Workers of 13 textile mills whose owners are members of the Millowners' Association will receive bonus on October 16. After talks with the recognised union the Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh the Association has agreed to give bonuses amounting to a total of Rs 21 crore, depending on the mill's financial status. The beneficiaries include Bombay Dyeing Mills (16 per cent of their salary), Century Mills (18 ), Dawn Mills (14), Hindustan Spinning Mills (11.5), Mafatlal Mills (12.5), Piramal Mills (11), Ruby Mills (15), Simplex Mills (13.5), Standard Mills (12.5) and Morarjee Mills (14).

Sheriff to hold noiseless Diwali

Promoting noiseless Diwali celebrations, Sheriff Kulwant Singh Kohli will kick-off grand fireworks display at the Girgaum-Chowpatty on October 17, 1998. Kohli said on Tuesday that the programme which will begin at 7 pm will be followed by fireworks with visual effects and also include a musical nite in the company of handicapped andunderprivileged children. ``Diwali must brighten everyone's life including the underprivileged kids,'' he said.

KDMC standing committee polls

Bal Hardas of Shiv Sena was elected chairman to the standing committee of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) defeating his rival Ramesh Mhatre (Congress) on Wednesday. However, Mhatre and all the BJP and Congress members declared that the election was unacceptable. "I will challenge this in court as the chairman's powers to cast his vote have been misused in this instance," Mhatre told the panel.

The present configuration of the panel is thus Shiv Sena-7, BJP-5, Cong-3 and Independent-1. Since the Sena-Independents strength equals the Cong-BJP both candidates secured 8 votes each leading to tie.