News in brief from across Gujarat (updated)

Ahmedabad, 10 December 2013

-New Gujarat Police Chief Shri P.C.Thakur to join DGP office at Gandhinagar based police bhawan on Wednesday.

-Adhar card form filling compulsory in English in tribal dominated Ambaji belt of north Gujarat! Local protest, demanding Gujarati option.

-Gujarat government has initiated a project of lignite base power station near Bhavnagar district’s Ghogha. First 250 MW unit is likely to be functional in June-July 2014. Ghogha belt has rich availability of lignite. The 500 MW project is being executed by Bhavnagar Energy Company Limited(BCEL) at a cost of Rs. 2500 crore.

-The latest figures suggest that daily 1,25,000 passengers use Bus Rapid Transit System(BRTS) service in Ahmedabad resulting in daily revenue of Rs. 12-13 lakh on 82 km route.

-Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Delhi visit today to attend social functions.

-12 acre land allotted, Rs. 150 crore approved for new Civil hospital in newly formed Aravalli district headquarters Modasa.

-Originally a Kutchi Gujarat, Devjibhai Samani has been victorious continuously for third time in Chhattisgarh assembly polls on Dwarshiva seat by margin of 2400 votes. Gujarat Governor Dr. Kamla Beniwal’s son Alok Beniwal lost the poll at Jaipur district’s Shahpur seat. Alok was Congress candidate. He lost by margin of 2,397 votes against rival BJP candidate.

-Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel today launched a new website of Revenue department, Government of Gujarat at her office.

-Even after last ultimatum given by the Gujarat High Court, the order directing supply of cheaper gas to Gujarat in prescribed time limit of a week has not been complied. Union petroleum joint secretary KP Sinh today appeared at the Gujarat High Court today as per the court order a week ago. Sinh said that GAIL is committed to supply gas to Gujarat at Dahej point via GSPL-PLL(Petronet), and draft agreements in this regard are already sent to concerned companies. As soon as the companies sign the agreements, cheaper gas supply will be made available.

-Justice D.P.Buch will take oath as new Lokayukta of Gujarat state on Wednesday in capital town Gandhinagar at 10.00 am.

-Bharuch’s Sardar bridge will be closed for traffic for five days starting from today. There’s possibility of very heavy traffic on this stretch of busy Ahmedabad-Mumbai national highway. One can always avoid it and plan railway journey.

-The Gujarat Gas Company Ltd(GCCL) has announced that its managing director, Sugata Sircar has resigned from the Board of Directors of the company.

-Morbi town is observing a day-long bandh today to give momentum to the indefinite shutdown by 600 ceramic units since November 27.

-American company Gardner Denver has taken the 85,00 sq ft space on lease to set up air compressors and pumps manufacturing unit in Changodar, near Ahmedabad. The plant is expected to function next year.

-Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) will soon float tenders for 24 hours water supply in Jodhpur and Stadium wards of city as pilot project. The process has entered into advance stage after JnNURM approved Rs. 57.83 crore. Meters will be installed for each water connection under this project.

-Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) has approved Rs. 60 crore multi-storey parking complex near Navrangpura bus-stand. The complex will have two basement + 2nd, 3rd, 4th floor and terrace for parking while ground floor and first floor will be auctioned for commercial purpose. The parking complex will have capacity to accommodate 778 cars and 984 two-wheelers. The problem is, people of Amdavad are not inclined to use multi level parking. Rs. 29 crore parking complex in Kankaria has earned only Rs. 3.19 crore in six months.

-Winter has entered into second phase in Gujarat with Ahmedabad’s lowest temperature at 11.9 and Valsad 11.3 on Monday.

-Junagadh BJP MLA Mahendra Mashru has announced dharna programme against law and order situation in this city. Mashru will hold dharna daily for two hours at district police chief’s office.

-Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha(BAPS) will inaugurate its new mandir in Himmatnagar in north Gujarat on 12th of this month. Today is 93rd birthday of BAPS Chief Pramukh Swami.