30-07-02

Baroda Loses Out On Holiday Inn: The Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Centre at Akota Gardens, Vadodara, has no association with the global Holiday Inn group of hotels effective July 27, 2002. The management arrangement between Six Continents Hotels of UK (which lent the brand name Holiday Inn and extended management and operation support) and New Light Hotels and Resorts (the owners of the property) stands terminated. The hotel is now called Tropicana and has retained its entire staff. Excluding this property, the global hotel group currently operates 14 properties in India, including 10 Holiday Inns, one Crowne Plaza and three Inter-Continentals.

Museology Alumni Meet: A meeting of Museology alumni will be held at 11.30 a.m. on July 31, at the MS University Department of Museology, to plan the department’s 50th year celebrations.

27-07-02

The Costs Of VMC’s ‘Expansion’: The Gujarat government has included four more villages within the limits of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC): Sama, Tarsali, Harni and Kapurai. VMC will therefore have to shell out Rs.150 million per ward initially for their inclusion in the corporation limits. VMC already incurs an expense of Rs. 600 million annually to manage the 10 administrative wards. The expenses are for maintenance of roads, drainage, water pipelines and electricity for streetlights. By way of returns, VMC will only receive an amount of Rs. 600 as tax per household for water and drainage. It will also receive property tax, but only after a year. In these areas it will also have to construct overhead tanks, each with a capacity of 1,800 million litres and at a cost of Rs. 20 million. Once the are areas are included in the city limits, they will also be declared as election wards. Incidentally, Atladara, Jambua, Maneja and Gorwa villages were included within VMC limits in 1980, and they are still not fully provided for.

Pushpabaug Faces Demolition: Pushpabaug is the original building that housed MS University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. A recent survey report submitted by a committee of structural engineers recommends that it be demolished, and this has not pleased many conservationists and heritage lovers. It was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1878 and was one of the bungalows meant for the subedars. It has also been used by noted Gujarati litterateur Ramanlal V. Desai as his residence and it is said that he wrote most of his famous works there. It was handed over to MSU in 1940. It once housed the Museology Department as well and was used as a studio by senior students. The demolition suggestion still needs to be approved by the heritage committee, the building committee and the MSU syndicate. In the third category of heritage buildings in MSU, the building is not considered a priority.

Radio’s Origins In Baroda: All India Radio (AIR) turned 75 on July 23, 2002. But what are radio’s origins in Vadodara? Baroda was the seventh city in India to get radio services (in 1939), again thanks to Maharaja Sayajirao III? It was then called ‘Diamond Jubilee Broadcasting Service’ and it was set up essentially to help in rural upliftment and for the promotion of Indian classical music. The Vadodara AIR Station archives has some rare records like that of Ustad Faiyyaz Khan, the court musician of Sayajirao, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Netaji and Pandit Nehru. In March 2002 AIR Vadodara began FM transmissions. Incidentally, 67-year-old Dr. Hemendra Vaidya of Baroda has been an AIR Vividh Bharati fan for 55 years! Here’s what he said about radio to an Indian Express interviewer: "I believe that television makes you idle, radio makes you ideal."

MSU-Sagar Collaboration: MS University‘s Faculty of Performing Arts may have a collaboration of sorts with Sagar Film & TV Academy (SFTVA) in order to introduce new courses in acting. Established in 1951, the faculty is among the oldest institutions in India. The lack of funds prevents the setting up of a studio with the latest in television and film production equipment as per the new University Grants Commission guidelines. SFTVA has a well-equipped studio in Vadodara and it can provide MSU students the needed professional training in television and film shooting techniques at the Sagar Film City. MSU on its part can help SFTVA by providing the quality education in dramatics and theatre that is essential for budding actors. A project of the veteran film personality Ramanand Sagar, SFTVA is supposed to be the first private film institute in western India. Scheduled to open in September, it is spread over 35 acres on Ajwa Road on the outskirts of Vadodara. The academy plans to offer a three-month course in acting and other courses related to TV and films.

