BARODA: Sanjay Ramchandra Agrawal alias Kalpesh is a normal seven-year old except for one abnormal feature which separates him from his peers -- he can hear but has no ears. Son of a fruit vendor here, he has skin growing over the portion referred to as ear-lobes forming a slight bulge in the jaw-line which gives an impression of having hidden ears. His father Ramesh Kumar describes his son's hearing ability as ``God's gift''. He recalled that when Kalpesh was born on March 1, 1989 at Ahmedabad, the sight of the baby without ears took every one by surprise. However, as time passed, he started responding to people.

Dwarka cut off due to flooding

RAJKOT: Dwarka remained cut off as the highway leading to the pilgrim centre came under deep water from the sea, with high tides resulting in flooding many low lying areas in and around the town. The flag post of the Jagat Mandir, an ancient temple of Lord Krishna at Dwarka came down on Monday due to high velocity winds. The 150 feet high temple dotted the skyline of the holy town. The work for reinstating the flag has been taken up by the temple authorities.

No plans to privatise MSEB:Munde

KOLHAPUR: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde disclosed on Monday that there was no proposal to privatise the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) power distribution system. Addressing reporters in Sangli he said that efforts were being made to further streamline the administration functioning in the MSEB as per suggestions made by the Rajadhyaksha Committee appointed by the state government earlier.

Munde, who holds the Energy portfolio, hinted that in the future the government will consider introducing power distribution privatisation system at Bhivandi and Malegaon, where MSEB was incurring huge losses.

State JD president's wife arrested

NASHIK: The wife of Maharashtra state Janata Dal president Nihal Ahmed and chairperson of the Malegaon Municipal Council, Sajeda Nihal Ahmed, was arrested on Monday for threatening a traffic policeman. According to an offence registered at the Chhavni police station, Malegaon (Cr No 87/97), Nihal Ahmed's wife Sajeda had threatened policeman Jayant Prahlad Patil (buckle no 713) with dire consequences for hauling an autorickshaw driver on Saturday for violating traffic rules. Sajeda was arrested by officials of the Chhavni police station on Monday and later released on bail.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.