The government's decision to ban the marketing and consumption of non-iodised salt with effect from May 28 has been flayed by the Save Bombay Committee. The ban is an encroachment on the fundamental right of citizens to decide and follow the way they would like to lead their life, said SBC chairperson Kisan Mehta.

The obvious reason for imposing a ban is the concerted move of the government public health department to support the big business with the active backing of Unicef. The move to force citizens into consuming `iodised' salt has been in the forefront as big business houses are eying the prospect of mopping up Rs 2,000 crore from the common man. Hence, they have pressurised the government to ban consumption of common salt by citizens. Common salt was available to the common man at 60 to 100 paise a kilo. And as long as common salt is available, nobody would buy iodised salt now sold at Rs six to seven per kg, Mehta added.

Bar employee commitssuicide

The mysterious death of bar worker of Willingdon Club at Santacruz, Chandrashekhar (20) was `purely suicidal' and not a murder, said the Khar police.

Senior police inspector Suresh Walishetty said, "It is a case of suicide. However, the motive is not known yet. Further investigations into the case are on."

Chandrashekhar was reportedly living in the club premises for several years. Said the Khar police, the barman was aware of the timing of the pool's closure and thin attendance in and around the pool after 10 pm, the time which he chose to commit suicide by drowning since he did not know how to swim. On Sunday after 10 pm, Chandrashekhar went to the poolside and after displacing the plank jumped in the water. The Khar police fished out the body from the bottom of the pool early on Monday.

Ghai launches new art studio

`Audeus', a state-of-the-art studio expected to revolutionise post-production technology in Indian cinema, has been launched by film-maker Subhash Ghai.

Thehigh-tech studio, estimated to cost Rs. 4.5 crore, was inaugurated on Sunday evening at Andheri by thespian Dilip Kumar.

The production house is equipped with `avid media composer' that enables non-linear editing for films and television serials. It has a library of sound effects and a centrally air-conditioned shooting floor.