-laws in place after earthquake." The cancellation of Rent Control Act has also made it easier for NRGs to invest in property and create income, says Shah. Today, landlords have the right to have the property vacated when the lease expires.
Adds Sanjay Patel, a real estate consultant, "The trend is not only because Ahmedabad is a developing metro but also because, compared to any other developing city like Pune, Bangalore and Hydrabad, land is cheap in Ahmedabad."
However, Anil Bakeri, one of Ahmedabad's top builders, says the rising inquiries from NRGs seem impulsive. "In the past NRGs have burnt their fingers by investing in property here. And this time due to lack of faith in builders, NRGs will take a calculative and calm action, and not jump for investment."
Kishor Dedhia of Space Management says, "NRGs from Middle East invest here because they can't invest there. And to attract NRGs from other countries, the local builders need to be bring in more transparency."
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Garba organisers' woes compounded by cops Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: With a man having been murdered by drunken louts after resisting eve-teasers who harassed his wife for quite a while and a wrist watch godown reporting a Rs 1.5 crore theft by a gang which came nonchalantly in a mini-truck , one would be wondering what the police was up to during the Navratri celebrations in Ahmedabad.
Many garba organisers have the answer. The festivities are over but rampant bullying by the police throughout the nine nights has left a bitter after-taste for most organisers who are even wish to talk to authorities. Some garba organisers were of course smart enough to invite the police commissioner P C Pande himself as the chief guest so as to lessen the nuisance from the lower ranks.
"It starts from seeking licence to organise garba and extends right up to the entry gates. Every step you take, you are either expected to make commitments of gifting chunk of 50 to 500 passes or be ready to generously grease palms. Unless you comply, you don't stand a chance to get things cleared in your favour", confides a garba organiser.
If these pre-Navratri blues are not enough, the big brothers continue to throw their weight around during the festivities. Incidents of police personnel landing at the gates seeking uninterrupted entry without having to show passes is the most dreaded but oft-occurring bane.
"On the last day of Navratri, some eight police trainees landed at the entry-gate of our garba and refused to show passes. When pressed by the security guards, they raised quite a storm and bashed up a few of the guards and my office-men and the local police had to be summoned to intervene. And the irony of it is that they had passes in their pockets but did not want to show", laments president of All Gujarat Festival Cultural Association Himanshu Shah, main organiser of the SOI-Dandiya Dhamaal.
He says the association plans to urge the police to support security outside the venue. "Gate security should be supported by the police because there is a limit to the kind of security we can provide by hiring private guards. Just like the police is duty-bound to maintain security during polls or any public event, it should extend support during Navratri, too. After all the festival is a big event where there is large congregation of people in public places", pleads Shah.
But that, say other organisers, would only complicate the issue as the cops would insist on permitting everyone they know inside the venue without passes.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Chudasma endorses genetic cotton seed for its yield Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: Former agriculture minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma has favoured cultivation of genetically engineered cotton as its quality and yield were far better than traditional cotton produced in Saurashtra and central and south Gujarat districts.
While talking to TNN, Chudasma opined that "There was nothing wrong in going ahead with cultivation of genetic cotton which has been accepted by several European countries and even China."
The state government, he said, should encourage the cultivation of such cotton on experimental basis and later the agriculture department and federation of cotton growers could study the results of a new experience and work out a plan for cultivation of genetic cotton.
During his tenure as agriculture minister Chudasma had evinced keen interest in introducing high breed cotton seeds which have shown results and the production had increased considerably.
A leading farmer and chairman of Gujarat State Co-operative bank Jayrambhai Patel has also endorsed the new technique saying that the government should come forward in supplying certified seeds of genetic cotton to avoid the current controversy on destruction of genetic cotton grown in thousands of acres in the state.
Patel said that the government should direct the Gujarat Agricultural University to undertake a pilot project with the help of experts from various agricultural research institutes and later on evolve a policy on cultivation of cotton.
Instead of going haphazard growing of genetic cotton the cotton growers should be educated about advantages and disadvantages of the new variety of cotton the yield of which was more than other varieties of the commodity.
The Gujarat Cotton Growers Federation (GUJCOT) should also prepare its own report on feasibility of genetic cotton in the state and organise workshops and seminars to ascertain federation members' views on the new variety as cotton growers were scared of spurious seeds being marketed in the state.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Cable channels go off air at many areas Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: Many residents of Vadodara are finding it difficult to combat the post-Navratri hangover thanks to the "technical error" that led many popular channels like Star Sports and Zee network going off air.
Those who were keenly awaiting the South Africa-India match on Friday (public holiday) too were disappointed. Residents in many city areas also complained that in addition to the match, they were also unable to view any of the Zee channels due to what their cable operators termed was a "technical" error.
Residents in areas like Alkapuri, Makarpura, Gotri, Akota and Sama found it difficult to combat the "Navratri hangover" after the end of the nine nights of revelry.
Those who wanted to stay at home and nurse their aches and pains from dancing were disappointed to find that many of their favourite channels were not on air. "I was looking forward to watch the South Africa-India match, but the channel was not on air in my area. The local cable operator was unable to get the connection due to what he terms is 'a minor cable fault'. But it ruined my holiday," said Amit Patel, a resident of Alkapuri.
Similar complaints came from many other cricket buffs in Sama and Makarpura areas too where cable operators were unable to give their customers the Star Sports channel. Despite strict norms issued by the district entertainment department asking cable operators to ensure quality transmission of channels, most citizens had to contend with similar irregular broadcast. "Sometimes, channels just go off air, and at other times some important channels are not available. This despite us paying regular charges to the cable operator," said one resident of Akota.
According Manisha P, a housewife, there should be strict monitoring and action against such erratic cable suppliers. "We are unable to do much if the operator says the connection is off due to technical errors as there are no other cable operators we can opt for in our area. This makes it difficult for us, and we have to continue paying regular fees and yet suffer due to such repeated 'technical faults'," she said.
Sources reveal that such cable failure is mainly caused due to non-payment of requisite fee by the cable operators to the main supplier. "Many cable operators under-report the actual number of cable connections which they give out. They default on paying the main channel suppliers, and this leads to disconnection of cable lines," said one cable operator. The district entertainment mamlatdar was not available for comment.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Modi to visit Surat today Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
SURAT: Though apparent enthusiasm could be seen among scores of BJP workers across the city on the eve of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit here on Sunday, but party ranks are keeping their fingers crossed on what seems to be an assessment visit to curb the local unit's organisational downslide.
City MP and Union textiles minister Kashiram Rana said Modi's visit could give a fillip to the beleaguered party's image, presently ridden by factionalism. He felt it would bridge the widening gap between the organisation and party workers at all levels.
Former city mayor Fakir Chauhan, however, said it is too early to say if Modi's visit can strengthen the party. But his interaction with party workers would definitely boost their morale, he added.
City BJP president Kishore Wanakawala, however, is confident that Modi's visit would definitely bring a new wave of enthusiasm among party workers.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
