Surat Discussions & General news thread

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: The India International Jewellery Show (IIJS-Signature), a first major gems and jewellery trade event and an important indicator of how the diamond market will fare in the year 2012, will start in Mumbai from Friday.

The four-day long event, organised by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), will be inaugurated by Varda Shine, CEO of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) amid the huge presence of stakeholders from the diamond and jewellery industry on Friday.

The key talking points at the IIJS-Signature event will include outlook of the gems and jewellery industry for 2012, impact of global economic crisis and Indian political situation on the gems and jewellery industry, expectations from the Union Budget 2012-13, new markets and challenges and action plan for 2012.

Official sources said about 409 leading jewellery companies from across the country including Surat, Mumbai, Jaipur, New Delhi and Bangalore and about 46 jewellery companies from the countries like Israel, Belgium, Thailand and Turkey are participating in the show. The IIJS Signature will have overseas delegations visiting from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey.

Sanjay Kothari, vice-chairman, GJEPC told TOI, "IIJS-Signature is an important event in the start of the calendar year. Most of the big diamond and jewellery companies in India and abroad will begin to get the market pulse at the four days long event."

According to Kothari, a recent report by a leading consultancy firm in the world has predicted that the Chinese and Indian appetite for diamonds will fuel demand growth by more than six per cent a year over the next decade and almost double the size of the market, far outpacing supply increases limited by a lack of new mines.

India cuts and polishes 14 out of 15 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide. The total imports of rough diamonds in India last financial year was worth $11 billion and the export of cut and polished diamonds was valued at $28 billion.

The April-November, 2011 exports of cut and polished diamonds stand at $16 billion with a growth of 0.13 per cent and the month to month export figures of diamonds showed a decline of 26 per cent in the month of November-2011.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11367452.cms

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT : Before the kite enthusiasts in the diamond city get on to their terraces to celebrate Makar Sankranti on January 14, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will organize a unique exhibition to depict the history of kites and its long association with the port city of Surat from January 10.

Official sources said the kite exhibition will be held from January 10 to January 29 at SMC's City Science Centre. The visitors will get to know about the interesting history of kite and its advent to India.

Bhamini Mahida, chief curator at Science Centre, told TOI "Makar Sankranti is one of the most popular festivals in India, especially in Gujarat. But, our kite enthusiasts are not aware about the history of kite flying in India and around the world."

According to Mahida, the exact date and origin of the kite is not known but it is believed that they were flown in China more than two thousand years ago. One legend suggests that when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was born.

The earliest written account of kite flying was about 200 B.C when the Chinese general Han Hsin of the Han Dynasty flew a kite over the walls of a city he was attacking, to measure how far his army would have to tunnel to reach past the defenses. Knowing this distance his troops reached the inside of the city, surprised their enemy, and were victorious.

The kite flying was eventually spread by traders from China to Korea and across Asia to India, where it was developed into a distinctive style.

Mahida said Rander town in the erstwhile port city of Surat has preserved over 150 years of its kite making tradition. Rander, is known as a cottage industry for kite making where many families are engaged in manufacturing the kites, which are sold outside Surat and Gujarat.

Salim Patangwala, whose family is into the kite making business for the past seven generations in Rander, Said, "Kite making is a cottage industry in Rander for the past 200 years. The kites of Rander are not only famous in Surat, but across the state and even abroad." t nn

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11428016.cms

[AjayGJ21]

