Junagadh City in Progress - 2nd ultra mega power plant to come up

The Central Electricity Commission has zeroed in on 400 hectares of land at Lodhva village in Kodinar taluka of Junagadh district to set up its 4000-MW second Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) at a cost of Rs 24,000 crore.

The process of site selection for the second UMPP had been going on for the last two years. The state government had suggested various locations in Junagadh, Porbandar and Kutch after which the central government finalized the Lodhava village site.

As per Latest D Jagdeesh Pandian Interviews, who is principal secretary at the state’s Energy and Petrochemical department, said that “We suggested various locations to the CEA. After their technical evaluation, they have chosen Lodhva village site. The location is most convenient for importing coal for the UMPP. Proximity to sea will also help in getting water for coal-washing etc.”

“Generated power will also be transmitted through grids in Gujarat. The state will get 40% of the generated power while the rest will be allocated to other states. The central government is in process of inviting bids for the project. We hope to see considerable progress shortly.”

“The first phase of 1600-MW Mundra UMPP is almost ready and likely to be commissioned shortly.”

Tata Power had bagged the first UMPP project at Mundra in Gujarat.

Kodinar Junagadh District News – Shilpa Vala Volleyball Master from Saurashtra

When the nearly six-feet-tall Shilpa Vala catches a flight to Kuala Lumpur to represent India in the Asian Youth Girls Championships starting on May 20, she will become only the second girl from Gujarat to represent the country in volleyball.

But in Kodinar Town, her small hometown in Junagadh District, people may not be surprised. Volleyball runs in her genes. So much so that her four other sisters too play competitive volleyball. Shilpa's younger sister Geeta is a blocker.

She didn't make the cut for Kuala Lumpur, but is among the standbys. Elder sisters Shobhna (now working in a private firm in Junagadh) and Varsha have represented Gujarat. The youngest, Chetna, has already played two sub-junior nationals. In fact, when Gujarat beat Himachal Pradesh to win the gold at the National School Games near Gwalior in 2007, the entire team comprised of the Vala sisters. Varsha, Geeta and Shilpa teamed up with their cousins Parita, Nehal and Alpa. Shilpa's uncle and Parita's father Varjagha Vala was the coach. Despite the natural talent, life has not been easy for the Vala sisters as their father Maraman Vala, a small farmer, could barely make ends meet. Besides, their conservative Rajput community did not appreciate women playing competitive sport. "People would gossip behind our backs about the short dresses we wore while playing volleyball," Shilpa says.

"Who will marry these girls, they would ask. How can their parents let them stay away from home for days together? There was also fear of our family being boycotted. But our parents only encouraged us."

"Though I am not well-educated, I knew my daughters would do well if they studied and played hard. So I decided to support them," says Vala who arrived at the Sports Authority of India centre in Gandhinagar on Tuesday to see his daughters at a camp held there.

The achievements of the girls have brought more acceptances for the family. "People come to meet us and ask about our experiences. Volleyball is very popular in our village so some even come for training. Things are changing," says Shilpa.

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.