Modser residents all set to shift to newly-constructed village Tuesday, December 4, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
BHUJ: Thanks to efforts of villagers and the Kissan Sewa Fund, Modser village in Anjar taluka of Kutch district would soon become the first village in the state to be entirely relocated after the killer January 26 earthquake. Villagers here are all set to shift to the newly-constructed Modser village, situated off the Anjar-Bhuj state highway. Indian Farmers Fertilizers Co-operative Ltd (IFFCO) completed the work of constructing 173 houses within a record period of six months. These earthquake-proof houses were designed by Chennai-based Structure Research Centre and the Gujarat Disaster Management Cell. The Kissan Sewa Fund was set up on a permanent basis with an initial contribution of Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 crore from IFFCO and KRIBHCO, respectively. "Now all officers and employees have resolved to contribute Rs 10 every month from their salaries towards the fund," said S K Mishra, IFFCO's senior general manager (Kandla). He said the funds will be used to meet any eventuality in the future. Mishra said plans are afoot to repair and construct check dams at the earthquake-ravaged villages of Pantiya, Modser, Zaru, Veera, Jogninar, Mathak, Vadaliya and Hirapar in Anjar taluka. In addition, 24 panchayat 'ghars', 18 veterinary clinics and school buildings will also be constructed, while 66 godowns belonging to the co-operative sector in Kutch and Saurashtra will be repaired. Mishra added that though IFFCO, Kandla, incurred a financial loss of Rs 43 crore and spent Rs 31 lakh towards relief operations after the earthquake, the company's production level has increased and expects to meet all targets. Bhuj Mercantile Bank, First Remit in money transfer pact BHUJ: Bhuj Mercantile Co-operative Bank (BMCB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dublin-based First Remit, to introduce a hi-tech fund transfer service from 54 centres across the globe. "Non-resident Kutchis can now transfer money within minutes via this internet-backed First Remit service," said Mahendra H Morabia, the bank's chairman. Morabia said the bank has introduced a BMCB Rojgar Yojna scheme for those who pay daily interest to money-lenders. Those identified under the scheme will be given soft loans and covered under an accident policy, he said. The bank also has plans to open three more branches in Mundra, Ahmedabad and Surendranagar, Morabia added. Tremors felt in Kutch BHUJ: Tremors measuring 4.3 on the Richter Scale were felt in the earthquake-ravaged district of Kutch at around 3.33 am on Sunday. Bhuj, Anjar, Gandhidham and Bhachau, which experienced the tremors, witnessed chaotic scenes with people living in multi-storeyed buildings rushing out to the open.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Modser residents all set to shift to newly-constructed village Tuesday, December 4, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
BHUJ: Thanks to efforts of villagers and the Kissan Sewa Fund, Modser village in Anjar taluka of Kutch district would soon become the first village in the state to be entirely relocated after the killer January 26 earthquake. Villagers here are all set to shift to the newly-constructed Modser village, situated off the Anjar-Bhuj state highway. Indian Farmers Fertilizers Co-operative Ltd (IFFCO) completed the work of constructing 173 houses within a record period of six months. These earthquake-proof houses were designed by Chennai-based Structure Research Centre and the Gujarat Disaster Management Cell. The Kissan Sewa Fund was set up on a permanent basis with an initial contribution of Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 crore from IFFCO and KRIBHCO, respectively. "Now all officers and employees have resolved to contribute Rs 10 every month from their salaries towards the fund," said S K Mishra, IFFCO's senior general manager (Kandla). He said the funds will be used to meet any eventuality in the future. Mishra said plans are afoot to repair and construct check dams at the earthquake-ravaged villages of Pantiya, Modser, Zaru, Veera, Jogninar, Mathak, Vadaliya and Hirapar in Anjar taluka. In addition, 24 panchayat 'ghars', 18 veterinary clinics and school buildings will also be constructed, while 66 godowns belonging to the co-operative sector in Kutch and Saurashtra will be repaired. Mishra added that though IFFCO, Kandla, incurred a financial loss of Rs 43 crore and spent Rs 31 lakh towards relief operations after the earthquake, the company's production level has increased and expects to meet all targets. Bhuj Mercantile Bank, First Remit in money transfer pact BHUJ: Bhuj Mercantile Co-operative Bank (BMCB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dublin-based