Flights from Surat to Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata soon

The diamond city Surat, will soon have direct air connectivity to Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. In a meeting held between officials of Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI) and Kingfisher Airlines at Surat on Tuesday, the country’s only five star domestic airline has agreed to operate flights from Surat to these cities.

Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Ajoy Bhattacharya said, "We had a meeting of Kingfisher vice president Elsa D'Silva and vice president (sales) Bhanu Kaila and almost 40 representatives from corporate houses and industries. At the end of the meeting, Kingfisher Airlines have expressed their readiness to start flights to Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata from the city."

Bhanu Kaila said that the Vijay Mallya led company is thinking of starting flights from Surat. "We have received good inputs about city and the airline is thinking of starting to launch flights from here," she said adding the company may take two to three months before taking a final decision.

Elsa D'Silva said that they will be ready to start operations from Surat even if they get less than 60 passengers per flight. Bhattacharya added that the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries is going to hold an important exhibition in January next year. It will be a huge benefit to the city if these flights start before that, he said.

Surti saris to cost 30% more

SURAT: This may not be music to the ears of women across the country. An unprecedented hike in the prices of polyester filament yarn (PFY) may mean more expensive saris, polyester fabric and dress material as the textile manufacturers in the country's biggest man-made fabric industry of Surat are set to pass on the increased costs to the customers.

Market observers believe saris, polyester fabric and dress material manufactured in the textile city would be costlier by almost 30 per cent from their original price at present. Reason: The front and the second line spinners have increased the prices of PFY by Rs12 to Rs 14 per kg in the last two days.

"This is the highest ever increase in polyester yarn price," said Nilesh Mandlewala, immediate past president of Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( SGCCI) and a powerloom unit owner. "We have no option but to extend the Diwali vacation by another five to six days," he said.

Arun Jariwala, chairman of Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI), said, "Polyester yarn is the main raw material for polyester fabrics like sari, dress material etc. manufactured by the weavers. The unprecedented price hike will increase the production cost for the powerloom units and it will have a chain effect on the entire man-made fabric industry."

Robust demand, partly driven by speculations in the global market, has sent prices of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) and Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) - main raw material for the polyester yarn - soaring at an unprecedented pace and is feared to create a bubble in the entire polyester industry chain including that in India and China.

Sources said the PTA prices climbed to a record high of $1,280-$1,320 per tonne from $920-$950 per tonne a week ago in the international market including China.

"The PTA and MEG prices have soared by more than 26 per cent as supply crisis in cotton markets has spurred substitution demand for polyester in the international market. This has resulted in a price bubble in polyester yarn," said a yarn producer.

The increased cost of polyester fabric is likely to boost the retail price of saris and dress material by about 30 per cent on all the ranges starting from Rs 150 to Rs 10,000 and above.

"This is the highest ever increase in PFY prices and it is going to have an impact on the entire polyester chain. The production cost would go up because of escalating PFY prices and we would be forced to increase the prices of sari, fabrics and dress material," said Pramod Chaudhary, chairman of Pratibha Industries, a leading manufacturer and exporter of sari and dress material.

Devkishan Manghani, president of Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA), said, "It is the worst nightmare for the traders and retailers to up the prices in the festive season. Retail stores would be reluctant to raise prices because consumers will cut back on spending as the festive season is coming to an end."

Source: Times of India

BJP romps home to power in city for 3rd time

SURAT: Putting all doubts to rest about its victory in the civic elections, BJP swept to power once again on Tuesday by winning 98 of the total 114 seats of Surat Municipal Corporation. The Congress came a poor second with 14 seats and MahaGujarat Janata Party (MJP) failed to open its account. One independent and one NCP candidate though registered their victories.

However, neither the BJP nor the Congress have been able to significantly increase their vote percentage despite nearly 3.5 per cent higher voting in this elections than in 2005. The BJP, which had secured 54.03 per cent votes last time, got about 52 per cent this time. The Congress, which secured 30.19 per cent votes last time, got about 32 per cent this time.

The MJP despite not winning any seat secured about 5 per cent votes same as that got by the independents. Over all, other parties including the independents have increased their vote share from 15.78 per cent to nearly 20 per cent this time.

CR Patil, BJP MP from Navsari, the man who directed the BJP's campaign in the city, said, "We don't have to say anything now. People of Surat have said everything. Now it is our duty to fulfill all the promises that we have made and take Surat to No. 1 position in the country."

Shambhu Prajapati, city unit Congress president, said, "We accept people's verdict but believe they ignored the issues of corruption and development to vote sentimentally. We will play the role of a constructive opposition."