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will
outsource the operation, maintenance and
distribution of water to the new city areas of
Amroli, Chapprabhata and Kosad. In a three-phased programme, the outsourcing
agency will provide house-to-house water
connections and install water meters for the
billing purpose. Talking to TOI, city engineer Jatin
Shah said, "This is the first time that outsourcing
of the whole system from distribution to billing would be done. These areas will be supplied 24x7
beginning March." Around 12,000 new water connections in Amroli,
Chapprabhata and Kosad areas will be given to
the users. However, the actual number of
connections will be much higher as every
household will be provided with a separate
connection. The design of this water distribution system is approved under Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) and
the first 4,000 water connections would be
installed before March 31, 2012. In the second
phase, before July 31, 2012, another 4,000 will be
installed and the remaining would be installed by 2012 end. SMC supplies 750-million-litre per day drinking
water within its area catering to nearly 78 per
cent population of the city. The left out citizens
are being covered under different water
distribution schemes in the new areas of the city,
which have come within the city limits after 2006-07 expansion. SMC expects to cover 100 per cent city areas with
water distribution network within two-year
period. At present, water distribution network for
the 14 new areas in Athwa zone is almost ready
and before the end of the year, these areas
would be covered under the SMC water distribution network. Similarly, areas of Parvat-
Magob and Puna-Kumbharia will also be covered
by mid-2012. However, the problem areas for the SMC were the
new north zone areas. Once these areas are taken care of, city can again
boast of 100 per cent water distribution network
in two year's time, which it had achieved before
the city limit expansion of 2006-07.

[meetmus2fa]

‘‘ઉત્સવ તો એક બહાનુ છે, બાકી, અમારા ઉત્સાહ માટે તો આકાશ પણ નાનુ છે.’’

ઉત્તરાયણ એટલે સુરતીઓના અસલ મિજાજનો ઉત્સવ. આ વર્ષે સુરતના પાંચ લાખ પરિવારો પતંગોત્સવમાં સો કરોડ ખર્ચીને સંક્રાંતિને મનાવવાનાં છે.

બસ, એક જ દિવસની વાર છે. શનિ-રવિ બે દિવસ સુરતીઓ કામ ધંધો ભૂલીને ધાબા પર ચડી જશે. ઉત્તરાયણમાં પતંગ-દોરા ઉપરાંત મનોરંજનના સાધનો પાછળ પણ સુરતીઓ ઘણો ખર્ચ કરી નાંખે છે. જાત ભાતની પીપૂડી, ગોગલ્સ, ટોપી, આંગળા માટેની સેફ્ટી ચીજ વસ્તુઓ ઉપરાંત તલ, મમરા, શિંગના લાડુ, ચીક્કી તો ખરા જ. પરિવાર દીઠ સરેરાશ બે હજારનો ખર્ચ ઓછોમાં ઓછો આવે છે. એ રીતે સુરતીઓની આ ઉત્તરાયણનો ખર્ચ સો કરોડને પણ આંબી જશે.

સુરતનું આકાશ અઢી કરોડથી વધુ પતંગોથી ઢંકાઇ જશે

સુરતમા ડબગરવાડ અને રાજમાર્ગ પર ૩૦૦થી વધુ અને રાંદેરમાં ૨૦૦ કરતા વધુ પતંગની દુકાનો છે. મોટું માર્કેટ ધરાવતા ડબગરવાડ અને રાંદેરમાં હાલ ખરીદીની ધૂમ છે. સર્વે મુજબ સુરતમાં અઢી કરોડથી વધુ પતંગો ઉડશે.

સુરતમાં ખંભાતી અને નડીયાદના પતંગોની બોલબાલા

શહેરની વસતી વધતી ગઇ જેને કારણે પતંગ વિક્રેતાઓએ ખંભાત અને નડિયાદ તરફ નજર કરી. પતંગ વિક્રેતા નિરવ મિસ્ત્રી કહે છે શહેરમાં સૌથી વધુ ખંભાતી અને નડીયાદ તથા સુરતી પતંગો વેચાય છે.

મહાપુરુષોના ફોટાવાળી પતંગો પણ ઉડશે

આ વખતે અણ્ણા, ચીકની ચમેલી, ઉ...લાલાલા અને બોલિવુડના હિરો હિરોઇનનાં પ્રતિકૃતિવાળા પતંગો તો આકાશને ભરી જ દેશે પણ સાથે સાથે આ વખતે દેશભક્તિના રંગે રંગાયેલી મહાપુરુષોના ફોટાવાળી પતંગો પણ આકા શમાં જોવા મળશે.

Source - http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/articl...i-2743465.html

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: With a view to provide better services to the residents in the city's walled city, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) inaugurated a state-of-the-art administrative building of central zone on Monday.