First Remit, to introduce a hi-tech fund transfer service from 54 centres across the globe. "Non-resident Kutchis can now transfer money within minutes via this internet-backed First Remit service," said Mahendra H Morabia, the bank's chairman. Morabia said the bank has introduced a BMCB Rojgar Yojna scheme for those who pay daily interest to money-lenders. Those identified under the scheme will be given soft loans and covered under an accident policy, he said. The bank also has plans to open three more branches in Mundra, Ahmedabad and Surendranagar, Morabia added. Tremors felt in Kutch BHUJ: Tremors measuring 4.3 on the Richter Scale were felt in the earthquake-ravaged district of Kutch at around 3.33 am on Sunday. Bhuj, Anjar, Gandhidham and Bhachau, which experienced the tremors, witnessed chaotic scenes with people living in multi-storeyed buildings rushing out to the open.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Number of food-related diseases rising, say doctors Tuesday, December 4, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
VADODARA: It is that time of the year when food-related ailments are on the rise in the city. And, this despite weather getting cold, which is otherwise not very conducive for the spread of such diseases. Unhygienic condition of storing food and adulteration of food items is said to be the reason for the current state of affairs. Earlier, Diwali had kept the Vadodara Municipal Corporation officials on their toes. Now, it is time for them to keep vigil on eating joints doing business at night as people eat out in the later part of the day due to the holy month of Ramzan. According to VMC officials, checking stocks of food is a common practice in this period. Food items which are most susceptible to adulteration range from milk products to gram flour. Officials point out that the menace is not limited to products sold loose, but also plagues packed items. In an intensive drive before and during Diwali, corporation officials had registered several such cases. In one such incident, a leading sweet and 'farsan' dealer in Raopura area of the city, Shri Nasta House, was found selling a sweet item cooked in 'adulterated' ghee. An analysis of the sample of the sweet showed that it did not have ghee at all. Alarmed by the incident, the corporation launched a major investigation to find the root of the racket involving the supply of 'duplicate' ghee. After identifying the supplier of the stock, three packed tins were opened at the shop and samples were tested. It was found that while two tins had adulterated ghee, one did not have ghee at all. The material was something else. These and similar incidents have alarmed the population of the city which often eats out or purchases pre-cooked food items. "There is a strong suspicion in my mind when I purchase sweets from a shop which is not very well known or from where I have not bought things in the past. There is always the risk that the colours or other material used there might be adulterated," said Meenu Jain, a housewife. For similar reasons, a large section of people have started switching over to packed items like flours and spices. "Packed and branded items assure quality to a large extent. This is often not the case when one purchases grocery loose," said Vikas Sahai, a resident of Raopura area. While eating out on roadside 'larris' at night may be popular in the month of Ramzan, many deliberately keep away fearing unhygienic conditions. "The food may be good in taste, but is often not sold in clean environment. I usually stay away from eating at such places," said Shabbir Shaikh, a resident of Vasna. Doctors point out that consumption of adulterated food can lead to diseases like jaundice, cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea. "Unhygienic cold foods are the biggest culprits. The situation these days is serious and many cases of such diseases are coming in," said leading physician Dr Sanjay Pandit. According to Dr Pandit, consumption of food sold in unhygienic conditions might show immediate effects on a person's health. "However, adulteration of food items shows its symptoms after long. It has a accumulated effect if consumed over prolonged periods. The symptoms and ailments differ based on the adulterant used," Pandit said. In the line of fire Deputy municipal commissioner and local health authority Jayantkumar Sevak "Adulteration of food items does take place. We are making serious attempts to curb the menace. Every week, the authorities detect a couple of such cases. The corporation has its own lab which checks the samples. Large-scale disposal of contaminated and unhygienic food is done before festivals. Besides, food sold in the open we regularly check samples of packed food items and take action whenever adulteration is detected. The municipal court has registered cases and people have been convicted. A person can be imprisoned if found involved in such practices. Complaints can be made to the VMC complaint cell. Telephone number: 434216.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