A look at the over all result of the city shows that Congress has managed to capture four wards of Mughal Sarai, Salabatpura, Bamroli and Bhestan. Apart from that it won single seats in ward no. 26 of Anjana and ward no. 29 of Limbayat. The NCP, which opened its account this time, has won from Ward No. 27 of Dumbhal where as the independent Prakash Desai won from Ward no. 30. All other seats were captured by the BJP

Source: Times of india

45% polling in diamond city

Diamond city, which has the dubious distinction of recording low voter turnouts, has once again lived up to its reputation on Sunday in the elections to Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). When the 2,525 EVMS were locked at 5 pm, approximately 40 to 45 per cent of the total 24.2 lakh voters had exercised their right to franchise. The final figures are likely to be known by Sunday night.

District collectorate sources said that by 3 pm an average of 30 to 32 per cent votes were cast in the city. "There is a trend of rush in the final two hours and this happened on Sunday too. Our reports from various areas in the city suggest that we will record about 40 to 45 per cent voting in this election," they said.

Women especially came out to vote after 3 pm when the heat had subsided. At many places long queues were witnessed in the last couple of hours.

A political party worker said, "We were a bit worried looking at the low turnout in the morning session. However, the afternoon rush may take the city average to about 40 per cent."

Some wards in the city like Dumbhal, Rander and Pandesara witnessed more than average voting. In wall city area, wards and Athwa and Icchanath, the voting percentage may well be below the city average, sources said.

Surat had recorded 39.73 per cent turnout in 2005 civic elections. Before that in Lok Sabha elections, the city had even recorded as low as 33 per cent voting. However, these elections were won by BJP with a thumping margin. The BJP has 102 corporators at present in the 114-member corporation.

Source: Times of india

Surat girl wins mental maths world cup

An eleven-year-old girl from Surat Gujarat has set a world record by winning the Mental Mathematical Calculation World Cup 2010 held in Germany.

Priyanshi Somani was the overall winner for the fastest calculations and was awarded a medal and a trophy with a certificate.

The competition was held from June 5 to 7 in Germany.

Priyanshi, who is the youngest contestant in the event, won the competition and managed to make difficult calculations faster than the calculator.

"I was very happy when I came to know that I won the competition and it was a wonderful experience to be in the competition," said Priyanshi.

Around 37 contestants from 16 countries across the world participated.

The competition had different categories of exams like addition, subtraction, multiplication, extraction of square roots and even calculating the day of the week for a given date.

"I am very proud that at eleven she has won the competition. It is a very big achievement for her to be in the competition with such big mathematicians from all over the world and her representing India. I am happy that she has won the contest," said Anju Somani, Priyanshi's mother.

Priyanshi was followed by Spaniards Marc Jornet Sanz (16) and Alberto Coto (40) at second and third position.

Source: ANI

5.68 kg baby born in Surat

Her parents want her to become a famous tennis star when she grows up. However, the new born baby has already hit the headlines for being amongst the heaviest babies in the world. The 5.680 kg baby girl was born on Friday to a mother with no health complications.

The baby was born to Priti and Ketan Mehta, who live in Adajan. It was brought to her residence on Monday and was a star attraction for many in the neighbourhood. The baby's length is 57 cm.

Priti did undergo a caesarean, but she is happy to become a mother of a healthy baby. "Till the last moment we were not aware that a caesarean is required. The doctors decided on caesarean for safe delivery. I am happy to have such a healthy baby without having to face any complications," says Priti, who wishes her daughters to become a tennis stars like William sisters.

"Our elder daughter is Ashka (9) and she is a good tennis player. We wish to see both sisters become tennis legends. It is good to see that even before becoming a tennis star, the baby is already famous," says Ketan, a tax consultant. The couple had got married in 1991. After nine years of birth of their first child, the couple decided to have one more child.

"It is a unique case in many ways as the baby is of more than normal weight and has no complications. In the past, a few diabetic women had delivered heavy babies. Priti does not have any complication and the delivery was safe," says Dr Darpana Trivedi, gynaecologist at Matrutva Hospital, where the baby was born. "Normally the babies weigh around 2.5 to 3.5 kg. We have heard of babies weighing up to 5 kg, but this is the heaviest baby born in my hospital," Trivedi adds.

Source: Times of india

Surat win excellence in solid waste management award

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has added yet another feather in its cap by winning excellence in solid waste management award. The award was declared at a two-day national symposium in Hyderabad that began on June 11.

This symposium was organised jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion Centre (APTDC).

In all, 96 nominations were received for the award from urban local bodies and private industries. The award committee had shortlisted eight local bodies and 12 industries. The civic bodies were from Nashik, Pune, New Delhi, Mysore, Manali, municipal corporation of Greater Mumbai, Tenali and SMC. SMC won the award beating Tenali municipality of Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were declared first and second runners-up respectively.

A SMC representative received the award at the hands of Andhra Pradesh minister of commerce and industry.

Source: Times of india