Narmada canal made off-limits to check theft of water

Jun 17, 2012 

Rajkot With cities in Saurashtra, including Rajkot, facing acute shortage of drinking water, the Surendranagar district administration on Tuesday declared the Maliya Canal branch carrying Narmada water and passing through the district a prohibited zone, a move sure to anger farmers who often draw canal water illegally for irrigation.

Though the 137-km-long canal cuts through Surendranagar district, farmers are not allowed to draw water for irrigation. “Because of farmers and others drawing water illegally from Maliya Canal passing through Surendranagar district, drinking water supply to Saurashtra-Kutch has been hit. That is why the canal area has been declared a prohibited zone,” said a notification signed by additional collector M B Patel.According to the notification, anyone flouting the orders will be liable to be punished with a month’s imprisonment or fine under the Bombay Police Act 133 and IPC Section 188.The new order will affect a total of 32 villages — 3 in Lakhtar taluka, 5 in Dasada taluka, 11 in Dharngadhra taluka and 13 in Hadvad taluka — all located along the open canal in Surendranagar district.
Saurashtra thirsty, canal declared off-limits after water theft
In the past, incidents of water thefts have led to clashes in which state officials have been roughed up by farmers. To check such incidents, SRP companies have been deployed.
According to officials, the state government had been so far going easy on farmers with Assembly polls in mind but acute shortage of drinking water in cities like Rajkot and Jamnagar has forced its hands.
Sources said less than half of the allotted quantum of water was reaching various urban and rural areas of Saurashtra-Kutch because of rampant theft of canal water.
“Against an allotted 500 MLD (million liters per day) of water supplied through Maliya canal, less than 200 MLD has been reaching its destination these days,” said an official.
Rajkot, over the past fortnight, has been receiving only 170 MLA of water against the allotted 280, forcing civic authorities to impose a water supply cut since Tuesday. The situation is worse in Kutch, the farthest district, where water supply these days is less than 40 per cent of its allotted 170 MLD.
The notification says that due of pilferage, the quantum of water reaching Kherayee pumping station near Surendranagar district is so less that it has hit supply to various parts of Saurashtra-Kutch.

Meanwhile, claiming that over 80 per cent of Narmada water is meant for farmers, MahaGujarat Janta Party has announced an agitation in Halvad on July 4. MJP president Gordhan Zadaphia said farmer could not be banned from the canal area.

Sanjay Joshi posters surface in Mehsana

AHMEDABAD: Posters supporting former BJP leader Sanjay Joshi surfaced in the North Gujarat area including Mehsana on Wednesday night.
This is not the first time that such posters have been put up in the state. In the past such posters had surfaced in Ahmedabad, South Gujarat and even Rajkot.

Sources said that these posters were put up right outside the houses of senior BJP leaders. The posters were hastily removed by the ad-ministration following complaints of the BJP workers.
BJP leader Sanjay Joshi, a bitter foe of Narendra Modi, re-signed from the party on June 8, exposing simmering divisions within its ranks.
The posters, which were put up anonymously, read "Modi should follow Rajdharma, Modi should follow Praja dharma and Modi should fallow party dharma."
Just a few days earlier, posters praising Sanjay Joshi, had appeared at some places in Ahmedabad and New Delhi as well. Also such posters were put up outside the venue of the state BJP meeting which was held in Rajkot.
Sources said that such posters which were put up in North Gujarat were significant as these posters were published in a area where Modi belonged too. Modi is from Vadnagar.
Sources in the BJP said that this was the handy work of the opposition which has launched a attack against Modi.

Jurassic Park for sale

Jun 17, 2012

AHMEDABAD: Royal families, dinosaurs and desolate islands thrive only in fairytales. But not for Siddhrajsinh Raol whose ancestors once ruled the Bhavnagar region. He is the owner of one of the last privately owned virgin islands - Piram - about 7.2 nautical miles from Ghogha. Strewn with fossils of dinosaur eggs, giraffe and gigantic turtles, Raol has put the island up for sale.

"I have at least 100 offers, but most of them have plans that may destroy the natural history of this place," says Raol, a businessman who company makes greenhouses. "We are targeting high net-worth individuals (HNI), NRIs and celebrities who could develop Piram into a residential township. We plan to source power from non-conventional sources - solar and wind."

The island shares features similar to private islands like the Isla de sa Ferradura in Spain, Temptation Island in Thailand and the Blue Lagoon in Fiji. Besides, HNIs, large corporates have shown interest. Raol, however, is not ready to declare the price tag.

Such is the island's location that history has been washed on its shores over the ages. This includes parts of shipwrecks some which belong to the 14 the century - the ships' crankshafts and other parts still lie strewn on the beach.

Every point on this 90-acre island is riddled with fossils, some dating back 8,000 years. Fossils of two basic species of giraffes - Brahmatherium and Sivatherium - were found from the island in the 1860s. Those of the Hipparion have also been found here.

The lone lighthouse at the edge of the island only adds to its beauty. "Though the island is spread over 186 acres, the Directorate General of Lighthouse and Lightships owns the light house and its surroundings while the rest is mandatory government wasteland. I am the only private owner on the island. We have even offered the government that we could help them develop the wasteland," says Raol.

"A natural history museum, convention centre, clubs of international standard, educational institutes and IT parks can be planned on this island apart from residential areas," he says. 

Bhavnagar to celebrate 100th birth anniversary of poet Nathalal Dave

Jun 4, 2012

BHAVNAGAR: Family members and citizens of Bhavnagar are celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of noted poet and short story writer late Nathalal Dave, who was born on June 3, 1912 in Bhavnagar. According to his son Nirubhai Dave, there are over 22 books to his credit.

Nathalal's first book of poems 'Kalindi' was published in 1942. His creations 'Jhanvi', 'Anurag', 'Upadrava', 'Mukhva' and 'Halve Hathe' are popular even today. Dave's 'Jhanvi' and 'Upadrava' won accolades from state government too.

His last book was an obituary to Guru Rabindranath Tagore called 'Ravindra Vaibhav' which was published in 1985.

Dave's collection of short stories, 'Shikhar ne Pele Par', was received very well by the readers.

"To mark his 100th birthday, we have planned various literary programmes in Bhavnagar. The first in the series will be a Kavi Sammelan in September this year. We will also organize musical nights, Hashya Darbar and other events," said Nirubhai.

Nathalal was education inspector and retired as principal of BEd College in Mangrol. He died in December 1995.

BJP leader Bhupat Bhayani shot at near Junagadh

Jun 4, 2012

RAJKOT: A BJP leader in Junagadh district, Bhupat Bhayani, was injured when six unidentified persons opened fire at him in Parapipaliya village of Bhesan taluka on Sunday.

Party sources said that Bhayani was returning to Bhesan from Gandhinagar in his car when he was attacked. Six persons intercepted his vehicle and opened fire and as soon as his car reached near Parapipaliya village.

"Bhayani was injured seriously and was rushed to private hospital in Junagadh. Later he was referred to a private hospital in Rajkot,'' party sources said.

According to sources, Bhayani, 42, is a member of taluka panchayat in Bhesan and vice president of BJP's youth wing in Junagadh. His wife Sumita is also an elected member in Junagadh district panchayat.

Soon after the incident, senior BJP leaders including Vijay Rupani rushed to the hospital in Rajkot.

"Bhayani had ruckus with local people in Bhesan few days ago and they wanted to take revenge," Rupani told.