June 27: Agitated trade and industry leaders fear a cascading effect on the economy for three days due to the proposed nationwide bank strike on July 4 . The United Forum of Bank Unions has strategically chosen the date (July 4) because July 5 is a Saturday (a half-day) and July 6 a Sunday. Therefore, the strike will paralyse the banking industry for three days, traders claimed.

In a communication addressed to the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the federation of associations of Maharashtra (FAM) has stated that over 2.5 lakh employees of commercial, regional, rural and co-operative banks will go on strike to press for their demands, and it will affect the country as a whole. It said the business community will lend support to the government and urge the government to deal with the pressure tactics of the unions strictly.

Housing scheme

* Chief Minister Manohar Joshi is likely to announce a decision on providing houses to residents of 20,000 chawls in the coming monsoon session of the state legislature.

He was speaking at a function of `Shri Brahmandeo cooperative housing society' in Mahim performed by Bal Thackeray today. Dismissing opposition criticism, the Sena chief said their government would go ahead with providing free houses to 40 lakh people in the megapolis.

Thackeray said, ``No developmental projects were launched by the previous Congress government during its four decades of rule.'' But the same party was now criticising the alliance government for its slum rehabilitation scheme, he said.

Language classes

* The Study Centre of Foreign Languages has commenced classes for the year 1997-98. Reading, writing and conversational classes for the certificate and advanced levels in German, French, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic and Russian will be held for three hours every Sunday from July 1997 to February 1998 in Mithibai college (commerce wing), Vile Parle (w). For enquiries contact Geetanjali Gopalan, director, SCOFL on telephone numbers 6114068/ 6172562 from 10 am to 5 pm.

Holy darshan

* Spiritual leader Srimad Kalian Vanamamalai Ramanunja Jee Swami of the Thothadri mutt of Nanguneri will receive devotees at Narangwadi, C P Tank, opposite Radhakrishna temple in Kandawadi lane from 12.30 p.m. onwards on Sunday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.