Sakkarbaug Zoo Junagadh City News Saurashtra Gujarat India

CZA issues notices to zoos after they miss deadline to submit master plans.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has issued notices to four zoos in the state after they failed to submit their master plans explaining future development projects.

Sources said all the zoos were asked to submit their plans till 2020, by March 31. But only two zoos — Indroda Park, Gandhinagar; and Kankaria Zoo, Ahmedabad — have submitted their plans.

Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh City Saurashtra; Sarthana Zoo in Surat; Sayajibaug Zoo in Vadodara; and Rajkot Zoo are yet to submit their plans.

CZA Evaluation and Monitoring officer Brij Gupta said: “As most zoos in Gujarat have missed their deadlines, CZA has issued notices to them to submit their master plans as soon as possible. We have taken up this initiative to improve zoo administration and performance. The main aim is to enforce minimum standards and norms for the upkeep and health care of the animals so that the zoos can come up to a standard where they can complement and strengthen the national efforts in conservation of wild fauna.”

He added: “If the master plan is not submitted on time, no funds will be allocated in the coming years.”

He said that some zoos, such as the Butterfly Park in Surat, which is being developed by the Surat Municipal Corporation, doesn’t have CZA permission.

Surat Municipal Commissioner S Aparna said: “We have submitted the master plan. During their visit, CZA officials said there is a need to revise it and add some more details about new enclosures such as the Butterfly Park and aquarium in the master plan. The new master plan has already being cleared by the Sarthana zoo authorities and we will submit it soon.”

Sayajibaug Zoo Curator Dr C B Patel was unavailable for comments. Zoo officials, however, said the master plan will be submitted soon.

Vadodara Deputy Commissioner A O Sharma said: “We will submit the master plan in next week.”

Junagadh Zoo Director V J Rana said: “We were asked to submit a master plan, but we have restricted funds. Ours is a large zoo and submitting a master plan is a huge task, for which we need extra manpower including consultants and experts.”

He added: “The entry fee is still Rs 2, which is not enough to develop it to the level of an international zoo. A lot needs to be put in before we can submit the master plan. We might say what we want to do, but the non-availability of funds has restricted us to go ahead with our infrastructure development plans.”

Somnath Temple Mandir Veraval Junagadh District News Gujarat India

LK Advani renews temple pledge on Rathyatra's 20th anniversary.

Despite the Ram Mandir issue failing to cut much ice with voters, senior BJP Leader L K Advani today reaffirmed his commitment to building the temple at Ayodhya.

"Today, I have come to Somnath Mandir Veraval to offer my prayers on the 20th anniversary of my Rathyatra. Ram temple should be and will be built at Ayodhya," Advani said after offering prayers.

It was from here on September 25, 1990, that he had launched his Ram Rathyatra, which, though ending abruptly with his arrest in Bihar, had put the BJP firmly on the road to power.

"I visit Somnath every year this day and will continue to do so till Ram temple comes up at Ayodhya," Advani, who was accompanied by his daughter Pratibha, said.

Junagadh GIDC District News Samachar Gujarat India

JSW power plant in Junagadh, relocated to Dahej Bharuch District said Dhanuka.

The proposed coal-based 2400 MW power generation plant of in Simmar near Sajjan Jindal led JSW EnergyJunagadh district, has now been relocated to Dahej, in Southern Gujarat, a company official said today.

"The coal fired power plant proposed to come up at Simmar with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore has now been relocated to Dahej in district Bharuch," JSW Energy Senior Vice President VK Dhanuka said here today.

JSW Energy had signed two MoUs with the Government of Gujarat for setting up two power plants having generation capacity of 1,400 MW and 1000 MW respectively at Simmar in Junagadh.

The group had proposed to set up 2 X 800 MW power generation units in first phase, and later for capacity addition of another 800 MW in second phase of the project, he added.