HUDCO sanctions Rs 721 cr loan for quake hit region Tuesday, December 4, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: HUDCO has sanctioned 5 major water supply and drainage schemes with a project cost of Rs 953.61 crore and a HUDCO loan assistance of Rs 721.50 crore in the state of Gujarat for the earthquake-affected regions. This was disclosed by V Suresh, Chairman and Managing Director, HUDCO, in New Delhi. Giving details of the schemes, Suresh indicated that these include major bulk water transmission pipeline projects in Kutch, Rajkot and Jamnagar districts besides the underground drainage scheme in Jamnagar. Suresh stressed that these schemes would significantly improve the quality of life of the people living in the regions affected recently by the recent earthquake. Gujarat has also faced drought situations time and again. Insufficient and irregular rainfall during the monsoon of 1999 had caused a severe drought situation in summer of 2000. All the reservoirs in Saurashtra and Kutch region had gone dry. Considering the emergent need of supply of water to Kutch, Rajkot and Jamnagar districts, the option of drawing water from the Maliya canal can be considered, 500 MLD water can be drawn from Maliya Canal offtake. About 400 MLD can be transmitted through a trunk transmission pipeline to Morvi. About 381.89 MLD will be taken to Tanakara, Wankaner and 220 MLD to Jamnagar. From Maliya 100 MLD can be taken to Kutch. The bulk water transmission scheme for Rajkot and Jamnagar districts has been sanctioned by HUDCO with a project cost or Rs. 429.41 crore and a loan assistance of Rs. 343 crore to be implemented by the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB). The scheme provides to cover 5 talukas in the Rajkot and Jamnagar districts through a network of 113 km of transmission lines that would benefit 11 towns and 438 villages with increased availability of drinking water. \ Bulk water transmission pipeline project for Tankara-Jamnagar section in Saurashtra region has been sanctioned with a project cost of Rs 135.50 crore and loan assistance of Rs 95 crore. This scheme would benefit 203 villages and Jamnagar town. This project would be implemented by Gujarat Water Infrastructure Company Ltd. (GWICL). The Maliya, Bhachau bulk water transmission pipeline project in Kutch to be implemented by GWSSB has also been sanctioned by HUDCO with a project cost of Rs 169.11 crore and a loan assistance of Rs 135 crore. The project envisages laying of 63.2 km of pipelines. The project area of Kutch district covered under this package. This area includes 9 talukas covering 10 towns and 949 villages. Another scheme for bulk water transmission pipeline has been sanctioned for Bhachau-Anjar Kukma section in Kutch district with a project cost of Rs 177.22 crore and HUDCO's loan assistance of Rs 124 crore. This project would be implemented by Gujarat Infrastructure Company Ltd. (GWICL). The scheme would benefit 948 villages and 10 towns in the district. Suresh also gave details of the underground drainage scheme sanctioned by HUDCO to the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation with a project of Rs 42.37 crore and HUDCO loan assistance of Rs 24.5 crore. The project aims to provide drainage system and disposal facility in Jamnagar city through underground drainage scheme with appropriate treatment facilities. The scheme has been formulated in the wake of severe environment problems due to open surface drains covering the entire city especially during the monsoons. A total of 30,000 house connections are proposed to provided under the scheme.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Jamnagar :: Naval chief visits INS Valsura Tuesday, December 4, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
RAJKOT: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sushil Kumar visited INS Valsura on the outskirts of Jamnagar city on Sunday. In his address after taking the salute, the Navy chief called upon the cadets at INS Valsura to keep pace with the changing technology in the field of electrical and electronic engineering. Admiral Kumar also the Navy Moda village, which was adopted and rebuilt by the Navy after the earthquake. He also visited Pipavav port and reviewed its potential to be an alternative base during times of hostility. Earlier, an open half marathon race was organised at Jamnagar as part of the Navy Day celebrations. As many as 527 participants took part in the 21-km race. INS Valsura will celebrate Navy Day on December 4.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
