[ 8 Sep, 2006 0301hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
PALANPUR: Cola ban or no ban, it was butter milk and other such 'swadeshi' products that ruled the roost at the annual fair in the temple town of Ambaji which concluded on Thursday.
The sales figures of butter milk and related products during the fair, say it all. According to sales manager Ghemarbhai Bhatol of Banas Dairy, Palanpur, a record sale of 66,500 litres of milk, 36,000 litres of butter milk, besides large quantity of other milk products has been registered during the mela.
Ambaji-based Pepsi distributor, Mohanbhai Sindhi, who unloaded 5000 crates during the earlier mela , was a disappointed man as he was unable to dispose even one crate containing 20 bottles.
Similarly Ashok Patel, a seller of Coke, waited in vain for a customer to turn up to his stall this time. Among retailers, while Ashokbhai Sindhi said, "This time we were taken aback as I could sell only three bottles", Dinesh Mehta, had to remain satisfied with sale of four bottles and Mukesh Agarwal was luckier to have sold seven bottles during the fair.
Aniket Srimali, a reveller from Khatana in Valsad district, echoed the prevalent feeling, "We have decided not to taste colas even if it is provided free of cost".
Sunil Patel, from Denap village in Visnagar taluka of Mehsana district and Pavan Kumar Acharya,who was here with 35 members from Dungarpur claimed, "We have stopped consuming colas ever since we came to know of the possibility of pesticides in them".
Of course, the ones who were smiling were the Rabaris (local cowherds), who raked in the moolah by selling home-made butter milk.
Showing posts with label Gujarat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gujarat. Show all posts
Friday, September 08, 2006
Ahmedabad: No time limit for buying booze
Tina Parekh
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0304hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
AHMEDABAD: Gujaratis and tourists who hold liquor permits are in for a treat. The police has tweaked timings for buying liquor for permit holders, practically making it possible for them to buy liquor at all times.
The timings were 10.30 am to 6.30 pm, but will be changed to 12 am to 8 pm for buying liquor at licensed shops. Those who want liquor later than that would have to pay an additional charge.
The change comes as a boost to the hotel industry, where tourists will now be able to buy liquor at all times. Even as the government gave its nod to the changes, a resolution will be issued soon.
"The changed timings are more suited to tourists who check into hotels in the evening. We will issue a resolution in a couple of days," says additional director general of police RMS Brar.
The new timings will apply to 29 licensed liquor shops in the state except those at the international airport. Hoteliers welcomed the move.
"Many of our guests go for work in the morning and return at night. The changed timings will allow them to have a drink even late in the evening," says GM, Taj Residency Ummed, Shekhar Valavalkar.
But hoteliers feel the timings for issuing permits too should be extended — these are still issued between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm.
"Our guests complain that often there are no officials present to issue permits at the licensed shops during office hours. So these changes will mean something only if permits too are easily available," says proprietor of Hotel Grand Bhagwati, Narendra Somani.
Health permit holders of the state feel the changes will benefit them. "The changes are more practical. Nobody buys liquor in the morning and it makes more sense to extend evening hours," says Dinesh Pancholi who has had a health permit for 20 years.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0304hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
AHMEDABAD: Gujaratis and tourists who hold liquor permits are in for a treat. The police has tweaked timings for buying liquor for permit holders, practically making it possible for them to buy liquor at all times.
The timings were 10.30 am to 6.30 pm, but will be changed to 12 am to 8 pm for buying liquor at licensed shops. Those who want liquor later than that would have to pay an additional charge.
The change comes as a boost to the hotel industry, where tourists will now be able to buy liquor at all times. Even as the government gave its nod to the changes, a resolution will be issued soon.
"The changed timings are more suited to tourists who check into hotels in the evening. We will issue a resolution in a couple of days," says additional director general of police RMS Brar.
The new timings will apply to 29 licensed liquor shops in the state except those at the international airport. Hoteliers welcomed the move.
"Many of our guests go for work in the morning and return at night. The changed timings will allow them to have a drink even late in the evening," says GM, Taj Residency Ummed, Shekhar Valavalkar.
But hoteliers feel the timings for issuing permits too should be extended — these are still issued between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm.
"Our guests complain that often there are no officials present to issue permits at the licensed shops during office hours. So these changes will mean something only if permits too are easily available," says proprietor of Hotel Grand Bhagwati, Narendra Somani.