"We have urged the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation to allocate us 1500 acres of land for our proposed power plant at Dahej," Dhanuka said.

According to a study conducted by experts it was found that Simmar was not an ideal location for developing a port, he added.

Since large quantity of coal is required its feasible to set up a power plant only nears a port.

But once Simmar was found unfeasible we decided to relocate the plant, Dhanuka said.

Sasan Gir National Park Forest Sanctuary Junagadh District News Gujarat India

1,500 trees face the chop in Gir forest.

The state government which has been fighting tooth and nail for the exclusive custody of the Asiatic lions in the Gir forest has ordered cutting of over 1,500 trees to make room for residential plots. The land which has to be cleared of the trees is a territory of a pride of 6-7 lions.

The land, which spans over seven-acres, is surrounded by the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary on three sides, in the Rupayatan forest area of Bhavnath taleti in Junagadh City. About 450 reserve and 1,100 non-reserve trees are likely to be chopped down next week to make space for the construction of new houses.

These houses are to be built there for families who will be displaced during the clearing of the area around the Bhavnath temple. The land was lying unused for nearly 40 years and was acquired very recently from the Rupayatan Trust.

The proposal has aroused the ire of environment activists, botanists and residents of the region who believe the project would lead to 'deforestation' and do immense harm to the lions' habitat. Moreover, cutting down trees, some of which are over 40 years old, would lead to irreparable loss for the flora and fauna of the area.

Retired agriculture scientist Professor Rasik Bhatt of Junagadh University says people were alarmed when the project was announced last month. "Because of the dense forest, lions rest there during summer," he said. "There is another, smaller plot that we asked the Collector to consider for construction of the houses. That would have ensured that the lions will not be disturbed and deforestation would not take place."

Junagadh collector Ashwini Kumar conceded that some trees will be cut but refused to specify how many. He also conceded that the area is 'frequented' by lions. He, however, insisted that the plot is ideal for rehabilitating the displaced families and that wildlife conservation cannot be done at the cost of human life.

Junagadh City Navratri Garba Festival Events News Samachar Gujarat India

Garbis with Sidi sounds, folk dance a treat for spectators

Gharbo joya ghana ghar, maro nesh aner; ma aav ramva tu, tane parona karau anner... is one of the popular Kathiawadi dohas that garba revellers will be dancing to.

The age-old forgotten compositions and garbis written by poets like Dayaram and Kavi Narmad will be revived this year. City-based singers are busy researching and practising the novelty they promise to offer. Navratri is better known as the festival of dance rather than a festival of music. Not staying too far away in the race, singers are looking for innovation just like garba enthusiasts. A singer has even experimented with the beats taken from the African tribe residing in Junagadh, the Sidis, who have a peculiar music and dancing style.

Urmish Mehta, a city-based singer, said, "Revival of the garbas that were popular during the days of our grandmothers is not a cakewalk. I plan to perform that are very popular in Gir and tadpadi Kathiawadi doohasPorbandar region. I am also composing songs from old popular poetry." Inspired by bongo beats of the Sidis, Mehta has fused it into garbas this time.

Another popular city-based singer, Arun Rajguru, said, "Bollywood songs had become an in thing in the last few years. This year, I have picked garbas that were popular in Kathiawad, Saurashtra and Kutch. These are mostly songs praising Goddesses and invoking their blessings during the celebrations."

Sur-tal, a dance troupe that has been performing for last 15 years, sent one of its members to Kutch to learn their traditional dances - goff and panchiya - that are performed only by men. There are also rasado and ankhiya from Saurashtra. These dances are done with a lot of vigour, energy and action," said Darshit Shah.

"We are using Rabari and Kutchi props during performance. One of them with 10-feet-long curtains will have members of the troop dancing along with it. Other props used are kartal, dhaja, earthen pots and bamboo sticks, all in one performance," said Purvi Shah, founder of a group.

