In Brief — Pune

Khanvilkar for restoration of power tariff
Pune: Congress MLA Digvijay Khanvilkar today took a dig at the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Government stating that it was bent upon crushing the farmers under the hike in agricultural power and water supply tariff, although Sena chief was busy in proclaiming free power for farmers. He has advised farmers in his constituency not to pay the electricity bills at the increased rates, Khanvilkar said adding that the peasants wanted to restore the power tariff to Rs 300 per horse power rather than getting in free. Speaking to news persons here, the former minister stated that he recently submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi pressing for a thoughtful decision on the power and water tariff hike.

Internet for Kolhapur
Kolhapur: Kolhapur will be on the Internet map of India by January 1999 announced general manager of Kolhapur Telecom, Krishna Kumar here today. Addressing a press conference to brief the media about future plans of Kolhapur Telecom, he said a detailed programme to provide 15000 more connections in the district will soon be underway after the waiting list of connections is cleared by mid-1999. Initially 700 subscribers will be provided Internet services, he said adding that further services will be provided after judging the response. The registration, however, has not yet started as the equipments have not arrived. It will start soon after the arrival of required machinary after December 98, he added. The tariff rates for the internet services will be Rs.3000 per annum for 100 hours of service, Rs. 6500 per annum for 250 hours and Rs,10,000 per annum or 500 hours of service, he explained. He also disclosed that Kolhapur will be one of the Telecom centres to provide Wireless In Local Loope (WILL)services. He said Sangli will have a Marathi telephone directory next year.

Recovery
Sangli: The Sangli municipal administration would recover Rs 2.03 crore from those found guilty in pushing the then Sangli Municipal Council into a fiscal emergency during 1986 to 1994, municipal commissioner Asim Kumar Gupta told media persons. Chief Minister Manohar Joshi had ordered an inquiry as demanded by then municipal council president D K Patil. The matter was later investigated by then district collector Sanjay Ubale. Ubale’s report saw the light of the day only after a vociferous demand from Sena MLA Nitin Shinde.

Patil dead
Sangli: Former MLA and president of Vita Municipality Hanmantrao Patil died of heart attack on THhursday. He was 69. District guardian minister Anna Dange and many others paid their last respects to the departed.