Health permit holders of the state feel the changes will benefit them. "The changes are more practical. Nobody buys liquor in the morning and it makes more sense to extend evening hours," says Dinesh Pancholi who has had a health permit for 20 years.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Rajkot: Patient deaths; Blood bank's licence suspended
[ 6 Sep, 2006 2014hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
RAJKOT: The Food and Drugs Authority on Wednesday suspended the licence of Young Star Blood Bank when officials found errors in the way blood was stored at the bank.
The licence was suspended following an outcry after five persons died after being given blood from here.
A team of FDA officials was in the city, for two days, to investigate the problem and submitted their report to state FDA commissioner, SP Ardesara.
Confirming the development, Ardesara said that the blood bank has been ordered not to sell blood till investigation is over and the licence has been suspended temporarily.
Ardesara confirmed that according to the report submitted to him, the Young Star Blood Bank did not follow the norms required for storing blood. The blood bank had stopped its activities ever since the first death was reported.
The department has also served a showcause notice to the blood bank for negligence, said the commissioner.
Rajkot district collector Pradeep Sharma said that the district administration was also waiting for the report of blood samples taken by the authorities.
A police complaint would be lodged if contamination is found in the blood. He said that around 300 patients, who were given blood collected from Young Star Blood Bank, are under observation.
The five victims are Samajuben Sojitra, Puja Gorasia, Dayaben Bagtharia, Anal Rajani and Kantaben Shigala.
According to Ardesara, that he will not lodge a police complaint against anyone immediately and will wait for a detailed report.
Doctors and hospitals who had treated the patients were given clean chit by the investigating officials.
The team had also gathered the history of patients who died after blood transfusion. The team had taken statements of blood bank technicians, doctors of the hospitals where death cases registered, relatives of the victims and trustees of the blood bank.
RAJKOT: The Food and Drugs Authority on Wednesday suspended the licence of Young Star Blood Bank when officials found errors in the way blood was stored at the bank.
The licence was suspended following an outcry after five persons died after being given blood from here.
A team of FDA officials was in the city, for two days, to investigate the problem and submitted their report to state FDA commissioner, SP Ardesara.
Confirming the development, Ardesara said that the blood bank has been ordered not to sell blood till investigation is over and the licence has been suspended temporarily.
Ardesara confirmed that according to the report submitted to him, the Young Star Blood Bank did not follow the norms required for storing blood. The blood bank had stopped its activities ever since the first death was reported.
The department has also served a showcause notice to the blood bank for negligence, said the commissioner.
Rajkot district collector Pradeep Sharma said that the district administration was also waiting for the report of blood samples taken by the authorities.
A police complaint would be lodged if contamination is found in the blood. He said that around 300 patients, who were given blood collected from Young Star Blood Bank, are under observation.
The five victims are Samajuben Sojitra, Puja Gorasia, Dayaben Bagtharia, Anal Rajani and Kantaben Shigala.
According to Ardesara, that he will not lodge a police complaint against anyone immediately and will wait for a detailed report.
Doctors and hospitals who had treated the patients were given clean chit by the investigating officials.
The team had also gathered the history of patients who died after blood transfusion. The team had taken statements of blood bank technicians, doctors of the hospitals where death cases registered, relatives of the victims and trustees of the blood bank.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Rajkot: Two more die after blood transfusion, toll 5
[ 6 Sep, 2006 0311hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
RAJKOT: The toll in the case involving deaths allegedly after blood transfusion in the city reached five, with two more deaths reported in the last two days.
The mysterious deaths have finally woken up the state government, which has sent a team, headed by state drug controller Ramakrishna Reddy, to the city to investigate the matter.
Three mysterious deaths were reported last Friday and Saturday, besides about six patients left critical after receiving blood. The source of blood in all cases was the same blood bank.
The five victims are Samajuben Sojitra, Puja Gorasia, Dayaben Bagtharia, Anal Rajani and Kantaben Shigala.
The fourth victim, Rajani, 27, a resident of Jagannath plot area, was admitted to Dr Rajesh Gorasia's hospital for operation and prior to that blood collected from Young Star blood bank was given to her.
But after the transfusion, her health deteriorated and she was shifted to Dhakan Hospital where she was kept on ventilator.
Talking to TOI, critical care physician of the hospital, Dr Sankalp Vanzara, said that it was difficult to say anything conclusively, but one reason of death might be the blood transfusion.
