Kesar Mangoes Keri Talala Junagadh District - કેસર કેરીની સિઝન માત્ર એક મહિનો જ ચાલશે

Junagadh District Agricultural News for Kesar Mangoes 2011:-

ગયા વર્ષની સિઝનમાં ૧૫ લાખ બોકસ કેરીની આવક હતી જે ચાલુ વર્ષે ૪ થી ૫ લાખ થવાની સંભાવના.

સૌરાષ્ટ્રના મહત્ત્વના કેસર કેરીના ઊત્પાદક પ્રદેશો જેવા કે તલાલા, વંથલી, મદરડા અને ઉનામાં પ્રતિકૂળ હવામાનના કારણે આંબા પર મોર બેસવાની પ્રક્રિયા મોડી થઇ હતી.

તલાલા એગ્રીકલ્ચરલ પ્રોડ્યૂસ માર્કેટ કમિટિએ મહિનાના પ્રથમ અઠવાડિયામાં કેસર કેરીની હરાજી શરૂ કરશે. તે સાથે જ કેસર કેરીનો પુરવઠો વધવાની શકયતા છે. આ વર્ષે પ્રતિકૂળ હવામાન અને બ્લોસમ મિજ જેવી ઈયળના ઊપદ્રવના કારણે કેરીના ઊત્પાદનમાં ૭૫ ટકા જેટલો ધડાકો થવાની સંભાવના વ્યકત કરાઇ છે ત્યારે વેપારીઓ માને છે કે મોડી શરૂ થયેલી કેરીની સિઝન એક મહિનો જ ચાલશે.

સામાન્ય રીતે કેરીના ઊત્પાદનમાં સૌરાષ્ટ્રના પ્રદેશમાં નવેમ્બર-ડિસેમ્બર માસમાં આંબા પર મોર બેસવાની શરૂઆત થાય છે પરંતુ આ વર્ષે જાન્યુઆરી મહિનામાં ફલાવરગ શરૂ થયું હતું. જેના કારણે સિઝનની શરૂઆત મે મહિના સુધી ખચાઇ છે.

આંબા પર મોર આવ્યા બાદ ફળ પાકવામાં મુશ્કેલી જોવા મળી હતી અને તેના કારણે ઊત્પાદનમાં ઘટાડો થયો છે. ગયા વર્ષે તલાલા એપીએમસીએ ૬ એપ્રિલના રોજ કેસર કેરીની હરાજી શરૂ કરી હતી અને ત્રણ મહિના લાંબી સિઝનમાં ૧૫ લાખ બોકસ મેળવ્યા હતા.

આ વર્ષે કેસર કેરીના ઊત્પાદનમાં ૭૦ થી ૭૫ ટકા ઘટાડો થશે અને મોડી શરૂ થઇ રહેલી કેરીની સિઝન એક માસ જેટલી જ ચાલશે.

છેલ્લા ત્રણ વર્ષમાં કેરીના ઊત્પાદન સામે ચાલુ વર્ષે કેરીનું ઊત્પાદન સૌથી ઓછું રહેશે. ૨૦૦૯ની સિઝનમાં ૬.૨૫ લાખ જેટલા બોકસ ૧૦ કિલો વજનવાળાની આવક મેળવી હતી. જયારે ગયા વર્ષે ૧૫ લાખ બોકસ આવક હતી. જયારે ચાલુ વર્ષે ૪ થી ૫ લાખ બોકસ કેરીની આવક એપીએમસી માર્કેટમાં થવાની સંભાવના છે.

Girnar Ropeway Project – Gets Green Signal

When the union ministry of environment and forest gave the final go-ahead for the Girnar Ropeway Project Especially for Junagadh City District and Gujarat Tourism, despite one of the main pre-conditions - that of re-aligning the towers to avoid the vultures' breeding sites — not being altered by the state government, the forest officials in Gujarat heaved a sigh of relief.

As per Latest Environment Forest Principal Secretary SK Nanda Interviews, he said that, it is not feasible to re-align the route, but the other pre-conditions will be met.