Junagadh Jamnagar Saurashtra News Samachar Gujarat India

Groundnut yield plummets, hits 800 oil mills.

India's groundnut bowl is shrinking, both in terms of the area under cultivation and the yield.

On stake is the survival of more than 800 oil mills in the Saurashtra Kutch region, which accounts for 35 per cent of the country’s total production of five million tonnes of groundnut oilseed.

The slide began a couple of years ago, and this season, the plummet was steep and unchecked. The scanty rainfall has accounted for an all-time low yield this season.

The Saurashtra Oil Millers Association (SOMA) estimate the fall at over 45 per cent, which is now likely to hasten the en masse closure of mills, with groundnut oil prices expected to touch Rs 1,500 per 15 kg by Diwali.

“Owing to the shortage of kernels, groundnut is likely to touch Rs 1,500 by Diwali,” said SOMA president Ukabhai Patel. At present, groundnut oil costs Rs 1,100 per 15 kg. SOMA secretary Samir Shah said, “More than three out of four of the 800 mills will remain shut this season.”

With only 25 per cent of mills likely to reopen the coming season, SOMA wants the government to lift the ban on groundnut exports in a bid to encourage the cultivators.

Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are the major producers of groundnut oil in the country. The coastal belt of Saurashtra tops this list. Besides, groundnut is also grown at Vadodara, Bharuch and Surat districts.

At its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, SOMA estimated groundnut yield this season to be between 9.5 to 10 lakh tones, 45 per cent less than the 17 lakh tones yield in the previous year.

The area under groundnut cultivation in Saurashtra-Kutch has also gone down from 26 lakh hectares in 2002 to 19 lakh hectares, reducing production from 26 to 19 lakh tonnes.

According to the government agriculture department figures, the area under groundnut cultivation stood at 17 lakh hectares this season.

This year, barring Jamnagar and Junagadh districts, the yield in the other six districts including Rajkot, Amreli, Surendranagar, Bhavnagar, Porbandar and Kutch is not even 40,000 tonnes on an average. For both Junagadh and Jamnagar, which recorded more than average rainfall, the yield is expected to be around three lakh tonnes.

Incidentally, the politically-powerful SOMA, which once decided the composition and course of the state governments, has now been reduced to pleading with the government to increase the import duties on other oils, for their sheer survival.

Soma had once rocked the Chimanbhai Patel Government, forcing the then minister Ashok Bhatt to resign when the industry was not happy. But, with the License Raj no longer in existence, the industry has lost its clout. The plummeting yield has made matters only worse for it.

“We are going to make a representation to the Centre to allow exports of groundnut and to impose import duty on other edible oils that have flooded the market,” said Ukabhai Patel.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Temples Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Politics has taken front seat in the controversial Girnar Ropeway Project which plans constructing a ropeway to the Girnar shrine through the Gir sanctuary.

After much legal debate in Gujarat, the project is now finally awaiting clearance from the National Board for Wildlife in India. Activists in the state have raised a serious alarm over disturbing the vulture nests falling on the way of the proposed ropeway.

The state's ruling party BJP is lobbying for the clearance of the project, citing huge tourism opportunities for the locals of Junagadh.

However, at the Board's latest meeting on Wednesday, the issue "boomeranged" for the party, whose workers in Junagadh have been pushing for the approval of the project since decades.

Union minister of state, forest and environment, Jairam Ramesh said he would visit the site himself for inspection before giving approval. The political implications of this might prove tricky for BJP's MLA Mahendra Mashru, who is championing the cause of the Junagadh residents.

"He will have to host a Congress minister's visit to his constituency to get the permission," an activist close to the developments said, adding that after winning the Junagadh Corporation Elections, the Congress workers are active in the constituency and are expected to take credit of the clearance of the project.

"This will not serve the BJP's political purpose at all, but they are in a spot over this," he said.

