The bandh call is given by Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM). The business community is extremely agitated over the steep hike which ranges from 100 to 200 per cent for some items, President of the association Mohan Gurnani stated on Monday.

The Bombay Small Scale Industries Association and Thane Small Scale Industries Association has extended support to the bandh and several small scale units in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and adjoining Thane district will remain closed tomorrow.

Power generation

The commercial power generation from Tarapur Units 3 and 4 is likely to begin from October 2005, according to the station director S S Sachdev of the new power station which is coming up near the old one.

Sachdev said that the two new units would cost around Rs 4841 crore and would include power generation units of 500 MWs each. At current rate of power, in 2005 it is likely to be Rs 3.50 per unit and the new power station would generate 10 lakh units ofpower per hour.

Rs 43 lakh gold smuggled: 2 held

In a major gold and currency haul, the Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs (preventive wing) arrested two department drivers in possession of gold and currency worth Rs 43 lakh.

According to sources, the drivers of Customs department, L Pardesi and J B Chavan, who were arrested just outside the Sahar international air terminal were today remanded to judicial custody till September 18, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Usha Iyer.

Sources said, on suspicion, the AIU sleuths apprehended the accused and thoroughly searched the vehicle driven by Chavan. Gold weighing 9,915 gms valued at Rs 40.5 lakh and US dollar 6,000 were recovered. During interrogation Chavan named Pardesi, who has given the valuables to him.

The duo later revealed that they were promised Rs 25,000 each to handover the currency and gold to one person. Further investigations are on, sources added.