Rajkot Tigress May Mate At Sayajibaug: Riddhi and Niddhi, two tigresses at Rajkot’s Dindayal Upadhyay Zoo, will leave town for a while to meet their mates. They will go their separate ways, one to Baroda’s Sayaji Zoo and one to the Junagadh zoo. If the mating is successful, the first cub will be kept by the Rajkot zoo. It more than one cub is born, there will be ‘equal division’ among both the concerned zoos. Riddhi and Niddhi were both born at the Rajkot zoo in March 1999, to Radha (brought from Bhubhaneshwar) and Uday (brought from the Junagadh zoo). Of course, all these breeding exchange programmes are first approved by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), New Delhi. We wonder if anyone ever asks for the animals’ consent!

Two Architects Win National Awards: Barodian architects Karan Grover and Anand Shirgaokar have won the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)-Snowcem awards 2001. Shirgaokar won for a residential complex at Deolali, Maharashtra, and Grover for the Confederation of Indian Industries’ Institute of Quality building in Bangalore. Both architects are alumni of MS University’s Department of Architecture.

BMC Medical Seats: The Baroda Medical College (BMC) has obtained recognition for 40 more seats in MBBS. This will increase its intake capacity from 140 to 180 seats from this academic year. Incidentally, it is the only government medical college to have MCI (Medical Council of India) recognition.

ATM At Railway Station: An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the ICICI Bank has been commissioned at the Vadodara railway station.

26-07-02

NRI Parents Association: The Association of Non Resident Indians’ (NRI) Parents in Vadodara met on July 21 at Hotel Surya. The function was chaired by professor R.M. Pancholi. The next meeting of the association is scheduled for July 31. Information regarding its time and venue will be available from the president, M.B. Mehta (Phone: +91-265-331846).

Workshop On Maps: Shishu Milap will organise a workshop on geographical map making for teachers and other interested persons on July 27 at the Science Education Centre (12 Krishna Society, Haribhakti Extension, Old Padra Road), Shishu Milap. Interested persons may contact Preeti Dalwadi on +91-265-342539.

Homeopathy Seminar: The Vadodara Homeopathic Academic Circle will organise a two-day seminar on July 27 and July 28 at Holiday Inn.

Exhibition By Saaz: Saaz Creations will organise an exhibition-cum-sale of salwar-kameez, saris, short tops in crepe, chiffon and handloom at Trisha gallery on July 30-31. The highlight of the display will be the beadwork of Chhota Udepur tribals.

Exhibition Of Sculptures: The Sarjan Art Gallery will have an exhibition of sculptures titled ‘Conscious To Subconscious’ by sculptor Mahendra Pandya. The exhibition will be inaugurated by artist Jeram Patel on July 28 and will continue till August 10. Mahendra Pandya is one of Baroda’s senior sculptors and among the first students at MS University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. He was also the Head of the Department of Sculpture at MSU. His public sculpture in the city of Baroda is the ABB Fountain at Fatehgunj.

Stress Management: A stress management workshop will be organised at Yoga Niketan, Fatehgunj, from August 8 to 31. It will be conducted by Dr. B.M. Palan, former head of the Department of Hypnotherapy at SSG Hospital.

First Aid Programme: A training programme on First Aid has been organised by Gujarat Safety Council, the Factory Inspectorate of Vadodara and Baroda Dairy on August 8 and 9. Those interested may ring up +91-265-397556/392988.

22-07-02

Kiran More Sells Less In Baroda Than In Europe: Did you know that former Indian wicket-keeper Kiran More has a helmet manufacturing unit in Baroda that exports helmets to Europe? He exports over 5,000 helmets to Europe every month, but in Baroda he sells only 30 helmets a month. Awareness about helmets is poor in Gujarat, and most people buy the non-ISI helmets that cost about Rs. 150. The ISI approved helmets cost Rs. 250 and more. In Gujarat buyers are mostly those who do a lot of highway driving or the middle-aged. Helmet usage will pick up in Gujarat only when the traffic police become tough.