He also said that, "A monitoring committee will be set up to supervise the progress of the work. In a unique initiative, cameras will be installed in the top and middle station to understand what time the birds move around in different seasons and the trolleys will be rescheduled accordingly."

The project has been in the pipeline for nearly 15 years now, but it gained momentum in the last three years as the number of pilgrims to the holy Girnar Shrine on the top of the hill increased.
Naturalists in the region claim the site, where the ropeway is designed to come up, passes through the nesting sites of the extremely endangered 69 Girnari Geedh (vulture) nests.

Moreover, the Girnar reserve forest has been declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2008 and is home to around 25 Asiatic Lions, as per the census of 2010.

Both the political parties have been pitching for the ropeway and when the final announcement came on Monday afternoon, Congress immediately took the credit for it by circulating the news and issuing a press statement thanking the MoEF.

The work on the Ropeway is expected to start soon and it is expected to conclude in approximately a year's time.

Nanda added that a cess of Rs5 will be charged on the ticket which will be used for the conservation of the lions and vultures.

Junagadh Police Training College - Raksha Shakti Horse Show 2011 with Kathiawadi Marwadi Breed

The Junagadh Police organized a KA-MA (Kathiawadi-Marwadi) Raksha Shakti Horse Show 2011 at Junagadh Police Training College grounds on April 2 & 3, in order to promote equestrian as a sports and provide a good platform for police horse breeders, including the Kathiawadi and Marwadi breed.

Kathiawadi horse show in Junagadh attracts thousands of enthusiasts.

About 150 participants with 45 police horses participated in the show. The show also had equestrian games like endurance race, one kilometer race, riding skills, show jumping, tent pegging.

As per Junagadh IGP Pravin Sinha Interviews, he said that, "Our motive is to promote sporting culture among masses and we want to continue with the glorious tradition of mounted police. Moreover, the show provided a platform for the various horse breeders to interact with each other and exhibit their animals."

As per Rajendrasinh Jadeja who is one of the participants and managers of the event, said in his interview that, "For invoking public interest in the equestrian sports, we simplified and translated the names of the games into local language. For example, the jig-jag race, barrel race and Bellard race were converted into 'garo levo', 'matki fod'."

The show was organized with the help of animal husbandry department of state government and Shri Gujarat KA-MA Ashwa Palak Sahkari Mandal Ltd Gondal.

The Best Kathiawadi Stallion award was given to Bahadursinh Gohil of Rajkot while the Best Kathiawadi Mare was won by Shiva Stud Farm. Kishorsinh T Jadeja's mare was adjudged the Best Marwadi Breed Stallion and Parbat Maru's mare won the prize of Best Marwadi Mare.

Eighty-year-old Ata Giga won the award of Best Horse Rider whereas the barrel race was won by Prakash Natha. Aala Arjan Naghera won first prize for 'Reval Chaal'. Mounted police also presented their chivalrous acts with all royal decor and discipline.

Acharya Ghanshyamji of Bhuvaneshwari peeth who is also chairman of KA-MA Horse Breeders Association said the government should plan a breeding policy and dedicated officers must be entrusted with the responsibility to conserve and breed these horses.

Porbandar News - ક્રિકેટ મેદાનનો ૭ થી ૧૦ કરોડના ખર્ચે વિકાસ

Just Few Days Ago, Mehta Sports Private Limited has signed memorandum of understanding(MOU) with Porbandar District Cricket Association for development of Dulip Cricket Ground.

Now want to say something more about this Saurashtra News but in Gujarati Language,

મહેતા સ્પોર્ટ્સ પ્રાઇવેટ લિમિટેડના માલિક જય મહેતા છે. પોરબંદર જિલ્લા ક્રિકેટ એસોસિયેશનના દુલીપ ક્રિકેટ ગ્રાઊન્ડના વિકાસ માટે મહેતા સ્પોર્ટ્સ લગભગ રૂ. ૭ થી ૧૦ કરોડ રૂપિયાનો ખર્ચ કરશે. છેલ્લા સાત વર્ષમાં પોરબંદરનો ઘણો વિકાસ થયો છે. પોરબંદર એ મુંબઇ સ્થિત ઊદ્યોગપતિ જય મહેતાનું વતન છે. મહેતા ગ્રૂપના નામે બિઝનેસ ચાલે છે તે સ્વ. નાનજી કાળીદાસ મહેતા પરિવાર સાથે પહેલેથી ઘરોબો ધરાવે છે.