Forest officials have admitted that over 12,000 trees are likely to be chopped for the project. After claiming that there are 'no' vulture nests in these trees to be affected by the ropeway project, the company constructing the ropeway has admitted in a written communication to NBWL of vulture nests in the region.

In the last meeting of NBWL in July, it was decided to get an expert report on the site.

The report conceded that several vulture nests will be permanently damaged because of the ropeway. An alternated route has been suggested in the report.

Feasibility of the alternate route is also expected to be examined during the minister's visit.

Sasan Gir National Park Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Gujarat State govt to oppose proposal to shift lions from Gir at Delhi meet.

The Gujarat government will oppose the long-pending proposal of shifting a few Asiatic lions from Sasan Gir to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh, when this contentious issue comes up for discussion at a crucial meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in Delhi on Wednesday.

Gujarat Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Pradeep Khanna told Newsline in the evening: “Gujarat’s stand on the issue of trans-locating Gir lions has been consistent. We will resist any move to shift the big cats from Gir to Kuno Palpur, when it is taken up for discussion at the Board meeting tomorrow.”

Khanna and Principal Secretary (Forest) S K Nanda will attend the Board meeting to be chaired by Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh. He said the Kuno wildlife sanctuary project mooted by Madhya Pradesh lacked scientific backing and security. Besides, there are only 300 of the total 1,000 tigers surviving in MP. “If the neighbouring state cannot protect its tigers, how can it protect lions?” he asked.

The PCCF also contended that tigers and lions cannot survive together in Kuno Palpur.

In response to a petition filed in the Supreme Court by a Delhi-based NGO for the transfer of Gir lions to MP, the apex court had referred the matter to the National Board for Wildlife and asked it to submit a report in the matter. After hearing the representatives from both Gujarat and MP at the Wednesday meeting, the Board will submit its report on the issue to the SC, sources said.

At the meeting, Gujarat will also seek the Board’s permission for implementation on the Girnar Ropeway project in Junagadh. Gujarat proposes to acquire about eight hectares of forest land, where there are about 12,000 trees, for construction of pillars for the ropeway project. “Though there are about 12,000 trees standing on the forest land, the axe will fall only on 200 to 300 trees,” said a senior Forest official.

The Board will also hear Gujarat’s plea for laying a high tension electric line, and also the ONGC and IOC oil pipelines across the Wild Ass Sanctuary in Kutch. “We hope the Board will give its nod to both the proposals,” Khanna said.

Una Taluka Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Una receives 76 mm rainfall in 24 hrs.

Heavy to very heavy rains poured in Una taluka of Junagadh district on Sunday afternoon and resumed early on Monday morning. Though the city and surrounding areas have received a good spell this season, the forest areas did not get any rainfall.

According to sources, it started raining heavily at 4 pm on Sunday and lasted for two hours, within which time Met department officials recorded 31 mm of rainfall. "There was waterlogging throughout the town, especially in Madhavbaug and Police Lines which saw knee-deep water. Basement shops in most complexes had water gushing in," a source said.

On Monday morning too it rained from 7 am to 8 am with 35 mm of rainfall being recorded. The area has had up to 1,076 mm this season.

However, rainfall was in a 5 km radius around the town and forest areas of the taluka did not see rain. Maldharis of the area have not been happy with this year's rain as despite good rains in Saurashtra, most wells and water bodies remained dry in the jungles.

Apart from sporadic rains in Rajula and Visavadar talukas, neither Junagadh district nor any other district of Rajkot received rain.

Girnar Parvat Temples Mountain Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Garvo Gadh Girnar

Memorandum supports early start of Girnar Ropeway Project.

Junagadh BJP legislator Mahendra Mashru has prepared a memorandum bearing one lakh signatures as support for the early commencement of the ambitious ropeway project on Girnar Mountain.

“A book carrying signatures of one lakh people has been prepared after the successful signature drive carried out in city center during last week. We will submit the memorandum to the Prime Minister and ask for the implementation of the ropeway project,” said Mashru.