Women’s Studies Course: MS University’s Women’s Studies Research Centre is offering its third interdisciplinary course in women’s studies from August 5. The nine-week part-time course covers key issues in the area of women’s studies. Post graduates from any discipline as well as those with HSC and at least two years experience with NGOs are eligible for the course. The last date for submission of forms is July 30.

Seat Reservation For Children Of MSU Staff: Five per cent seats will be reserved in the Arts, Science and Home Science faculties of MS University (along with 50 seats in the Commerce faculty) for the children of non-teaching staff of MSU. The seat reservations have been confined to only the non-professional courses.

Seshan Nominated: Mr. V. Seshan, Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Vadodara complex, has been nominated for the International Peace Prize for the year 2002 by the United Cultural Convention of USA in recognition of his 45 years of public service in teaching and social development. His name is also being recommended to other world bodies such as the UN and UNESCO.

Nita Thakore Co-ordinates Textile Art Exhibition: India has been invited this year to share the platform with Italy at the 8th European Patchwork Meeting at St. Marie aux Mines, Alsace, France, in mid September. The Indian component of this exhibition is being curated and co-ordinated by Baroda-based textile artist Nita Thakore. The 2002 European Patchwork Meeting will exhibit 800 patchworks and will be spread over 15 sites and four towns. The theme is ‘The Good Earth’. Nita Thakore has also been invited to take ‘The Good Earth’ to Germany.

18-07-02

City To Receive Narmada Water: Water supply in Vadodara may improve by August-end. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has been assured by the Gujarat government that water from the Narmada canal will be diverted to the Mahi river through the escape canal. The water level in Baroda’s Ajwa and other water sources has fallen due to the reduced rainfall. If the level of water in the Mahi is restored, water distribution in the city should be able to pick up.

Disposal Of Bio-Medical Waste: The December 2002 deadline to implement the Indian government’s rules regarding the disposal of bio-medical waste is round the corner. Baroda’s doctors are now joining hands with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board to quickly tackle the problem. Till now, most of the bio-medical waste is dumped at the municipal waste yard, which is a potential health hazard. Roughly 1.5 Tonnes of medical waste is generated in the city each year. The Bio-Medical Waste Rules, 1998, stipulate that the waste must be categorised into 10 different types and treatment options (incineration, sterilisation and chemical treatment). Authorisation for disposal has to be sought from the Pollution Control Board and reports must be filed annually.

16-07-02

Tejas Vidyalaya Awarded ISO Certification: Tejas Vidyalaya has become the first school in Vadodara, and among the few day schools in India, to be awarded the ISO 9001:2000 International Quality Standards Certificate for both academics (syllabus, examination and evaluation systems, etc.) and non-academics (administration, kitchen, etc.). Incidentally, the Department of Metallurgy in MS University’s Faculty of Technology & is also trying for similar certification.

Film Institute In Baroda: Supposed to be the first private film institute in western India, the Sagar Film & Television Academy spread is due to open on the outskirts of Baroda in September. The academy, spread over 35 acres on Ajwa Road, is a project of the veteran film personality Ramanand Sagar. The academy plans to offer a three-month course in acting and other courses related to TV and films.

Senior Citizens Show: Vadodara’s senior citizens have decided to get together and stage a performance at C.C. Mehta Auditorium on August 11. They will offer skits, dances, a magic show and recitals of vocal and instrumental music on the theme of social harmony. Organised by the Retired Officers’ Forum (ROF), the programme is open to members of senior citizens’ associations in the city. An artistic background is not essential and any interested senior citizens can perform. If interested, please ring up Mr. Kwatra (793526) or Mr. Popli (772995).

Website For Differently Abled: A city-based NGO, Society for the Physically Handicapped (SPH), has launched <www.vishitang.com>, a matrimonial website for the physically challenged. It will also help users to search for appropriate job opportunities as well as help with resources from abroad.

