Chaos on Rajkot roads continues Wednesday, November 28, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
RAJKOT: The expectations raised by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation's promise to publish a preliminary report, detailing steps to resolve the city's traffic problems, have come to nought.
The report, to be prepared at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, was to be made public within a month, but is yet to see the light of the day though almost two months have passed.
The city has been plagued by perennial traffic problems which has led to chaos on roads. The city police had organised seminars and workshops and invited suggestions from the public to arrive at a solution to the vexed issue, but all these failed to yielded any result.
Even as the police were searching in vain for a solution, the municipal corporation stepped into the arena, asking an expert team to conduct a survey and offer solutions.
The city engineer of the civic body had promised that he would come with a plan which would ease traffic jams, rampant in the city, and ensure smooth flow of vehicles. He had also promised to suggest the necessary changes to be made at major intersections.
However, the city engineer's move failed to convince many experts who pointed out that the people themselves know which are the points in the city plagued by frequent traffic jams. But neither the civic body nor the traffic police were making a concerted bid to solve the issue.
It is common knowledge that the worst-affected by traffic congestion is the road from Nagrik Bank leading to session court with vegetable market falling in between.
The road is a driver's nightmare with the vegetable vendors transacting business right on the middle, allegedly with the 'blessings' of the traffic police.
The fact that the traffic constable personnel posted there remain mute witness to the aggression of the vendors lends credibility to the allegation of 'haftas' changing hands.
On the stretch of the road from Rajkumar College to Malaviya Chowk, the footpaths have been encroached upon by fruit juice vendors. So comfortably ensconced are the 'juicewallahs' that the customers can have the stuff while sitting inside their cars or on the two wheelers.
What was once a footpath now houses nothing less than a dozen fruit juice stalls! Even though many a police mobile pass through the road, the cops prefer to turn a blind eye to the happenings right before them and also take care not to raise any objections to the encroachments.
Members of the public, always at the receiving end of the vendor-police nexus, have no other option, but to walk on the road rather than risk drawing the ire of the vendors by treading the footpath. Not surprisingly, the area has accounted for many fatal road mishaps!
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Surat’s diamond industry hopes hinge on X-Mas Wednesday, November 28, 2001
BY AMARENDRA JHA, FOR TIMES NEWS NETWORK
SURAT: Hit hard by the on-going economic recession and the September 11 attacks on the US, the diamond industry here is in dire straits, with a slump in export of processed precious metals by over 25 per cent.
However, there is a ray of hope, with the Christmas season approaching, which is usually a boom period for gems and jewellery in the Western world.
But, by all accounts, the current financial year will not match the statistics of the last financial year for the Indian diamond, gems and jewellery industry, according to trade analysts.
In the last financial year the Surat diamond industry exported processed diamonds, gems and jewellery worth over Rs 36,000 crore.
Following the terrorists attacks on the WTC and the subsequent fall out in the diamond trade centres located in Manhattan, the export to the US, which is a major buyer of Indian diamonds, gems and jewellery and accounts for over 50 per cent of the total export of precious metals from India, is likely to be less this year.
According to trade experts, no substantial advance trade commitments have taken place since September 11 and even payment on previous deals have got blocked due to factors involving multilateral trade obligations.
Export of gems and jewellery was less by 14 per cent during April and August this year, as compared to the corresponding period in the last financial year.
‘‘With Christmas approaching, there is hope of improved scenario in the international market,’’ according to Sanjay Kothari, chairman of Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, India.
He said that despite the slump India has been able to maintain its global market share, as compared to Belgium and Israel — the other two major exporters.
As far as China is concerned, despite its recent endeavours to grab a major market share in collaboration with multi-nationals and by way of incentives, no impact has been seen on the Indian diamond industry, Kothari elaborated.
To regain the share in the international market, exporters are also thinking of exploring other markets than the ones existing so far.
For this, several European countries are being studied for export purposes by the diamond exporters from India, according to sources in the industry here.
To tide over the crisis in view of the slump in exports the world over, Surat Diamond Manufacturers Association president Pravin Nanavati said that the domestic markets should be developed.
For this, he suggested that costing factors should be brought down by processing less expensive yellow or round diamonds, rather than white ones, which are almost four times costlier per carat.
Further, to counter the potential threats from China and other countries, the industry here needs to be oriented professionally with adequate input both at the men and machine levels, according to Indian Diamond Institute director K K Sharma.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
District police nabs link man Wednesday, November 28, 2001
SOURCE - TIME NEWS NETWORK
SURAT: One Kamrej-based Asif Alavi, operating as link man for gangsters from outside, was nabbed by the district police on Monday.
Alavi was involved in giving informations to one inter-state gang from UP, which was busted by the district police on November 8.
According to the police, Alavi had given information - in the November 8 incident - to the gang from UP about one local businessman, Raju Modi, that he (Modi) would go to a bank in Kamrej to deposit money. Accordingly, the gang tried to rob Modi, but their attempt was foiled. Three of the gang members were caught by the police.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Certificate of merit for SMC Wednesday, November 28, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
SURAT: The National Institute of Urban Affairs awarded SMC with the certificate of merit for its efforts in e-governance in the administration.
Pune, Coimbatore and Faridabad civic bodies were also awarded with the same certificate. Vishakapatnam Municipal Corporation was declared the best website holder civic agency in the country.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
SMC to install cameras at octroi checkposts Wednesday, November 28, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NETWORK NETWORK
SURAT: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) would soon install digital cameras at four main octroi checkposts here. The decision to this effect was taken on Monday to keep a check on octroi evasion.
According to Mayor Ajay Choksi, the digital cameras would not only curb duty evasion, but also assist officials to nab the potential offenders. At the same time, those manning the posts would also be monitored for their efficiency. Tenders would soon be floated for these cameras, he added.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
