Surat Beat

First co-op credit card introduced
With the launching of the Vasudhara Credit Card8217;, the Surat People8217;s Co-operative Bank Limited has become the first co-operative bank of Gujarat to have introduced a credit card. At the launching function on Thursday, Bank Chairman Jagdish Mehta said bank customers can avail this facility by depositing Rs 500 and they can get credit on purchase of various commodities from 25 establishments. The card holders, who pay Rs 1000 extra, will also be covered under various insurance schemes for five years. The bank also plans to tie up with 30 other establishments of the city.

Services hired
The Surat Municipal Corporation SMC has hired the services of noted soil and hydraulic experts Dr C R Shah and M B Desai, who will survey the weir-cum-causeway, to explore the possibility of constructing an intake well and water works at Borwada. Standing committee chairman Ajay Choksi said after the survey report, Ahmedabad-based Multi-Media, a body of structural engineers, will prepare structural designs of the project. The SMC plans to construct a 300 MLD water works to cater to remaining 32 per cent areas of the city. According to a senior official, the SMC will have to augment water supply by 700 MLD in 2001. The existing capacity of the SMC-run water works is 300 MLD.

Appointed
The Rashtriya Janata Party8217;s state unit president Madhusudan Mistry has appointed Narayan Mansukhani as Surat city president. An engineer by training, Mansukhani is associated with a number of professional bodies and social organisations.

Timber seized
The forest department Vyara Range seized timber worth Rs 8 lakh and registered 71 cases of thefts in the past one year. Four boats, which were used for smuggling the woods, have also been seized, besides three bullock carts.