Electronic Photo-Identity Cards: The district administration will soon provide electronic photo-identity cards (EPICs) to another 1.2 million voters in Vadodara. These voters could not be provided EPICs when the system was first introduced in 1994. The exercise will begin on August 5 and go on for a month. Vadodara has a total electorate of 2.4 million.

15-07-02

Passport Office Online: The Regional Passport Office (RPO) at Ahmedabad has decided to go online by mid-August. Ahmedabad’s will be the third RPO to introduce online registration of passport applications, after Chennai and Bangalore. Online submission will be done prior to physical submission of application forms with all supporting documents at the RPO counter.

13-07-02

Peaceful Rathyatra: Gujarat sighed with relief as the people by and large, helped along by the unprecedented security, kept the peace on July 12 and the Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath passed off without any hitches in Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

Fine Arts Dean Resigns: Dhruv Mistry, the renowned sculptor, stepped down as the Dean of the MS University Fine Arts Faculty. He resigned just three days after his deanship was confirmed. MSU Vice Chancellor Professor K.C. Upadhyaya has refused to accept the resignation and may ask Mistry to reconsider it.

Hornbills Born At Zoo: Baroda’s Sayajibaug Zoo has created a record of by successfully breeding the Indian pied hornbill for the fourth consecutive time. Incidentally, the city’s zoo is the only one in India where this bird has bred in captivity. The first successful breeding in the zoo was in 1996. The young ones survived and were housed in a separate cage. Recently, the original pair was used for captive breeding that saw the birth of two more hornbills.

12-07-02

Vadodara Railway Division May Be ‘Downsized’: In an important development, the Railway Ministry has cleared the long-pending proposal for a separate railway division at Ahmedabad. Parts of Vadodara, Ajmer and Rajkot divisions may be taken away and merged to form the Ahmedabad division. This move may create hassles for Vadodara Division which stretches from Surat in South Gujarat to Gandhidham in North Gujarat. Vadodara Division may have to spare 5,000 employees for the new division and many employees may have to be technically shifted to Ahmedabad Division. Vadodara Division now has about 27,000 employees. Vadodara takes pride in its railway heritage since the Gaekwad days because of the excellent services that the Gaekwad State Baroda Railways provided in the mid-19th century.

Astronomy Workshop: The Community Science Centre (DDE-ORG Systems, Sarabhai Premises, Vadi-Wadi) is organising a one-day workshop on ‘Basic & Practical Astronomy’ on July 21. Interested students (from standard V to X) may register on or before July 18.

Harishophone – New Musical Device: A recent application from Vallabh Vidyanagar to the Guinness Book of World Records pertains to a new musical instrument that uses a carpenter’s saw blade, a violin bow and a resonating box with a phonogram attached to it. Its inventor, Harish Gershom, has called it a ‘Harishophone’. Harish teaches chemistry at RPTP Science College and is connected with the Musical Artistes Association of Gujarat.

11-07-02

Elaborate Security For Rathyatra: The Jagannath Rathyatra on 12th July will follow the traditional route in Vadodara. The Rathyatra has been organised in the city for the last 20 years by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon). The Rathyatra will start from the railway station at 1.30 p.m. and proceed through Kothi, Raopura, Jubilee Baug, Nyay Mandir, Dandia Bazaar, Khanderao Market, Lal Court, R.V. Desai Road and Sardar Market and end at Polo Ground around 7 p.m. The city police have made elaborate security arrangements for the event. The additional forces deployed include one company of the Central Reserve Police Force, two Rapid Action Force battalions and five companies of the State Reserve Police. Video cameras will record the procession throughout its course and also keep a track of the crowds on the roadside. The Organised Crime Squad will accompany the chariot along with a team of the Rapid Action Force.

