Quickbites

Gavaskar gets govt's highest award This was announced by Chief Minister Manaohar Joshi at a press conference after the weekly cabinet mee...

Gavaskar gets govt8217;s highest award

This was announced by Chief Minister Manaohar Joshi at a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting today. Joshi, who is also chief of the Mumbai Cricket Association MCA, said the award, which carries Rs 5 lakh in cash, a citation and a plaque, would be presented to the Little Master at a ceremony to be held at the Wankhede stadium. The date for the function would be announced later, he said.

The award, the highest of its kind given by the state government in the field of arts, science, sports and literature, was instituted in 1995 soon after the Shiv Sena-BJP government came to power in the state, Joshi said.

Earlier recipients of the award include eminent Marathi litterateur, P L Deshpande and melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.

PTI

Govt okays Sawantwadi expressway

State cabinet today approved the Rs 1100 crore first phase of the Mumbai-Sawantwadi Express Highway through private participation. Addressing a press conference, Joshisaid the first phase beginning in April 1999, will include the construction of the 114.75 kms Mumbai-Ambet line which will be completed within a period of one and half year. He said the process of land accquisition for the purpose would be completed by March 31, next year at cost Rs 50 crore. The Mumbai-Ambet expressway would pass through the Panvel-Uran National Highway number 4B. It will start from village Dutunkhar and pass through Rave, Khoper, Davanpada, Kolghar, Beloshi, Mahadevkhal, Tala and Morba. If private participation is not fortcomming, he said the state government is keeping the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation MSRDC option open.

UNI

Deaf persons demand bus concessions

The Maharashtra Deaf Pride has threatened to hold a demonstration at Azad Maidan next Wednesday if their demands for bus concessions are refused by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC.

A delegation met Mayor Nandu Satam at his office last Friday to discuss their problems. Theassociation demanded concessional facilities on BEST buses for deaf and dumb persons as was being provided by the Thane Municipal Corporation and in the states of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

BKS makes its debut in Bollywood

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The Bharatiya Kamgar Sena launched its wing in Bollywood Chitrapat unit with members from the Hindi film industry today.

8220;Chitrapat unit will work for the legitimate rights of unorganised workers of the film industry,8221; Minister of state for Home Gajanan Kirtikar said while inaugurating the unit at Filmistan studio in suburban Goregaon.

Kirtikar insisted that labourers working in the industry should get all benefits available to other sectors. Group insurance, common funds and compensation if the worker is injured during a shooting are the major demands of the unit, Kirtikar, who is also a upneta of Sena, said.

The BKS is the labour wing of the Sena. The BKS chairman Ramkrishna More said gratuity, pension and bonus 8212; all such benefits must beavailable to the workers. BKS general secretary Krishnakant Kondlekar said his organisation was committed for the rights of film industry workers and would use its full might for achieving the same. Some workers opined that political patronage was necessary so that they could put pressure on producers and other authorities in the film industry.

UNI