પોરબંદરથી થોડે કિ.મી. દૂર રાણાવાવમાં મહેતા સિમેન્ટ પ્લાન્ટ છે. મહેતા સ્પોર્ટ્સ પ્રાઇવેટ લિમિટેડ કંપનીએ સામાજિક જવાબદારીને લઇને દુલીપ ક્રિકેટ ગ્રાઊન્ડના વિકાસ પાછળ રૂ. ૭ થી ૧૦ કરોડનો ખર્ચ કરશે.

Sasan Gir National Park - આસપાસનાગામોના ૧૫૦૨૧ ખુલ્લાકૂવાસુરક્ષિત કરવાનું આયોજન

વિશ્વ પ્રસિદ્ધ ગીર અભ્યારણ્ય તથા નેશનલ પાર્કમાં ખુલ્લા કુવામાં અગાઊ સહ પડી જતા મૃત્યુ પામ્યાના બનાવના પગલે રાજય સરકારે સત્વરે ખુલ્લા કૂવાને સુરક્ષિત બનાવ્યા હતાં પરંતુ તેની આજુબાજુના વિસ્તારમાં કુલ ૧૫૦૨૧ જેટલા ખુલ્લા કૂવાઓ હજુ અસ્તિત્વમાં હોવાથી વન્ય પ્રાણીઓ કૂવામાં પડવાની ઘટના બનતી રહે છે.

તે રોકવા ગામના કૂવા ફરતે પ્રોટેકશન વૅલ બનાવવાનું આયોજન હાથ ધરવામાં આવ્યું છે. ગીર અભ્યારણ્ય અને નેશનલ પાર્કમાં ખુલ્લા કૂવા અંગેની જાણકારી મેળવવા જોડિયાના ધારાસભ્ય રાઘવજીભાઇ પટેલે ગાહમાં પૂછેલા પ્રશ્નનો લેખિતમાં ઊત્તર આપતા વનમંત્રી મંગુભાઇ પટેલે જણાવ્યું હતું કે ગીરના અભ્યારણ્ય તથા નેશનલ પાર્કમાં ખુલ્લા કૂવામાં વન્ય પ્રાણીના પડી જવાના પગલે મોત નિપજવાના બનાવો બનતા હતાં.

તેને ધ્યાનમાં લઇને તમામ ખુલ્લા કૂવાઓને પ્રોટેકશન વાલ, પેરાપીટ વાલ તથા લોખંડની જાળી વડે સુરક્ષિત કરવામાં આવતા વન્યપ્રાણીઓના કૂવામાં પડી જવાના અકસ્માતના બનાવો ઘટ્યા છે પંરતુ ગીર અભ્યારણ્યની આજુબાજુના વિસ્તારમાં સર્વે કરતા કુલ ૧૫૦૨૧ ખુલ્લા કૂવાઓ હોવાનું જાણવા મળ્યું છે.

વધુમાં જણાવતા વનમંત્રી મંગુભાઇ પટેલે કહ્યું કે ગીર તેમજ બૃહદ ગીર વિસ્તારના આસપાસ આવેલા ગામોના ખુલ્લા કૂવાઓમાં સહ તથા અન્ય વન્ય પ્રાણીઓને અકસ્માતે ખુલ્લા કૂવામાં પડતા રોકવા પ્રોટેકશન વાલ અથવા પેરાપીટ વાલ બાંધવાની યોજના અમલમાં મુકી છે અને તેને લીધે ૩૧ ડિસેમ્બર ૨૦૧૦ સુધીમાં કુલ ૧૨,૩૨૮ કૂવાઓને સુરક્ષિત કરવામાં આવ્યા છે.