10-07-02

Erratic Monsoon Makes City Uneasy: The monsoon first waterlogged Vadodara, and now it is hiding and has the city worried. Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials say that water supply may have to be restricted to once a day till September if the rains do not reappear. The Fajalpur French Well was affected by saline water three months ago. The city needs 55 million gallons of water daily, of which 15 million gallons are drawn from Fajalpur. The other sources of water are the tubewells on the Mahi and four French wells in Raika, Dholka, Poicha and Ajwa. With the Ajwa level at 205 feet, the water can be drawn from it only till September. The only other alternative is to pay the state government for water from other sources like the Dev and Sukhi dams.

New VMC Commissioner: Arvind Agarwal, a 1984 batch IAS officer, has taken charge as the Commissioner of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). He was earlier Commissioner (Agriculture), Commissioner (Higher Education), Director (Transport) and Collector and District Magistrate of Bharuch. He replaces J.N. Singh, who has gone to Manila on study leave.

08-07-02

Train Services Restored: The train services between Mumbai and Surat began again on 6th July. The services had been closed for nine days because heavy rains had washed away the tracks on a bridge between Palghar and Dahanu Road. At present only a single track has been made operational.

05-07-02

Land For Health Services: The Standing Committee of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation proposes to give out VMC plots of land reserved for health services on a 99-year lease. A decision in this regard may soon be finalised soon. Nine plots – from 2,000 to 12, 000 sq. metres – have been identified, with the price varying from Rs. 2, 500 to Rs. 6,100 per sq. metre.

Turban Exhibition: A collection of 125 paags, pagdis and safas is being exhibited by Avantilal Chavla from July 8 to 10 at MS University’s Faculty of Performing Arts. Chavla has already gained an entry into the Limca Books of Records for his turban collection. The major attraction is a 10-feet diameter pagdi weighing 10 kg. The display includes a variety of headgear from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Chavla is a Reader in the Dramatics Department who has worked on a research project on the headgear worn during the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad.

Musical Drama Workshop: July 8 onwards: Amsterdam pop star Daniel Dachc will conduct a five-week Musical Drama workshop for children at Funtime Hobby Time. The workshop will cover vocal and instrumental music and dramatics.

Training For Councillors: Twenty eight women councillors of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will attend a two-day training programme conducted by the All India Institute for Local Self Government at Pune from July 8.

03-07-02

NRIs & PIOs Can Take Out More Money: With India’s foreign exchange reserves at a comfortable $ 57 billion, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to allow repatriation of funds out of balances held by non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) in their non-resident ordinary Rupee (NRO) accounts in cases of meeting educational expenses of children, medical expenses and sale proceeds of immovable properties. The RBI has allowed repatriation of $30,000 per academic year to meet children’s educational expenses, $100,000 for medical expenses abroad of the account holder or his family members, and up to $100,000 per year representing sale proceeds of immovable property held by them for a period not less that 10 years.

Income-Tax Raids: Income-tax officials raided the premises of a Vadodara-based business group on Tuesday (2nd July). The group is in construction and real estate businesses and education related activities. About 160 government officials raided 19 residential and business premises of the group.

Philology Courses: MS University's Department of Russian will offer short-term and long-term courses in Russian philology for beginners and advanced learners. Admissions will begin from 4th July and classes will start from 15th July. Students who have passed SSC may contact the department between 10 a.m. and 12 noon or ring 786336.

Acupuncture Camp: As a part of its celebrations for completing 30 years, the Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation for Health Education & Welfare is organising a free acupuncture camp on July 6 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in collaboration with Lions Club of Alkapuri.

Vastu Shastra Lectures: Baroda Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya (BSM) has organised a series of lectures on Vastu Shastra and Jyotish Shastra at BSM from July 3 to July 6 (10.30 a.m.). Admissions to courses in Astrology and Sanskrit are also going on.

02-07-02

Health Check-ups In Schools: Vadodara district officials have started a health check-up programme of all students in the district’s primary schools and anganwadis. A total of 504,868 children will be covered by 80 medical teams. For children with serious health problems, a team of five specialists has been formed. Last year, in a similar survey 96 % of the children in the district had been covered and 1,012 children with serious health problems were provided specialised healthcare free of cost.

