Aug 23: The Federation of All India Petroleum Traders have threatened an indefinite nationwide closure of petrol pumps from mid-September if their commission is not hiked. In a statement in New Delhi on Saturday, federation vice-president Ashok Badhwar said despite a statement by the petroleum ministry on August 4 that their demand for a hike in commission would be settled within 10 days, nothing had been done. "We feel we are getting a cold shoulder from the office of the minister of petroleum and they are not interested in fulfilling their promise," the federation said.

Engineers body to organise dharna: Indian Engineers Federation, the apex body of the all India engineers, will organise a dharna in New Delhi on August 31 demanding immediate implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Central Pay Commission. Federation's all India finance secretary Cinmay Debnath in a statement said in Agartala on Saturday that following resentment expressed by various employees and officers associations and federations, the central government decided to reexamine the recommendations before finally deciding to implement them. It sought fresh representations from them latest by August 15.

World Bank aid to upgrade roads in MP: The World Bank has agreed to provide financial assistance of more than Rs 1,000 crore for strengthening and upgrading of road network in Madhya Pradesh. Official sources told UNI in Bhopal that the state government had conducted a strategic option study (SOS), following a suggestion by the World Bank and identified 2800 km road length to be covered under the project. They said the roads upgraded according to the specifications laid down by the bank would not require any further investment for a long period.

Bungling alleged in dhoti-saree scheme: Leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly Sushil Kumar Modi on Saturday alleged "huge bungling" in the implementation of the much-touted Rs 202-crore dhoti-saree scheme, for people living below the poverty line in the state. Addressing a press conference, the BJP leader demanded that the role of former chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, former development commissioner Phoolchand Singh and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP from Bihar Prem Gupta in the implementation of the scheme be examined.

Loco running staff association gives strike notice: Adequate measures have been taken by railway authorities to ensure that train services are not affected from Sunday midnight following a strike call by the All India Loco Running Staff Association of southern railway. Though the association had served a three-day strike notice to the southern railway to strike from midnight of August 25, efforts are on to ensure that services of other railways are not affected. The association had decided to go on strike to protest against the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, railway sources said.

Gram Shree Mela opens: The Gram Shree Mela, aimed at making the rural artisan self-sufficient, opened in New Delhi at `Dilli Haat' on Friday. Over 150 participants from across the country are displaying and selling their products at the 10-day event organised by the Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (Capart) and inaugurated by secretary, rural development, N C Saxena. Small workshops, discussion groups, besides cultural programmes will be held during the mela to make the occasion an educative event as well for the participants.

Konkan trains on Margao-Mangalore section soon: The trial run between Margaoand-Kanakona section of the Konkan railway would be flagged off by union railway minister Ram Vilas Paswan on August 24, a day before regular train services on the Margao-Mangalore section of the railway is scheduled to commence, a railway spokesman said in Mangalore on Saturday. Meanwhile, work on doubling of the track between Mangalore and Calicut section of southern railways will commence on Sunday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.