IN Brief

Sanctuary land illegally allotted to industries,says Gohil
GANDHINAGAR: The Rajkot district collector had ignored advisory from the Sunredranagar Collectorate over the transfer of land — reserved for the wild ass sanctuary — to the salt producers,the Opposition Congress said during the debate on motion for Vote of Thanks on the Governor’s Address.
On the opening day of the debate,Congress Legislative Party leader Shaktisinh Gohil said that no land could be parted from the Little Rann of Kutch as it was protected. “But flouting all norms,land has been given to industries,” he said,pointing to a letter written by the additional collector of Surendranagar for the sanctuary,wherein the latter had pointed out the irregularity.
He said the additional collector had contested the veracity of the survey numbers in his letter to the state government. The letter claims that the survey number shown as being on the borders four villages does not have any supporting documents like ‘7/12 copy’,so “there is enough reason to believe that it is of the adjoining land of the sanctuary and Hadkiya creek”,he said. “The letter also quotes the oral order of April 4,1997 of the Gujarat High Court banning the transfer or renewal of lease of protected land of the sanctuary,” he added.

Gohil told the House that the Rajkot collector had allotted 640 acres to Vinod Salt,175 acres to Lakhdhir Salt,250 acres to Jaydeep Corporation and 283.19 acres to Bipin Salt even though he had no power to do so. “Land has been allotted for a power plant in Kutch against the recommendations of the Fisheries Commissioner. Due to this,the fishermen and the salt agariyas of Kutch have lost their livelihood,” he said. He added that due to pollution of the state’s coastal area,the fishermen were forced to cross into Pakistani waters and ended up in jails there.

Ashram land encroachment: Govt working out quantum of penalty
GANDHINAGAR: The state government is working out the quantum of penalty to be imposed on the Asaram Bapu Ashram for encroachment of land in Ahmedabad,which it is said,has been recovered.
State Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel told Natvarsinh Thakor during Question Hour in the Assembly that the government took back the possession on January 8. The authorities have taken back 67,099 square metre land.
Meanwhile,in reply to a separate question,the minister stated that the Ashram had encroached upon more than 4.5 hectares in the Jahangirpura area of Surat and that “the government takes Rs 70,000 per month as fine for the encroachment”.
Senior Congress legislator Arjun Modhvadia,however,accused the government of being lenient to Asaram,who was earlier close to some leaders of the BJP at the state and national levels.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad special from April 1
VADODARA: THE Western Railway has decided to introduce a special train between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad to clear the extra rush of passengers.

Train No 0989 Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad will leave Mumbai Central every Tuesday,Thursday and Sunday at 10.50 pm between April 1 and June 29 to reach Ahmedabad at 6 am the next day.

Train No 0990 will leave Ahmedabad every Wednesday,Friday and Monday at 09.40 pm to reach Mumbai Central at 6.15 am the next day from April 2 to June 30,2010.

According to the press release by WR,the train will have AC Two-Tier,AC Three-Tier,Sleeper Class and General Second Class coaches.

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The train will halt at Borivali,Surat and Vadodara stations in both directions. Bookings will start from March 5.