Prohibitory Orders: In order to maintain law and order, the district administration has issued prohibitory orders against possessing arms, holding meetings and taking out any processions in Vadodara. The order will remain in effect till 9th July.

Marking Of Packed Food: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has announced that it will strictly follow a central directive according to which manufacturers and retailers have to clearly demarcate their products as being vegetarian or non-vegetarian in nature. Products such as mineral water, carbonated water, milk and milk derivatives are exempted.

Dry Spell Continues: The rains again skipped Baroda on Monday and allowed some more time for the city and district authorities and homeowners to ‘dry up’ and prepare for the next round. Meanwhile, work is on to restore the train traffic between Gujarat and Maharashtra. However, the damage to bridge number 144 between Palghar and Dahanu Road is extensive and it is likely that train services may be affected till 7th July. Many trains have been cancelled and others have been rerouted.

01-07-02

Violence Again In City: After many peaceful weeks violence again raised its ugly head in Baroda on Sunday (30th June) afternoon. Six persons were injured and police fired at least six tear gas shells to disperse clashing mobs in the Kharwawad area of the city.

Monsoon Relaxes: Sunday saw a welcome dry spell after several days of heavy rains. The sun was out for a long stretch, city services had some breathing space to set the ‘house’ in order again and clothes could be hung out to dry. Maybe the elements were allowing time out for the football World Cup and the India-Sri Lanka cricket match at the Oval.

Devyanidevi Passes Away: Almost a month after the death of Rajmata Shantadevi Gaekwad, her sister Devyanidevi Gaekwad, 82, passed away on Saturday (29th June) at the Bhailal Amin General Hospital. Devyanidevi Gaekwad is survived by her son Ajitsinh Gaekwad and three daughters Nirmaladevi Ajitsinh Shinde, Sunitidevi Nimbalkar and Mohinidevi Bobde. Devyanidevi lived in the palace opposite Motibaug after her marriage with Chandrasenrao Gaekwad in 1937. The funeral ceremony was held on Sunday at the royal crematorium at Kirti Mandir.

Jewellery Design On CD: The reference library at the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery has rare volumes titled ‘The Grammar of Ornaments’. The volumes contain details of ornaments and designs from different cultures and countries. Since the volumes are very old they are deteriorating and the pages have become brittle. The museums department has therefore digitised the volumes into a marketable compact disc format.

Great Golden Circus: At Exhibition Ground, Near Kirti Stambh, Vadodara. 3 Shows: 1.00 p.m., 4.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. Advance Booking from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon.

30-06-02

Baby Dies In House Collapse: A four-month-old baby died when a house in the Moti Khadki locality of Ladwada partially collapsed due to heavy rains on Saturday (29th June) morning. While other members of the house and its neighbouring premises managed to escape, the child was caught in the rubble. The child’s parents were also under the rubble, but the fire brigade managed to pull them out. A 40-year-old man was also electrocuted to death. Heavy rain had continued to lash Vadodara district for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday. The water levels in various reservoirs inched upwards as the rains continued. Sayaji Sarovar was at 62.8 metres, and the levels in the Pratapura reservoir as well as Asoj feeder have also increased. The Vishwamitiri river had a level of 4 feet. Kadana Dam has recorded a level of 107.68 feet. The Narmada is flowing at the 2.35 metres level at the Golden Bridge.

29-06-02

Monsoon Mayhem Continues: It isn’t raining, it’s pouring. Heavy rains continue to affect normal life. Some snippets:

• Vadodara district recorded 132 mm of rain on Friday.
• A 70-year old lady died when the slab of an old house caved in at Ghadiyali Pol.
• The number of rain related casualties in the last four days has risen to three.
• Almost 12,000 telephone connections have been ‘rained out’ of order, mostly in the City and Panigate exchanges.
• The worst affected areas are Panigate, Ajwa Road, Subhanpura, Gorwa and Alkapuri.
• With train services unlikely to resume before 2nd July on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section private bus operators are having a busy season. The demand for taxis has also increased.
• The heavy cancellation of train reservations and the total halt of traffic has clipped Western Railways’ earnings by Rs. 50 million everyday.
• Jet Airways has introduced a third flight daily between Vadodara and Mumbai to handle the increased passenger traffic.