આ સિવાયના બાકી રહેલા કે જાણમાં આવ્યા હોય તેવા ખુલ્લા કૂવાઓને સુરક્ષિત કરવાનું કામ પ્રગતિમાં છે.

Junagadh Police Range Inter Districts Sports Meet 2011

From 10th February 2011, Thursday, The two day Junagadh Police range Inter Districts Sports Meet 2011 began which is organized by Junagadh District Police Staff Department.

Policemen from four districts - Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh and Porbandar -will take part in various competitions. More than 500 participants, from constables to superintendents of police (SPs) will participate in the two-day event.

As per Latest Praveen Sinha Interviews, who is inspector general of police (IGP) of Junagadh Range, said that, "There will be about 22 sporting events and this time, we have included boxing, swimming and table tennis as well. We are organizing the range level sports competitions for the second consecutive year. The idea is to create a sporting culture within the police department. Fitness, stamina and good health are important aspects of better policing. Sports also help create team spirit."

The event started at 8 am on Thursday in presence of Vikas Sahay, (IPS), director, Sports Authority of Gujarat.

All the winners in each category will be given prizes at concluding ceremony.
Director General of police (DGP) Chitranjan Singh will be present at the concluding ceremony.

Horse Riding Club for People of Junagadh City District by Junagadh Police Department

Do you have hobby or interest to learn Horse Riding and if you are living in Junagadh City District area then this one good news for you that,

The district police have started a horse riding club for the people of Junagadh. A one-month basic course has been conceptualized for those interested in horse riding at Junagadh Police Mounted Club. The mounted unit of Junagadh police has 30 Kathiyavadi and Marwadi horses.

As per Latest Dipanker Trivedi Interviews, who is district superintendent of police, "The first batch has 20 people. The strength of the batch will be increased gradually. Both men and women can join the club.''

"Trained horse riders of police department will teach horse riding to the club members and also stable management during the one-month course. They will also be trained in cross country riding. We have also planned an advance training course. There will be special arrangements like change rooms for women riders."

As per Latest Praveen Sinha Interviews, who is inspector general of police Junagadh Range said that, "The horse riding club will act as a good platform to bring people and police closer and in promoting equestrian sports. Our focus will be on enrolling more youths. Horse riding will help the youth in the development of their overall personality. Moreover, horse riding is tradition in the region. This kind of activity also will keep the tradition alive."

"We are also motivating police recruits to join the mounted unit of the police. Junagadh club will be the second horse riding club in Saurashtra managed by the mounted unit of the police. The R D Zala Horse Riding Club of Bhavnagar police is considered one of the best. The game of polo is fast catching up in Bhavnagar. We want the same to happen here."

Junagadh News – Cotton Quality may damaged by Rain after Diwali

Ginners are worried lot because of heavy rain that lashed parts of Saurashtra region appears to have caused considerable damage to the cotton growers as the rainfall will have adverse impact on the quality of the cotton.

Unseasonal rainfall will play spoilsport for the crops, especially cotton.

As per Latest Bharat Wala who is president of Saurashtra Ginners Association that represents 540 ginning units in the region, said that, “The rainfall will have reverse impact on quality of cotton production. We are getting reports of impact of rainfall on cotton from various parts of the region. As of now, we can't say exactly but I am afraid the quality will suffer a lot after this rain," said Wala. He said the region produces 70 per cent of total cotton in the state and that is why the rain was causing worry to farmers and ginners in the region. "It is expected that 1.30 lakh bales of cotton will be produced in the state in this season”

Rainfall was reported in Bhavnagar District, Amreli District and Junagadh Districts. According to district flood control room officials, in Amreli district, Savarkundla received 56 mm rainfall, Khambha received 55 mm, Dhari received 41 mm, Jafrabad received 45 mm, Amreli 25 mm, Liliya 24 mm and Babra received 11 mm rainfall. Apart from Amreli district, parts of Junagadh district, mostly coastal areas, received significant rainfall. Officials said that Una received 44 mm rainfall, Talala (19 mm) Kodinar (57 mm), Keshod (13 mm), (15 mm) and MangrolSutrapada received 14 mm rainfall.

