19 families homeless after two buildings brought down in Navsari

Nineteen families in Navsari were left homeless after their three-storey residential building, which had tilted on Sunday afternoon, was brought down by civic authorities on Monday.
Pillars on the ground floor of the building, Raj Mahal Apartment's A-wing had caved in due to suspected cavity created while repairing of drainage system. The B-wing of the building near Sayaji Library area is also being brought down.
Officers at the spot informed that the trench dug up to repairing the drainage line was not covered properly which resulted in the problem. A rescue operation was carried out in the damaged B-wing by Navsari Nagarpalika and a team of Surat Municipal Corporation ( SMC).
The A-wing, which had tilted, was standing with the support of the adjoining building. After demolition of A-wing, it was found that the B-wing was also damaged badly and required to be brought down. The authorities are working on removal of debris of the A-wing.
So far, 10 families in the A-wing and nine from the B-wing have lost their houses.
"We are working on demolition of the B-wing and it too will be brought down to avoid damage to adjoining buildings. It is a threat to life of residents in the area. We are assessing damage to the neighbouring buildings too," said Harshad Patel, chief officer, Navsari Nagarpalika.
The rescued residents have been provided shelter at Prajapati Ashram while few have gone to stay with their relatives.
The local administration has arranged food and water for the rescued families.

Source: TOI

Gujarat co-op spurs EDI student to set up agri-mandi in Bihar

A non-descript but much successful agri-retail store run on the co-operative model for chickoo farmers in Navsari is driving a budding entrepreneur’s efforts to bring an agricultural produce platform for farmers in the backward regions of Champaran in Bihar.
The entrepreneur, Nagarjun Khushwaha, a 2010-12 batch graduate of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), is busy setting up a ‘mandi’ (agri-retail store) in Champaran to help provide an agri platform to farmers of around 25 villages. The idea struck him following his visit to the Amlasad VVK Sahakri Khedut Mandali Ltd in Navsari.
It should be noted that at present there are no government APMCs in Bihar for the farmers to buy or sell their produce in a cost-effective manner. Talking about his initiative, for which he has already invested Rs25 lakh, Khushwaha said, “The idea is to provide a platform to farmers to buy inputs like seeds and fertilizers and also a place where they can come together to sell their produce,” he said, adding that his business plan includes making farmers members of his mandi after payment of a fee.
“Members will get priority when it comes to sale of seeds and fertilizers. Eventually I also plan to provide equipment on hire to the farmers and again members will get a preference,” said Khushwaha. He said in backward districts like Champaran not many farmers can access the latest equipment for farming. “The mandi will help them provide it on rent. It will also give them a platform to sell their produce. There will also be a warehouse facility where members can store their produce,” said Khushwaha.
His mentor for the project, PG Makhija, who helped him conduct the primary survey for the business among others, said Khushwaha had researched well before going about his venture.
“It is unusual for students to do such intense field study before setting up a business. He went into minute details of things involved. While we were working on the project, the fact that Bihar lacked an APMC came up. We thought that Nagarjun’s business model should be scaled up to a private Mandi. Having understood the immense potential of the idea, he went for a detailed field study and perfected the business plan,” said Makhija, a senior visiting faculty at EDI.
At present, the former Yamaha employee who spent three years in Japan, is busy setting up the infrastructure for his Mandi, which will be inaugurated around September. He also plans to tie-up with fertiliser and seed companies to ensure best quality products for the members.

Runaway Navsari boy returns home

A 12 year old boy was reported missing from Navsari town. Mohammed Faiz had gone missing from his home at Dagaharod area on Saturday afternoon. His parents had approached the police for help.

But on Sunday evening the boy was found in is grandmothers place in Kahului area. After much persuasion the grandmother asked the boy to call home and inform his parents that he was in Ahmedabad.

The worried parents reached Ahmedabad and took Mohammed back home with them. Though there as a police complaint, senior investigators at Navsari town police state are determining as to why the boy ran away from his home.

"The boy returned home is what we are concerned about right now. Had he not called we were already exploring the possible kidnapping case," says a senior police official of the Navsari town police. 

Source: TOI