Built at a cost of Rs 3.31 crore, the new administrative building of central zone - located opposite the SMC headquarters at Mughalsarai - is spread over 1000 square metres of land. It houses various departments like town development, land and property, road department, health, housing, light, water, storm drainage, revenue, land assessment, etc.

It was inaugurated by mayor Rajendra Desai in the presence of minister of state for road transport, Ranjit Gilitwala, Navsari MP CR Patil, Surat MP Darshana Jardosh and municipal commissioner Manoj Das among others.

Desai said, "Civic body has decentralized the activities of all the seven municipal zones in order to provide a direct access and better services to the denizens."

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11515701.cms

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: The eighth edition of Udhyog-2012, a four-day trade and industry event jointly organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGand National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), will kick start at the sprawling Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre ( SIECC) at Sarsana from January 27.

Official sources said about 215 exhibitors from various sectors like textile, engineering, banking and financial institution, electronics and industry automation, industrial safety equipment and services, will participate in the event. It is being supported by the trade and industry organizations from Japan, Korea, Canada, the U.K, and Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Udhyog-2012, a biennial signature event of SGCCI being held in the city since 1998, will be inaugurated by minister of state for industries and civil aviation, Saurabh Patel in the presence of Dr. HP Kumar, chairman and managing director of NSIC, Elizabeth Thabethe, deputy minister of trade and industry of South Africa and minister of state for panchayat and rural housing, Narottam Patel.

Rohit Mehta, president of SGCCI, said, "This is the first time that the Central Government's NSIC has partnered with SGCCI for the Udhyog exhibition. Out of the 215 exhibitors, more than 150 exhibitors are from the small-scale industries."

SGCCI will hold seminars on green technology, future of textile industry in 2012 and investment opportunities in the UK. A road show on Indian Engineering Sourcing Show (IESS) by Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) will also be held. Sources said that artists from Indonesia will be presenting cultural programmes on two consecutive days from January 28.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11619778.cms

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) added yet another feather to its cap by bagging an award for energy efficiency at the an international conference on Chennai on Wednesday.

Chennai had hosted "Municipalika", the 10th international conference on good urban governance for safe, healthy, green and smart cities in conjuncture with 10 international exhibitions on city infrastructure and sustainable urban development at Chennai Trade Center.

Experts noted that diamond city's work in the field of energy efficiency by conducting energy audits, producing power from garbage and solid waste.

The city is the first to set up it's own wind mills to generate electricity and SMC is also working on to become a solar city of the country by setting up solar plants on its structures like science center and office buildings. SMC participated in Municipalika 2012 and put up a stall portraying it's methodology in the field.

Beginning from 2009 , SMC has won 13 awards till now in different categories of best city and best performing city, most inclusive approach, national energy conservation, urban water supply, excellence in governance, urban poverty alleviation programme, financial reporting and best accounting methods.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11635222.cms

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: The four-day international trade exhibition-Udyog 2012-organized jointly by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGand National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) received an overwhelming response from domestic and international buyers.

Udyog, a signature event of SGCCI, is touted as one of the biggest industrial exhibition in the country that offers an unrivaled opportunity for exploring business potentials in the textile and engineering sectors.

The main focus of the mega exhibition this year was development of the man-made textile and embroidery sector by introducing cutting edge technology and an insight into the direct investment opportunities.

Hi-tech embroidery machines from China, Taiwan, USA, Korea and Switzerland, cutting edge technology in water-jet machines and modern textile ancillary products and engineering equipment were on display. "The Udyog-2012 event received a huge response from business community across the country and abroad. There were visitors from states like Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, etc," said Rohit Mehta, president of SGCCI.

At the closing ceremony, which was attended by Union minister of state for road transport, Tushar Chaudhary, Mehta said, "The success of Udyog-2012 is due to the fact that it was a show 'of the people and by the people'. More than 40,000 people visited the exhibition in the last four days."

High-level delegations from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, Ethiopia and Australia visited the exhibition. About 215 companies from cities like Surat, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vapi, Vadodara, Mumbai, Delhi and Coimbatore and countries that included Japan, Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, etc participated in exhibition.