Junagadh News – Amitabh Bachchan in Rangoli this Diwali

This Diwali, Amitabh Bachchan was in Rangoli in Junagadh City by one Kathiyavadi.
Just Watch this video, to know how it can be possible.

Choki Sorath Police Training Academy Junagadh District News Gujarat India

13,000 constables and 868 sub-inspectors are being hired but four training academies can only support 1,640 personnel at a time.

The sudden recruitment of police personnel in the state on a large scale has left the police training departments in a fix as they have neither the capacity nor adequate trainers to manage it. The drive has also resulted in delaying the recruitment of sub-inspectors.

The four police training institutes in the state — Gujarat State Police Training Academy at Karai in Gandhinagar, Police Training Academy at Vadodara, at Police Training CollegeJunagadh City and SRP Training Centre also at Choki Sorath in Junagadh District — have a total capacity to accommodate only 1,640 police personnel while the drive is for recruiting 13,000 constables and 868 sub-inspectors.

Sudhir Sinha, ADGP (Law and Order), said: “Over 16,000 police personnel need to be trained this time, which is the case of the largest recruitment drive ever undertaken in one season. The institutes have a limited capacity and do not even have enough trainers.”

Sinha added: “Sensing the crunch, the state police has decided to postpone the recruitment of sub-inspectors, which was to take place by April-end. Now, it will be conducted six months later.

The candidates would be distributed among all the four institutes whose capacity would be possibly doubled. But it has not been decided as to how to manage the shortage of trainers.”

The first group of constables to undergo training would be SRPF recruits, who would be appointed by July. They will undergo eight months of training starting next month. This will be followed by other constables, who would be given four months of training.

Rajnish Rai, the principal of the SRP Police Training Centre at Choki Sorath, said: “We have not been told how the recruits would be accommodated. Candidates could possibly be sent out of Gujarat for training. But that depends on the permission. We were in a crunch situation last year also when more than 5,000 SRPF candidates were sent for training.”

Sources said some candidates may be sent out of Gujarat for training, but premier training institutes for NSG and BSF would not take more than four to five personnel from Gujarat at a time. In order to train all the recruits, the training period may be shortened, said sources.

The Karai Training Institute has been facing trainer crunch for a long time. Earlier also, the institute had to rope in retired servicemen for the work.

The state government had put a freeze on police recruitment in 1990, which had left 20,000 posts vacant last year.

The Gujarat Police have a sanctioned strength of 75,000 personnel.

Mendarda Taluka Check Dam Junagadh District Water Problem News Gujarat India

In this Junagadh District, water is available in plenty. Eleven years ago, people of Jamka village constructed 55 Check Dams without seeking any help from the Gujarat Government; today, they are functioning without any snag.

Even as water crisis looms large in the region and sowing has reduced to half this summer in Saurashtra, farmers of Jamka village in Mendarda taluka of Junagadh district are busy cultivating millet, pulses, sesame and sugarcane over one lakh hectares.

The village has recorded 100 per cent cultivation this season. This is because water is available in bore wells to irrigate fields. “Water is available at just 40-50 feet depth in bore wells.

Most of the bore wells in the village are active and there is no water shortage,” said village sarpanch Purshottam Sidhpara. Besides, the water level in the two bore wells constructed by the nagarpalika to supply drinking water is quite high.

When many parts of Saurashtra are reeling under scarcity, Jamka village is somewhat unimpacted, thanks to the hard work the villagers did 11 years ago. Mansukh Suvagiya, a farmer-turned-industrialist in Saurashtra, had then come up with a design of a small dam.

He had convinced the villagers to build such dams on their own, with no help from the government. A fund of Rs 45 lakh was raised by villagers for construction of small dams. In the summer of 1999, as many as 55 dams and five ponds were constructed in the village that has a population of little over 3,000. When it rained that year, the water level came up because of the check dams and the ponds, and the village could overcome the drought situation it had been facing for five years.

