Promotion
District Deputy Conservator, Wildlife, Ashok Varshney, has been promoted and transferred as General Manager, Gujarat State Forest Development Corporation, Vadodara. Prior to this appointment, the 1983-cadre Indian Forest Services officer has served in various forest circles in different capacities.

Three injured
Three persons were injured, one of them seriously, when the boundary wall of New India Industries on Jetalpur Road collapsed around 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, burying seven food lorries and their operators under it. Injured Nanabhai Parsinbhai, 60, has been admitted to SSG Hospital.

Bank award
Governor of Andhra Pradesh C Rangarajan, well-known Hindi author Krishna Baldev Vaid, CSIR Director-General R A Hashelkar, noted theatre artiste Sarita Joshi and Malini Parthasarthy of The Hindu have been selected for the Bank of India Excellence Award 1997-98 for their contribution to finance, literature, management, music and art and media respectively. The award, comprising Rs 1 lakh and a citation, will be presented to them at a function on Monday, the bank's foundation day.

Letter to CM
More than 800 Vadodara citizens are reported to have endorsed a letter to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel in connection with the rise in prices of essential commodities, which will be sent to him on Monday. A programme to create public opinion on the issue was organised in front of the Khanderao Market Gate on Sunday.

Inaugurated
The city branch of the Indian Institute of Welding was recently inaugurated by IIW president S K Burman. Vice-President S Choudhuri released a souvenir containing messages and technical papers.

Video released
A video film on chain-snatching, by the Art Club of State Government Employees, was released by Commissioner of Police Kuldip Sharma on Sunday.