He said the memorandum will be sent to New Delhi through the proper channel.

On the completion of the drive, the book carrying one lakh signatures was put up for public notice and a function was organized at the Red Cross hall in the city centre on Saturday. Some youths present at the function had even sprinkled drops of blood on the book wrapper, according to sources.

According to the memorandum, the ropeway project will help reduce pollution on Girnar Mountain. It will also not prove harmful to the environment.

Lakhs of people visit Girnar Mountain every year.

Kodinar Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Tight security in place for Kodinar bypoll, marine patrolling intensified.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the Kodinar Assembly segment for the bypoll to take place along with six other constituencies on Thursday.

The Junagadh district administration has identified 21 polling booths as hyper sensitive and 68 as sensitive. The Assembly segment accommodates 129 villages and 200 polling booths.

According to Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh Puwar, apart from Junagadh police personnel, forces from adjoining Porbandar, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts have been pressed into service to maintain law and order.

As many as 10 deputy superintendents of police, 17 inspectors, 49 sub-inspectors, 900 constables, 1,100 home guards and Gram Rakshak Dal jawans have been posted on election duty.

Besides this, three companies of the State Reserve Police and two of the border wing will also maintain vigil.

“With Kodinar being on the coastal belt, marine patrolling has been intensified for which two boats have been pressed into round-the-clock service. Besides, cellphone services providers in the district have been instructed not to circulate group SMS from midnight to 5pm on the polling day (Thursday),” said a senior police officer.

Historical Junagadh City News Samachar Gujarat India

Narendra Modi's message to reach 1 crore students.

This Teacher's Day, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will reach out to one crore students across Gujarat.

That is a whopping 50 lakh more than last year. How? The state education department has added 10,000 television screens in schools in every district to telecast CM's message direct to students.

The state has added over 2,500 ku band sets in primary schools and 3,500 in high schools. In addition, about 4,000 sets have been installed in gram panchayat’s and colleges. Schools and colleges have been asked to make arrangements for Modi's telecast.

The state plans to install 38,000 LCD television screens in government-run schools over the next few years. Sources said the state government has already made allocation of Rs 250 crore towards the project in the budget presented this year.

The idea was put on fast track after Modi was unable to reach out to everyone through video-conferencing because of lack of screens in schools last year.

"It was at this function last year when Modi had triggered a debate on open book exams. We are expecting him to rake up another issue this time," said a senior official in the education department.

Officials said the CM is expecting questions from students on grading system, optional exams and burden-free education this time around. Modi's message will not be telecast in schools and colleges in districts - Junagadh, Rajkot, Banaskantha, Patan, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar and Porbandar - whereby-polls are scheduled next week.

Somnath Temple Veraval Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Gujarat gets high-tech boat for coastal security.

To boost security along the 1,600-km long Gujarat coastline, the Centre has allotted a state-of-the-art patrol boat, which has been placed under the Somnath marine police station in Junagadh district.

Junagadh Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh Puwar launched the boat on Saturday.

He also took stock of the various aspects of marine security.

“The fully equipped high speed patrol boat will help to take effective steps,” he said.

According to Puwar, with the trial run of the boat, marine patrolling has begun. It will, however, take a couple of more days for the round-the-clock patrolling to begin, as registration of the boat and other legalities are yet to be completed.

Officials said the boat cost Rs 2.5 crore and can run at the maximum speed of 40 nautical miles per hour.

It is equipped with radar, ground positioning system, wireless, sound system and floodlights among others.

Apart from a four-member crew, the boat can accommodate 16 security personnel. A retired Navy Captain has been appointed to look after the maintenance and operation of the boat, said officials.

The boat will patrol the entire coastal belt under the jurisdiction of the Somnath Mandir marine police station.

Adequate staff will be posted soon to do the round-the-clock patrolling in three shifts, the officials added.