The water table in the area rose from 500-600 feet to 40-50 feet. The villagers said the level has been like that ever since. The drive by the villagers became such a success that the Gujarat government, considering it a model measure to deal with drought, introduced check dam scheme across the state and decided to fund 60 per cent of the total expenses.

Suvagiya, who runs Jal Kranti Trust, said: “Even then, we were quite clear that it is our problem and we will solve it ourselves. For the same reason, the villagers agreed not to seek government help.” The 55 check dams built then are perfect in design and are functioning even after 11 years.

“The villagers were involved in each and every aspect of constructing the check dam as they wanted their money to be used for the right cause. And that is the reason why we have check dams of such good quality,” said Chunibhai Sidhpara, a villager.

Even today, the village has a committee to keep an eye on the maintenance of check dams and ponds. “A regular follow up is required to check for leaks or any other damage to the dams,” said Sidhpara.

Sasan Gir National Park Sanctuary

Last but not the least is the people's participation that was given credit for the spectacular increase in the population. "We got the maximum of people's participation in the census process this time. Lots and lots of volunteers had joined the exercise," the forest department stated.

Be that as it may, the main functionaries in lion conservation are the residents of the surrounding villages, who do not flinch when a lion kills their livestock. How possessive the villagers are about the lions is evident from this incident of 2007.

Soon after the poaching incidents in 2007, the forest department was seeking help from the villagers for better protection of the lions. The villagers said they would help the department only if it promised that it would not take away any of the lions (meaning, the relocation proposal of the central government).

"'You do not worry about the lions preying on our livestock that is our internal issue. The lions are part of our family; we can deal with them. But don't take them away,' the villagers told me. I was totally impressed by their humane legacy," Modi said.

Much as the king of the jungle gets the lion's share of attention, one should not overlook the other wildlife which keeps the ecosystem robust. Principal Secretary, department of environment and forests, Gujarat, SK Nanda said all volunteers had reported sighting large numbers of sambars, retells and porcupines. "The population of Sambar is estimated to be around 48,000, there are 250 leopards in the Gir Jungle and 1,070 all over Gujarat," he said.

Junagadh News – Amreli is rival as host of lions in Gujarat

Gujarat's Junagadh District seems to getting tough competition from Amreli District, a neighboring district, as a host of the coveted Asiatic lions. As many as 108 lions have been sighted in Amreli which is second only to Junagadh City where 270 have been recorded.

Incidentally, the Gir National Park and Sanctuary is located in Junagadh. While Bhavnagar's grasslands are emerging as a favorite of the king of the jungle, not a single lion has been recorded in Porbandar district.

The latest census has reported the existence of 77 cubs less than one year old, and 75 cubs aged less than three. "40% of the lion population is 'youth', similar to India's human population," Modi quipped as he announced the census results on Sunday.

Rajkot Junagadh Amreli District Received Untimely Rain Hailstones

Amid the heat wave in the state, some parts of Saurashtra, including Rajkot District, Junagadh District and Amreli District, received untimely showers and hailstones on Thursday late evening.

While roads in Jetpur City in Rajkot District were covered by hailstones, traffic was disturbed in Dhoraji City following uprooting of trees on the state highway. The fall of hailstones, which lasted nearly half an hour on Thursday, took the Jetpur City residents by surprise.

The fall of the hailstones brought down the temperature in the town which was reeling under the scorching heat of 41 to 42 degree Celsius. Jamkandrona, also in Rajkot district, also saw fall of hailstones. Following the high speed wind and showers, many trees were reportedly uprooted on the state highway between Dhoraji and Jamkandorna.

According to the district police control room, it took a couple of hours to move the uprooted trees and clear the road for traffic on the highway. According to Met department reports, several villages in Jamkandorna, Jetpur and Dhoraji talukas received 0.5 to 0.75 inch rainfall.

Bagasara Town in Amreli district also received showers along with high-speed wind. Following a heavy shower, the roads in the town were flooded with water. Besides, Dhari and Kukavav in Junagadh District also received a sharp spell of showers.

