Another Vadodara boy has made to Indian Team Wednesday, October 24, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: Another Vadodara boy has made it to the national cricket team, riding on his excellent domestic record and the Indian team's search for an ideal opener for Tests on South Africa's bouncy wickets. With Vadodara Ranji captain and elegant left-hand opening batsman Connor Williams being picked up for the Test series, the city keeps up its tradition of contributing to Indian cricket.
"I am really happy to have been chosen though it has not come as a total surprise. I had an expectation since my knocks in the recent Irani Trophy in Nagpur. I will put in my best and make the most of this opportunity," Connor told TNN from Mumbai.
Though Connor was knocking on the doors of the Indian team that has been hard pressed to solve its opening problem, many feel that the two sterling knocks of 143 and 83 that he played during the Irani Trophy paved the way for his entry.
And, if Connor does win his India cap, he would be pairing up with his opening partner Shiv Sundar Das with whom he opened for India A team against Pakistan A team during a match in Abu Dhabi.
"Connor's selection has made us all happy. We are delighted. His hard work has paid off and I know he will put in his best," said an exalted Cecil R Williams, father of Connor, who has also captained the Vadodara Ranji side.
"Connor is an ideal opening batsman. He is tough and his technique is perfect. He has experience of about six to seven years of first class cricket and I am sure he will do a good job. It's a great achievement for Vadodara," says former Indian keeper Kiran More, who has coached Connor.
Incidentally, it was Kiran More who got Connor to open the innings. "He began his career as a middle-order batsman. It was More who suggested that Connor had the technique to open an innings. And, the efforts have paid off," said CR Williams.
While Connor began representing Vadodara in the Ranji Trophy matches since 1993-94, he scored his first century as an opener against Punjab in 1995-96. He has already scored more than 3,000 first class runs with six centuries and a double century.
Connor has not only played an important role in taking Vadodara to the Ranji Trophy championship this season, he scored 720 runs at an average of 52 in 2000-2001, 600 runs with an average of 60 in 1999-2000 and 585 runs in 1998-1999 with an average of 62.
Here's wishing him all the best!
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Infant's death in City Gold exposes political chinks Wednesday, October 24, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The death of 13-month-old Agastya Bhatt appears to have exposed political links in the City Gold cine-multiplex, the mention of which were hitherto considered taboo since the earthquake. Curiously, son of former state revenue minister Vajubhai Vala, Bhavdeep, admitted publicly on Tuesday that he had withdrawn his shares and resigned as director from the Sujas Members Association of Sujas Entertainment which built City Gold.
Vala's admission in a public notice published in all major newspapers is not merely incidental, coming as it does after the multiplex got caught in another whirlpool of controversy following the infant's death. Agastya drowned in the 10 feet deep water sump located in the cine-multiplex premises last Friday, but the family which is recovering from the trauma has not yet lodged a complaint with the police.
What prompted Vala to declare that he had resigned as director and shareholder from the City Gold project three months after he submitted his resignation, (he claims to have resigned on July 2) is still a mystery. When contacted, Bhavdeep Vala denied that there was any connection between his declaration and the accident. "It was necessary so that nobody misuses Vajubhai's name to bring pressure in case a legal notice has to be served," he said.
Asked why he had withdrawn from the project, he said, "I am building a multiplex right here in Rajkot and find it difficult to come to Ahmedabad all the time. Moreover there were people bothering me for tickets and all that ... ," he confessed.
But Bhavdeep is clear that his business stakes in Ahmedabad were only restricted to the theatre bit of City Gold and nothing else. "I am not interested in politics and my father is not involved in my business, just because I was friendly with Sanjay Agrawal (Chimanbhai Agrawal's son), I took this up," he said.
Chimanbhai Agrawal flatly denied that there was negligence involved in the accident and added that "Vala's declaration of his resignation was long overdue." Denying that there was any political or business pressure on him, he said "Vala wanted to restrict himself to Rajkot".
The Navrangpura police station took cognisance of the incident by making an entry under 'accidental death' and is investigating into the case of Agastya's death.
Meanwhile, the Citizens Council Ahmedabad has written to the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court requesting his intervention in the matter. Chairman Hariprasad Vyas and co-ordinator Ranjit Singh Dhillon of CCA have demanded that the owners of the complex be brought to book and the multiplex be closed down immediately. A similar letter has also been shot to the Chief Justice by the Lokshahi Suraksha Sangathan, Vijay Mistry from the Sangathan told TNN.