Paresh Patel, vice-president, SGCCI, said, "The success of Udyog-2012 is beyond our imagination. The exhibitors are satisfied with the business they received."

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11691094.cms

[meetmus2fa]

Our facebook Group members at Surat aiprort for spicejet inaugral flight











Photocopy rights- spicejet facebook fan page

[meetmus2fa]

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: Farmers in Surat district in particular and south Gujarat in general will have an opportunity to update themselves on the best agriculture practice for better produce using hi-tech technology and production at the three-day long agriculture exhibition. The conference, titled 'Krishi Technica-2012' is being organized at Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) at Sarsana starting from February 4.

Krishi Technica-2012 will focus on the newest developments in agriculture sector and showcase the latest technology and products available to improve the quality of the farm products in agriculture, floriculture and horticulture.

About 100 exhibitors from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Mumbai and Chhattisgarh are participating in the exhibition. Products ranging from chemicals, fertilizers, tractors, harvesters, land levelers, seeds, green house category, solar pumps, power tools and gardening tools are being showcased in the exhibition.

Rishab Shah, business development officer of Radeecal communication, which is organizing the event jointly with the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), said, "This is the first agri exhibition in the city where more than 50,000 visitors, especially farmers from across the state are likely to visit."

Shah said, "Surat and south Gujarat are fast emerging as the potential belt for horticulture and floriculture. There are more than 12 green house technology providers from Bangalore who are exhibiting their products. The farmers in this region will be able to get immense knowledge on hi-tech farming."

Source -http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11735276.cms

[udit11]

SURAT: Passengers of SpiceJet airlines suffered severe hardships on Saturday when the flight from Surat to Mumbai was cancelled on a very short notice.

Travel agents and airport sources said that this is first time the flight was cancelled after Spicejet started its operations from Surat starting from February 10.

Sources said the passengers who had booked advance tickets on Surat-Mumbai route were informed by the SpiceJet authorities regarding cancellation of the flight due to some technical problem at Mumbai airport.

"The flight was cancelled as there is some work going on at Mumbai airport runway. The airline will operate regular flights from Sunday," an officer at the airport said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12036629.cms

[meetmus2fa]

SURAT: The diamond city has its own problems and is also flood-prone because of Tapi river. However, the city gave an example of excellent governance when it successfully shifted over 10,000 hutments from the riverbed, as the slum dwellers used to suffer during the floods.

The issue of good governance was discussed on the first day of the four-day workshop of Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN), which began here on Tuesday. The 10-member city representatives stressed on good governance to build an effective response to the effects of climate change.

"By shifting the slums from the riverbed, we have dealt with the problem of flooding to an extent," said Jatin Shah, city engineer, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).

Noted researcher and chief research fellow of Inter Governmental Panel For Climate Change (IPCC) David Satterthwaite of International Institute of Environmental Development (IIED), Pune offered support to the diamond city. He said if any institute needed any financial or technological support for research on climate change, his institute will be ready to provide it.

The representatives from 10 cities of India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand said participatory approach, transparency, accountability, efficient and effective delivery, equitable and inclusiveness, informed decision making, responsive governance and law implementing governance were the characters of good governance. They also discussed the role of functionaries, fund and functions in urban metabolism.

Talking about the initiatives taken by Surat towards adopting climate change resistant strategies, Shah said, "By generating solar energy and wind energy, SMC is on way to generating green energy and controlling pollution. Harvesting of rain water is another area where the city is doing its bit. It is in the process of developing its own early warning system about floods."

Source :- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12073840.cms

[udit11]

Early warning system for floods to be in place before monsoon
SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to install early warning system (EWS) over Tapi river before monsoon to avoid loss of property and life in the areas under its jurisdiction during floods. For a city that was ravaged by floods in 2006, this seems to be the single most important thing for the civic body. Municipal commissioner Manoj Das said, "Early warning system will be installed before monsoon."

TARU consultants presented two EWS models. Its functioning and integration with the disaster management plan (DMP) of the civic body was discussed at the ongoing four-day workshop in the city on climate change.