Sasan Gir National Park News - Asiatic Lion Census Completed

The four-day exercise to count the number of Asiatic Lions at its only abode in the Gir Forest in Junagadh District Saurashtra region of Gujarat concluded.

Officials engaged in the census, refused to be drawn into the number game till all reports were cross-checked and tabulations completed, but preliminary information indicate a steady rise in the lion population in “Greater Gir,” including areas outside the Gir National Park where lions have strayed into lately.

Forest department sources said the lion population could have increased to 390 to 400 despite incidents of poaching and natural deaths during the last five years. In the last census, held in 2005, the count was put at 359 (plus minus 10).

The final result is expected to be announced on the Gujarat Foundation Day at 1st May - 2010.

Asiatic Lions Census India – 200 cameras for Sasan Gir National Park

The 13th Asiatic Lion Population Estimates 2010 will begin on April 24 in Greater Gir Sanctuary, which includes Gir National Park and Sanctuary. The area is spread in four - Junagadh Districts, Amreli Districts, Bhavnagar Districts and Porbandar Districts.

Principal sectary forest and environment department SK Nanda informed the media on Tuesday that the population estimates this time will be different from the earlier exercises.

"For the first time, we are using 100 GPS equipment, 200 cameras and 100 special camera teams for making an accurate documentation of the lions and keeping the exercise error free.

Another first is that the exercise will also incorporate Greater Gir," Nanda said and added that the many non-forest staff as ex-government officials, doctors, journalists, nature lovers would participate in the exercise.

"We have identified 450 locations in the Greater Gir area where enumerators will take estimate of the lions," he said.

Giving details of schedule, Pradeep Khanna, PCCF, Gujarat, said the exercise will start on April 24 and continue till April 27.The findings will be announced on April 29. "About 1,600 people will take part in the survey, out of which 100 will be volunteers," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, senior IFS officer RV Asari, the nodal officer for the survey, said, in order to make a comprehensive survey, the Greater Gir Jungle area has been divided into seven regions, 28 zones and 100 sub-zones.

Saurashtra Kutch News – about Narmada Water Pipelines

With soaring temperature, water looks a distant mirage in Saurashtra and Kutch where many villages and small towns are reeling under acute water shortage for want of connectivity with Narmada Canal Water Pipelines.

While the state government claims to have supplied Narmada pipeline water to 10,000-odd villages and more than 100 cities, Amreli City, Junagadh City, Bhavnagar City and Surendranagar City, Morbi City and Kutch are getting water supply only once in four or 10 days.

"If some areas are hit by water scarcity, we will do our best to supply water there through pipelines. In fact, the administration has already been instructed to take necessary steps to ensure adequate water supply in those areas. That apart, collectors of several districts hit by water paucity have been instructed to ensure fodder supply for animal husbandry in the affected areas to be made available at cheaper rates from the forest department," said State Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel.

According to Gujarat State Water Resources Minister Nitin Patel, 1,100 cusec water is released on daily basis in Narmada canal to meet the requirement of Saurashtra and Kutch. "It is true that most of the reservoirs are drying up. Whatever water left in them has been conserved for drinking purpose. Yet, we are trying to find other alternative means to upgrade water supply in the affected areas. The alternative means could be repairing of hand pumps and sending water tankers," Patel said.

The water reservoirs report inadequate water level as the state registered only 76 per cent rain fall last year. After the last year monsoon, the water level in reservoirs was measured only 50 per cent, following which, the government ordered that the water in reservoirs be kept reserved for potable water. At present, there is only 24 per cent water left in 195 reservoirs across the state, which, it is feared, may not last till June 25.

Kesar Mango Talala Gir Junagadh District News Gujarat India

A Major mango feast is in the offing for fruit lovers in the region due to an early arrival of the Kesar Keri variety coupled with a bumper crop this season.

This year’s first auction of the fruit began at the Talala Marketing Yard on Tuesday (April 6), which is generally held in May.

According to experts, the season is likely to last till June and rates may also come down as the yield is reported to be 15 per cent more than the last two years.

