MEHKAR, November 6: The state government declared a drought-like situation in 207 villages in Buldana district recently. Deficient rainfall had damaged Kharif crops and led to a shortage of fodder and drinking water. Local MLA Prataprao Jadhav urged Chief Minister Manohar Joshi to declare the villages drought-hit. Farmers are now entitled to benefits like suspension of loan recovery and of disconnection of agricultural pump sets, revision of the schedule of loan recovery by banks or credit societies, further relaxation in rules for providing work under Employment Guarantee Scheme and sanction of loan for fodder.

Wild animals released from zoo

MEHKAR: Unable to follow Central Forest and Environment Department rules for protection of wildlife, Swami Vivekanand Ashram of Hivara Budruk has released five deer, six red monkeys, two peacocks and ten white rabbits into the forest. The Department, which regularly inspects zoo facilities, informs zoo managements of shortcomings regarding the size of the cage, type and quality of food, medical treatment and surroundings. If managements do not comply, action is taken against them under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

Two brothers drown while swimming

NASHIK: Two brothers were drowned when they went swimming in a tank at Pimparkhed village in Nandgaon taluka here on Wednesday. According to reports, Chhabu Vayvahare and his two sons Dinesh (15) and Anil (13) were swimming in Shindore tank. Earlier, Dinesh jumped in the tank and was drowning. His brother Anil, who tried to save his life, also drowned. The dead bodies were later recovered from the tank, the report added.

Women jailed for possessing drugs

NASHIK: Second additional sessions judge S M Shimbole has sentenced a women to ten years rigorous imprisonment and fined her Rs one lakh for possessing drugs. According to the police, Rajkumar Agarwal and his wife Shobha were behaving suspiciously on July 21, 1996 in Malegaon when they were detained. Some cash and three grams of brown sugar were seized from them. A case was filed against them under the Narcotics Act.

Inspector raj alive, says study

AHMEDABAD: Economic reforms may have ended the licence raj but the inspector raj is thriving, a study by the Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Bangalore, revealed. The study, covering 156 industrial entrepreneurs in Bangalore, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, said excise, electricity and sales tax inspectors visit these enterprises every month. Over 60 percent of the firms made monthly unofficial payments, more than a third paid over Rs 5000 each. The average amount paid was Rs 2300.

Bhoomi pujan for Jabalpur-Gondia line

JABALPUR: The Union Railway Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan will perform the bhoomi pujan of the broad gauge conversion of the Jabalpur-Gondia line of the South Eastern railway at Balaghat on November 17.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.