GK Bhat of TARU consultants told TOI, "Dealing with a disaster like flood is a huge problem. Since last year we were preparing the models for management and information on water, its forecast in the upper catchment segments of Tapi river in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The second model at Ukai reservoir is related to regulating the water flow in the dam. A third model is being built by SVNIT's hydrology department."

It normally takes 48 hours for the water to reach the reservoir from the catchment areas. Once released, it takes nearly eight hours for the water to reach Surat city. So, proper monitoring of water flow would give the authorities ample time to take effective steps. However, the main problem is that of management and effective governance.

TARU consultants had suggested formation of a trust of all stakeholders like Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), irrigation department, Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority, SVNIT, SGand Centre for Social Studies to ensure that there is no repeat of the 2006 like situation in the city.

"The work to set up the trust is almost complete. This forum will be informed of the condition on the catchments and at the reservoir. Its members will discuss and deal with the problem in an effective way keeping with the municipal corporation's disaster management plan," Bhat added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12091466.cms

[AjayGJ21]

The Highly ambitious one stop entertainment destination at Suvali beach, 9500 crore 'Atlanta Citi' project.
Site preparation to start soon as Guj. govt already gave node and land is given by Gujarat Tourism. last news

[shivanand.]

Originally Posted by AjayGJ21

The Highly ambitious one stop entertainment destination at Suvali beach, 9500 crore 'Atlanta Citi' project.
Site preparation to start soon as Guj. govt already gave node and land is given by Gujarat Tourism. last news

great ...yaar...hope that the project will complete in time..

[meetmus2fa]

Originally Posted by AjayGJ21

The Highly ambitious one stop entertainment destination at Suvali beach, 9500 crore 'Atlanta Citi' project.
Site preparation to start soon as Guj. govt already gave node and land is given by Gujarat Tourism. last news

I think its time to create new thread dedicated to Atlanta citi...if Ajay you or GJ 10 if you have proper info about the project then create a new thread

[GJ10]

Awesome find Ajay

This video has more detailed info about the project than all the prev news combined!

Award winning New Delhi architecture firm Morphogenesis have been the consultants for the project (link) the map that flashes up on the video can be seen on this (pdf)

Def agree it deserves its own thread in time, but at the moment, Atlanta dont have anything about it on their own website and land has been offered by Govt, but as far as I can tell, has not actually been sold and transferred to Atlanta yet.

I think it may be better to wait till there is progress on these fronts before making a thread on it.

[AjayGJ21]

you're right. Though it deserves separate thread, but not at this stage. It would be better to do so if further announcements come from promoter's side and when project site shows some movement.
so waiting for their positive steps.

[vitan]

No escape from traffic chaos in
diamond


SURAT: Regulating traffic and creating
proper infrastructure for it are big
problems for any administration.
Surat may have developed adequate
infrastructure for about 18 lakh
vehicles that ply on the city roads but
there is no policy as yet for vehicle
parking.
In a city with a population of about 45
lakh people, there is no escape from
traffic chaos and parking problems.
This despite pay and park spots
developed by Surat Municipal
Corporation (SMC) at many places.
There is absolutely no parking space
for a vehicle on Rajmarg from Station
to Chowk. Same situation prevails
from Chowk to the road going to Ved
road.
"Roads have been developed at many
places but the business area still
remains congested," said an official
from traffic department of SMC.
"We have developed a number of pay
and park facilities even in old city area.
But still many citizens don't follow
rules and park their vehicles
haphazardly on the roads," he added.
Municipal commissioner Manoj Das
told TOI, "We are in the process of
framing our own parking policy. We
will study Ahmedabad model too. We
have already developed a large
number of parking spots in many
parts of the city."
SMC at present has parking slots in all
the seven zones of the city. The
parking slots under the over bridges
have become very lucrative for the
civic body.
At least 20 spots have been developed
across the city for pay and park facility
for nearly 15,000 vehicles. SMC is
earning about Rs 331. 5 lakh on an
annual basis from these parking slots
which are located at Mandarwaja,
Kamela Darwaja, Sardar Market,
Sarthana and Athwa Chowpaty
among other places.