Lecture At BSM: The Baroda Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya (BSM) has organised a lecture by retired Geography lecturer Prof. V.R. Shastri on the ‘Timing of Lord Ram’s Birth and Earth’s Rotation Orbit’ at 10.30 am on July 2. Prof. Shastri will cover the yug and the geographical and astronomical situation of Ayodhya when Lord Ram was born.

Yoga Camp: The Gujarat State Youth Board of Vadodara district will conduct a yoga camp for men and women aged 15 to 35 in the fourth week of July. Those interested should contact the Entertainment Cell, C-4, Narmada Bhuvan, Jail Road.

28-06-02

Monsoon Mayhem: Normal life in Baroda continues to be disrupted following the heavy rains over the last three days. Roads are hopelessly waterlogged, telephone and electric services are severely affected in several areas and many large trees have been uprooted by the heavy winds and the rain. As in every previous monsoon, this year too the absence of preventive measures is glaringly evident everywhere. Train services have been affected between Mumbai and Delhi. Passengers were stranded at the Vadodara railway station after the cancellation of at least a dozen trains due to a breach in the tracks between Vadodara and Mumbai. Extensive damage to a railway bridge in the Palghar-Dahanu Road section has added to the trouble. Normal rail services may not resume till 2nd July. On another front, though, there is reason to cheer: the farmers are rejoicing because the heavy rainfall raises hopes of a good harvest. The highest rainfall in the last 24 hours Vadodara district was in Sankheda taluka (82 mm), followed by Savli taluka (43 mm) and Vadodara taluka (35mm). The forecast for the next 48 hours suggests equally heavy rainfall.

Young Artists’ Show: Nazar Art Gallery is showing works by promising art students who have just graduated: Heena Gajjar, Sandip Daptargi, Vishwa Shroff, Vaishali Solanki, Shatrughan Thakur and Niharika Patel (Nasreen Mohamadi Award winner). The show is on till July 3.

Bal Bhavan Programmes: Bal Bhavan will conduct recreational activities for children (age 3 to 16) from July 1: courses in spoken English and computers, edutainment club and some other special programmes. Interested children should contact the Bal Bhavan office behind Sayajibaug between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

DigitalArt Courses: The Academy of Digital Arts & Communication (ADAC) is offering part-time diploma courses to suit professionals and beginners. Please contact the academy at First Floor, B Wing, Manubhai Towers, Sayjigunj, or call 224639.

27-06-02

Heavy Rainfall Lashes City: The monsoon seems to have arrived finally in Baroda as heavy rains lashed the city from Tuesday evening accompanied by strong winds. The city had 83 mm of rainfall on Tuesday evening and a total of 132.6 mm in the last two days. Life has become difficult for people, especially in the low-lying areas. Many areas were plunged into darkness due to power cuts and traffic was disrupted in several parts of the city as over 100 trees were uprooted. Some trains from Mumbai going towards Delhi were cancelled and several others delayed due to a breach that had developed in the track between Safala and Vaitrana in the Mumbai division of Western Railways.

Herbivores Increase At Sayaji Zoo: Though a lion and a tiger have died recently at the Sayaji Zoo, the herbivores (barking dears, black bucks or four horned antelopes and others in the family of grass eaters) are steadily increasing in number. As a matter of fact, the zoo authorities have had to resort to keeping the male and female species separate to prevent them from mating. The number has reached 165 (86 spotted dear, 41 black bucks, 18 sabars and a few hog deer and barking deer). In the last two years 20 spotted deer have been born in the zoo.

VMC Cracks The Whip: Municipal Commissioner Mahapatra has ordered Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) staffers to maintain a minimum 85 per cent attendance or face a pay cut. He has directed them to be regular, and warned that the salaries will be deducted in case they were absent without proper authorisation.