Ambuja Cements Limited Kodinar Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Villagers allege Ambuja Cements mined 145 hectares illegally

Ambuja Cements Limited, which has applied for surrender of limestone mines located in an area of nearly 131 hectares in Rampara village in Junagadh District, is facing the charges of illegal mining on additional 145 hectares by the local gram panchayat.

Karsan Bamaniya, the sarpanch of Rampara village, told the Indian Express that the company had illegally mined the village land worth around Rs 700 crore, over and above what the state government had allocated it for mining.

“An area of 131.6552 hectares was transferred to Ambuja Cements on October 28, 1991 on a mining lease by the state government. But the company went on to illegally mine 145 hectares additionally. Of this illegally mined land, 101 hectares of land was the village’s gauchar land,” said Bamaniya.

Shailendra Singh Rathod, the president of the district panchayat of Junagadh, had also submitted a written objection to this act in one of the ‘district fariyaad samitis’ held on 9 January this year. A copy of this complaint letter is available with this newspaper.

In reply to the panchayat’s complaint, the district administration had said that it had conducted an enquiry and had found many boundary pillars missing on the mining site. V K Mule, a geologist with the Junagadh district administration, had subsequently directed the company to put in place all the missing pillars so that a proper assessment could be done.

However, when contacted, Rathod denied submitting such a letter to the administration. He said, “I don’t remember doing that.” On the other hand, Mule said: “It’s a minor issue. All the boundary pillars at the mining site are in place now.” That apart, Mule also denied the existence of a fact-finding letter submitted to him by the assistant geologist of Junagadh district dated July 7, 2007, a copy of which is available with this newspaper. In this letter, the administration had also contended that Ambuja Cements had “intentionally” discharged the water that had collected in its limestone mines to the neighboring fields, destroying all crops there. The enquiry initiated, on complaints made on May 22, 2007 by some of the affected farmers, reported the total estimate loss of Rs 23, 67,600 to 33 farmers caused by the discharge.

That apart, Ashwini Kumar, District Collector of Junagadh, refused to comment on the issue. “As far as my knowledge goes, Rampara villagers have indeed submitted an application alleging illegal mining by Ambuja Cements Limited. But the status of the enquiry in this issue and the administration’s version will be what V K Mule says,'' he said.

The company, on its part, has denied the charges leveled against it by the gram panchayat. Sriram S Kotiya, General Manager (Commercial), Ambuja Cements Limited, said: “The allegations of illegal mining are false. We have mined only the 131 hectares in Rampara that was leased to us. The notice by the Rampara gram panchayat was received and replied back suitably.”

Girnar Mountain Parvat (Temples) Junagadh City Gujarat India News Samachar

City NGOs to join vulture awareness day celebrations

September 5 will be celebrated as International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD-09) worldwide. Several NGOs, including some based here plan to celebrate the event by creating awareness about vulture conservation in the region.

According to Junagadh-based NGO, Mudra Ecological, Cultural and Heritage Ovation Society, several peaks and ranges in Girnar Mountains near Junagadh are considered among the few nesting sites of vultures.

The ambitious ropeway project is also being considered a possible threat towards the conservation of these birds. According to sources, some nature clubs and environmentalists have raised the issue with the Centre, even as public agitation for the early commencement of the ropeway project gathers momentum.

J Nimish, a member of Mudra society, said: “We are not opposing the ropeway project, but believe at the same time that vulture conservation should not be sidelined. Both the ropeway project and vulture conservation are equally serious issues. We will approach education institutions and provide them with information about the importance of vultures and their conservation.”

Ankit Shukala and Mitesh Dave, other members of the NGO, who favor development of tourism here, echo the same view.

Some nature clubs and environmentalists have expressed doubts that the ropeway project will threaten the vulture habitat and nesting site on Girnar Mountains.

According to environmentalists, at present, Girnar Mountain houses around 30 vultures.

The bird is considered shy and has a habit of taking shelter in isolated areas far away from human population.