Police officials opine, "it will be considered an accident unless proved otherwise." Incidentally, this is not the first accident in this premise after a painter suspended from a cord to touch up the multiplex's exterior, slipped to his death some six months back.
Today the police has evidence to prove that there was negligence on the part of the painting contractor involved "since the cord had thinned at certain points and was already weak when the labourer was using it," said a police officer investigating the case.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
CERS moves power panel on AEC bills Wednesday, October 24, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: Consumer Education and Research Society has, on the basis of complaints received from consumers, filed a petition before Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission against the Ahmedabad Electricity Company regarding overcharging.
CERS has claimed that the overcharging is a result of meters continuing to run even when there is no load at the consumer's end, change in the date of meter-reading for AEC's convenience and abrupt replacement of existing meters with electronic ones.
CERS has stated that this is clearly a violation of rule 57(2) of the Indian Electricity Rules (1956) which states "no meter shall register at no load".
It has brought to the notice of GERC that random check of meters by representatives of CERS, AEC and the Inspector of Electricity found that a significant number of these showed consumption at "no load".
CERS has estimated that the total amount overcharged on this account may be as high as Rs 60.56 lakh a month. There are about 11 lakh AEC consumers.
As for changing the date of meter-reading to suit AEC's convenience, CERS has said in such cases AEC had altered the approved tariff slab rates to the disadvantage of consumers. With the addition of electricity duty and sales tax , the amount overcharged is substantial.
About abrupt replacement of existing meters with electronic ones, CERS has said several consumers had complained that the consumption recorded after the change of meters is higher though there is no change in usage pattern. AEC has not given prior intimation of replacement of meters as required under Section 14 of 'conditions of supply and miscellaneous charges' of AEC and Section 26(4) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 which permits removal of meter for testing purposes alone.
CERS has suggested that to give "fair and proper justice" to consumers, there should be third-party inspection of energy meters. It has also suggested that consumers should be permitted to install their own ISI-tested meters so that they are not required to pay meter rent to AEC.
CERS has filed the petition as AEC had not responded satisfactorily to the above matters when it was taken up with it earlier. CERS has also requested GERC to ask AEC to place the disputed amounts of recovery in a separate account till the matter is sorted out.
CERS submission
In a related development, CERS has filed a submission urging GERC to approve AEC's proposal to purchase power directly from a source other than Gujarat Electricity Board.
CERS has pointed out that apart from GEB's inability to meet the requirement of AEC in full, the power offered by another party is at a rate lower than charged by GEB. Permitting AEC to purchase power from non-GEB sources will enable it to supply adequate power at lower rates to the benefit of consumers.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
AMC convenes meeting of restaurateurs Wednesday, October 24, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Tuesday held a meeting with around 700 hoteliers and restaurant owners of the city to discuss steps to ensure hygiene at the eateries.
Mayor Himmat Singh Patel urged the hoteliers to ensure supply of hygienic food, especially during festival time when more people frequented the food joints.
He warned them of harsh steps to prevent cases of food poisoning and asserted that AMC would never compromise on the health of its citizens.
Standing committee chairman Badruddin Sheikh said owners of food joints owners should co-operate with the authorities in ensuring strict hygiene levels for the benefit of the public.
Health committee chairman Narendra Brahmbhatt pointed out that AMC spends Rs 40 crore to ensure proper hygienic standards at hotels and restaurants while it raised only Rs 50 lakh through issuing health licences.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Surat in brief on 23rd Oct. 2001 Wednesday, October 24, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Export awards function
SURAT: The South Gujarat Textiles Exporters Association will organise an export awards function on October 27. Union minister of textiles Kashiram Rana would be the chief guest, said a press note.
SMC reshuffle
The Surat Municipal Corporation commissioner on Monday ordered massive internal transfers of senior level officers for administrative convenience, said an official press note.
Alumni meet
SVR College of Engineering & Technology will organise its first alumni meet on October 31, according to a press note.
Valuables stolen
Valuables and cash worth Rs 11,000 were stolen by unidentified persons from the living quarters of the civil hospital on Monday.
Athletic meet
An athletic meet for visually challenged persons of the state is being organised by the Manubhai Pithbathiwala Charitable Trust on October 28, said a press note.
Man stabbed
A 30-year-old man was stabbed to death near Athwalines on Monday following an altercation with a passer-by, police sources said.
Nirmal Hospital
City-based Nirmal Children Hospital will be expanded into a full-fledged general hospital from October 26, said a press note.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