In the case of Kantaben Shingala, she had a tumour in her stomach and was to be operated at Dr Yogesh Maheta's hospital where doctors advised blood transfusion.
Again, after the transfusion, her condition deteriorated, which was confirmed by Dr Maheta. Unlike other victims' relatives, Kantaben's relatives agreed on a post-mortem. Police and food and drug authorities are waiting for the forensic report.
Meanwhile, a circular has been issued by Rajkot Civil Hospital medical superintendent VA Chaya asking doctors at government hospitals not to transfuse blood to any patient collected from the private blood bank.
Police commissioner K Nityanadam said that there has been no complaint either from relatives of the victims or the food and drug department.
Sources said that from August 28 to September 2, in all 539 patients were given blood from the local blood bank. The state team had a meeting with district collector Pradeep Sharma.
The team has taken statements of the blood bank's technicians, doctors of the hospitals where patients died, relatives of the victims and trustees of the blood bank.
The team also gathered history of patients, who died after blood transfusion.
RAJKOT: The toll in the case involving deaths allegedly after blood transfusion in the city reached five, with two more deaths reported in the last two days.
The mysterious deaths have finally woken up the state government, which has sent a team, headed by state drug controller Ramakrishna Reddy, to the city to investigate the matter.
Three mysterious deaths were reported last Friday and Saturday, besides about six patients left critical after receiving blood. The source of blood in all cases was the same blood bank.
The five victims are Samajuben Sojitra, Puja Gorasia, Dayaben Bagtharia, Anal Rajani and Kantaben Shigala.
The fourth victim, Rajani, 27, a resident of Jagannath plot area, was admitted to Dr Rajesh Gorasia's hospital for operation and prior to that blood collected from Young Star blood bank was given to her.
But after the transfusion, her health deteriorated and she was shifted to Dhakan Hospital where she was kept on ventilator.
Talking to TOI, critical care physician of the hospital, Dr Sankalp Vanzara, said that it was difficult to say anything conclusively, but one reason of death might be the blood transfusion.
In the case of Kantaben Shingala, she had a tumour in her stomach and was to be operated at Dr Yogesh Maheta's hospital where doctors advised blood transfusion.
Again, after the transfusion, her condition deteriorated, which was confirmed by Dr Maheta. Unlike other victims' relatives, Kantaben's relatives agreed on a post-mortem. Police and food and drug authorities are waiting for the forensic report.
Meanwhile, a circular has been issued by Rajkot Civil Hospital medical superintendent VA Chaya asking doctors at government hospitals not to transfuse blood to any patient collected from the private blood bank.
Police commissioner K Nityanadam said that there has been no complaint either from relatives of the victims or the food and drug department.
Sources said that from August 28 to September 2, in all 539 patients were given blood from the local blood bank. The state team had a meeting with district collector Pradeep Sharma.
The team has taken statements of the blood bank's technicians, doctors of the hospitals where patients died, relatives of the victims and trustees of the blood bank.
The team also gathered history of patients, who died after blood transfusion.
Vadodara: No SMSes!
[ 6 Sep, 2006 0314hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
VADODARA: A blanket ban has been imposed on SMSes in the city on Wednesday from 6 pm to midnight on account of Ganesh immersions.
As the city police have asked all mobile service providers to stop SMS services, people in the city would not be able to send or receive SMSes.
The move has been initiated keeping in mind the rumours that create panic like situation in the city everytime during the Ganesh immersion ceremony.
"We have instructed all the service providers to snap SMS services in the evening when the processions start," said assistant commissioner of police (control room) TR Parmar.
The preventive measure is being taken keeping in mind past instances when SMSes have led to heightening of tension purely on account of rumours.
Service providers like Hutch have already started informing their customers about the ban orders.
VADODARA: A blanket ban has been imposed on SMSes in the city on Wednesday from 6 pm to midnight on account of Ganesh immersions.
As the city police have asked all mobile service providers to stop SMS services, people in the city would not be able to send or receive SMSes.
The move has been initiated keeping in mind the rumours that create panic like situation in the city everytime during the Ganesh immersion ceremony.
"We have instructed all the service providers to snap SMS services in the evening when the processions start," said assistant commissioner of police (control room) TR Parmar.
The preventive measure is being taken keeping in mind past instances when SMSes have led to heightening of tension purely on account of rumours.
Service providers like Hutch have already started informing their customers about the ban orders.
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