During the last one decade, vulture population has drastically reduced in the Indian Sub- Continent.

Incidentally, Gujarat Minister of State for Environment and Forest Kiritsinh Rana, had also said in his reply to a question on February 20, 2009 during Question Hour in the Gujarat Assembly, that vulture population in the state has reduced from 2,647 to 1431 in two years from 2005-07.

Historical Girnar Temples Mountain Ropeway Project Junagadh Gujarat India

Girnar Ropeway Project - Sadhus to take to streets over delay in project.

Junagadh-based All India Sadhu Samaj has decided to take to the streets over the delay in the implementation of the aerial Ropeway project at Mount Girnar. Some 45 renowned Sadhus, Mahants and temple heads of the region will lead the ‘Rasta-Roko’ (road block) agitation at Vanthali Gate area of the city on Friday.

Political parties, including BJP, Congress, CPM and BSP, various youth organizations and NGOs will also take part in the protest to register their support. Remove Formatting from selection

All India Sadhu Samaj (Gujarat Chapter) president Mahant Gopalanand said: “Despite being cleared at various stages, the Ropeway project is being delayed for some reason or the other. Moreover, no political leader is coming forward to take up the issue. So, we have decided to raise the issue with the support of all sections of the society.”

He added: “After the agitation, office bearers of our New Delhi head office will take up the issue with the concerned minister and department.”

While supporting the move of the All India Sadhu Samaj, Satish Captain, Mayor, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, said: “We have already taken up the issue with the concerned authorities. We have written letters asking them to speed up the project.”

City BJP president, Karsan Dhadook, said: “The BJP is supporting the agitation. We will give them full support as joint efforts are needed for the realization of this project.”

Dhadook, however, accused the Congress of politicizing the issue. “The ball is now in the Center court.

If Congressmen put pressure on the party, there is a chance of the project being implemented soon,” he said. A meeting, presided over by the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, will be held in New Delhi on September 10 to discuss the pros and cons of the project.

“If we fail to submit our case, the ropeway project will never see light of the day,” Dhadook said, adding that the BJP is planning to start a signature movement in support of the project.

Meanwhile, leaflets bearing the names of the mahants,

Organizations and individuals participating in the agitation were distributed in Junagadh on Wednesday, asking the general public to support Friday’s agitation.

Junagadh City News Samachar Gujarat India

“BJP’s ban on Jaswant’s book improper, ineffective”, said Congress.

Gujarat Congress president Siddharth Patel termed the ban imposed by the state government on Jaswant Singh’s book on Partition as improper. Patel criticized the government’s decision while touring Saurashtra for the forthcoming Assembly by-polls. Patel accused BJP of double standards on the issue of ban on Singh’s book saying it has no impact anywhere.

“Whatever is going on in BJP is certainly going to affect national and state politics as well. We are heading towards gaining power in Gujarat,” said Patel during his brief stay at Junagadh on Saturday while campaigning for Kodinar by-polls.

He told The Indian Express: “Putting a ban on Jaswant Singh’s book is improper. In fact, BJP and its leaders need to change their ideology. BJP will have no impact anywhere in Gujarat or outside.”

At present, the Congress holds six of the seven Assembly seats that go for the by-polls. Patel said Congress intends to win all the seven seats. Earlier in the day, Patel inaugurated the Congress candidate’s central election office in Kodinar town in Junagadh district. “Our top priority is to win all seven assembly seats for which by-elections are scheduled next month,” he said.

Terming the Congress victory in the Junagadh Municipal Corporation election held recently as a significant success for the party, he said, “The BJP could not digest the defeat. Success in the JMC election will make much difference in the days to come.”

The Congress leader also drew attention to the fact that of the elections for 36 seats in various municipalities across the state, the Congress has already won four seats uncontested.

“For the first time, the BJP is unable to find candidates in the urban areas” he said.