On the first day of the auction, 8,400 boxes (each weighing 10 kg) arrived from various villages in the Gir region of Junagadh district.

The minimum rate for 10 kg was Rs 150 — nearly Rs 100 less than the previous year. Sadarsinh Chauhan, a member of the Talala Marketing Yard, said: “The weather was perfect this time, as a result of which the fruit has arrived early and in a large quantity. The first lot has arrived with that of hafoos.”

Last season, the marketing yard had auctioned over six lakh boxes, which is expected to increase significantly this year. “Initial trend indicates there will be 15 per cent more yield this season. On the first day itself there were 300 more boxes,” said yard chairman Chagan Kansagra.

Sakkarbaug Zoo Junagadh City News Samachar Gujarat India

Sakkarbaug Zoo Junagadh City, which has the distinction of housing two pairs of African Cheetahs, has removed the felines from public view due to illness.

The animals have been put under critical care for the second time since their arrival from Singapore in March 2009. Zoo officials said on Monday that three of the four cheetahs — a male and two females— have taken ill, and that the condition of one of them is critical.

Zoo Superintendent Y J Rana said the animals have developed infection in the respiratory system and swelling in the liver. Besides local veterinarians, an expert from Anand City Gujarat India has been called in. They are also in constant touch with experts from the Singapore Zoo.

Sources, meanwhile, said that two cheetahs have responded well to the treatment and have reportedly started taking food, while one has not taken food for the last two days.

The Gujarat State government had brought the four felines from Singapore in exchange of three Asiatic lions. To take proper care of the animals, zoo officials were imparted training in Africa and Singapore.

Junagadh Bhavnagar District New Samachar Saurashtra Gujarat India

Gandhians, others join hands for ‘coastal yatra’ against land acquisition.

Say unmindful industrialization, capitalist-imperialism led to economic disparity, corruption and poverty.

Opposition to land acquisition in the state is getting momentum. The Gujarat Lok Samiti, headed by noted Gandhian, Chunibhai Vaidya, has announced plans to take out a ‘yatra’ along the state’s coastline to mobilize people against such acquisition for industrial houses.

Though the date for the yatra is yet to be finalized, Vaidya, flanked by columnist and thinker Prakashbhai Shah and activist Ilaben Bhatt, said it would start from Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and terminate at Umargam in south Gujarat. Umargam is the place where retired Army Colonel Pratap Save died in police custody after being arrested for leading a protest against acquisition for setting up of a port by a multinational company in April 2000.

Vaidya, Shah and Bhatt said they were not opposed to development, but extremely concerned about the displacement of the local people. They said the acquisition of agricultural land by the government for industries has resulted in huge unemployment among the villagers.

Unmindful industrialization and capitalist-imperialism has resulted in economic disparity, promoted corruption and poverty as also crime against women, they said.

Vaidya said, farmers at several places like Anwarpura in Patan, Vadodara-Jhala in Junagadh district, Jharpara village in Kutch district and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district are already opposing the land acquisition for industrial purposes. He said the government was even acquiring the common ‘gauchar’ land and handing them over to the industrialists, leaving no land for the cattle in the village. This was weakening the rural economy, he said.

“This is inhuman and undemocratic,” said Shah.

Meanwhile, farmers in Ichchapore village near Surat have moved the court against Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Agriculture Minister and the Union Environment Minister over the allotment of a big piece of land to a private firm, Gujarat Hira Bourse, for setting up a gem and jewellery park.

The land was acquired by the government for setting up an industrial estate but the plan could not materialize. So, they allotted it to the private party.

The farmers are now demanding it back, saying the allotment was against the land acquisition provisions of the state government.

Several farmers from villages around Sanand have also declared to launch a protest movement against the acquisition of more land for the Tata Motors’ Nano car project. Recently, they called on the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation officials in Gandhinagar and demanded a halt to the acquisition, saying a large number of farmers would be rendered jobless.

Farmers in the adjoining Manjusar industrial estate in Vadodara have also opposed the acquisition of land for expanding the industrial estate.