MUMBAI, June 15: The five day old strike of the State Bank of India (SBI) officers will be extended from greater Mumbai to the entire Mumbai circle (Maharashtra and Goa state). SBI federation spokesperson V Jayaraman told that all the 7500 officers in the total 830 branches from SBI's Mumbai circle which consists entire Maharashtra and Goa state will join the striking officers of greater Mumbai from Monday. He said that talks between the SBI officers federation and the SBI chairman M P Verma failed yesterday since the federation insisted on the unconditional withdrawal of the suspension orders of three officers.

The three officers -- Chief manager R L Walkar and deputy managers V N Patil and M M Narang were served suspension orders for ``procedural lapses''. Further course of action will be decided on Monday.

The three officers were served suspension orders at their residences on Tuesday night without following normal procedural practices like giving chargesheets or conducting inquiries into the alleged irregularities made by the officers, the federation sources said.

New housing scheme

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today announced that a new scheme will be introduced within a month to provide houses to the residents of the dilapidated buildings. Joshi speaking at a foundation ceremony of Shri Sai complex at Parel, said that this new scheme will be introduced on the line of slum redevelopment scheme of the government by the recommendations of the Sukhatankar committee. The chief minister called on the people to co-operate with the government's plan to make it successful. City Mayor Vishakha Raut also spoke on the occasion.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.