Teachers not to boycott marking
ROHTAK, April 18 — The proposed week long boycott of the marking of answersheets of the undergraduate examinations by the college teachers in Haryana has been postponed indefinitely.

Sonepat roads in bad shape SONEPAT: Roads in this fast-growing industrial city, which is a district headquarters in Haryana, are in a bad shape — potholed and waterlogged. Choked sewers throw up sullage water, befouling the living ambience.

IAF recruitment rally
AMBALA, April 18 — The Indian Air Force will organise a recruitment rally at Air Force Station Leh on April 28 for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir for selection of candidates for appointment in non-technical trades.

MC chief "obstructing" work
BHIWANI, April 18 — Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh Dadri has expressed concern over the "indifferent" attitude of the Municipal Committee president.

Haryana staff to get DA at 10 pc: CM
HISAR, April 18 — Employees in Haryana would get dearness allowance instalment at the rate of 10 per cent shortly on the pattern of the Union Government, putting an additional burden of Rs 250 crore on the state exchequer.

Exporters demand President's intervention
CHANDIGARH, April 18 — The Haryana Exporters' Association has urged the President to intervene and use his good offices with various political parties for ensuring the smooth passage of the Union Budget.

• Cracker factory blast toll 5
• Power bill date extended

Rs 5 cr to augment city water supply
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 18 — A Rs 5-crore canal based drinking water supply scheme for Sonepat, is among the development projects, relating to irrigation, flood control and power supply sanctioned by the HVP-BJP alliance government. Work on these projects will start the Sonepat Assembly constituency shortly.

Mr Rajiv Jain, Political Press Adviser to the Chief Minister, told reporters here today that the government had already drilled shallow tubewells in four areas of Sonepat city namely Jiwan Nagar, Tara Nagar, Mahavir Colony and Indira Colony to ease drinking water crisis.

He added that the Bayyanpur minor would be renovated at a cost of Rs 23.50 lakh within four months. This minor, he said, would provide additional canal water for irrigation in Bayyanpur, Kalupur, Lahlara and Mehlana villages. He said that the capacity of Sardhana distributary would be raised from 49 cusecs to 58 cusecs at a cost of Rs 9.60 lakh to benefit Sandal Kalan, Sandal Khurd, Chatia and Shahzadpur villages where canal water would reach tail-end fields.

According to Mr Jain, work for the construction of Tihar Kalan minor had been started with financial assistance of Rs 44 lakh sanctioned by the NABARD. The previous government, he alleged had stopped the work on it. With the completion of the construction work, additional canal water for irrigation would be supplied to Barwasni and Hulerhi villages.

He disclosed that renovation of West Juan drain would be completed by April end and it would cost Rs 14 lakh. A new bridge over the WJC near Chitana village had been constructed at a cost of Rs 51 lakh for smooth flow of traffic in the area.

Referring to power development programmes in this area, Mr Jain disclosed that a 220 KV grid power sub-station was being constructed at a cost of Rs 21 crore and it would be ready within next four months. Two transformers of high capacity had already been installed at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore in it . It has the improved availability of power in the city.

He also disclosed that the work on the laying of 50-km long new transmission lines between Panipat and Sonepat had been speeded up and it would cost Rs 7.5 crore. With the completion of this work, it would supply additional power from Panipat thermal plant apart from BBMB. These measures would improve power supply and check power cuts, he added.

Mr Jain said that Rs 18 lakh would be spent on the installation of a high-capacity transformer of 4-9 MVA in the mini-secretariat of this city. This would be one of the three such transformers to be installed in different parts of the state.

He also said that eight new transformers of 200 KVA each are being installed to replace the old transformers in the city. The World Bank, he said, had already provided financial assistance for this purpose. Also, a 25 KVA transformer in Patel Nagar area of this city had been converted into 100 KVA and the area of East Patel Nagar had been connected with the urban feeder system.

Connecting cables had been replaced in the city to check over-loading in summer, he added.

Mr Jain denied that people of the Sonepat Assembly constituency are discriminated against. He said that government will spend Rs 100 crore on the development of Sonepat district in current year.

Haryana staff to hold sammelans
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, April 18 — The newly elected executive committee of the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh, at its two-day bi-annual conference which concluded at Saini Samaj Bhavan here today, unanimously decided to intensify its agitation by implementing its earlier decision of organising sammelans in response to the call given by the Haryana Employees Joint Action Committee (HEJAC).

The newly elected President, Mr Dhara Singh, who chaired the executive committee meeting said sammelans would be held at all district headquarters in Gurgaon division on April 21. Rohtak division on May 5 and Ambala division on May 19.

The conference was presided over by Mr S.D. Kapoor, former state President of the sangh, and inaugurated by Mr Mangal Singh Dilawari, its former Chairman. The employee leaders criticised the Haryana Government's 'anti-employee' policies. They alleged that the Haryana Chief Minister was adopting dictatorial and anti-democratic policies against the government employees.

The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation's state President, Mr Ajit Singh Bagri, the Union Territory of Chandigarh Employees Federation's Chief Adviser, Mr Raghubir Singh Sandhu, Mr Ram Murti Sharma, Vice-President, and Mr N.K. Sharma, General Secretary of the Chandigarh Coordination Committee, and Mr Kitab Singh Malik, former President of the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh were prominent among those who addressed the conference.

About 850 delegates from 47 employees' unions of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh participated in the conference. The following were elected office-bearers of the mahasangh — Chairman — Mr Jalkaran Balhara; President — Mr Dhara Singh, Senior Vice-President — Mr Baldev Singh; General Secretary — Mr M.L. Sehgal; and Deputy Secretary — Mr Nihal Singh Matana.

People favour fresh poll: survey
Tribune News Service

HISAR, April 18 — The fall of the Vajpayee government has come as a surprise to most of the people. The general refrain of the people, the TNS talked to, was that the government should have been allowed to continue. Most of the people favoured fresh elections under a caretaker government led by Mr Vajpayee.

Dr N.K. Khetarpal, a physician, said the Vajpayee government had performed better than the previous governments. Dr Khetarpal said the 13-month rule of the Vajpayee government was satisfactory on the whole. At least, there were no scams, no riots and the economy remained stable, he said.

Prof Anil Bhatia, of the Dayanand College said, he was upset over the fall of the government. He pointed out, the Opposition had no concrete agenda other than the ouster of the government. He wondered how the AIADMK could tie-up with the Tamil Manila Congress and the BSP with the SP.

Mr Yudhvir Singh Jamwal, a bank employee, said the country was heading for another mid-term election, which could cost crores of rupees. He pointed out, the economy was likely to revive after a good crop.

Mr Rakesh Sethi, a social worker, charged the Opposition with pursuing a "destructive agenda". He said the Opposition had no justification for this move. However, he said, now the Opposition particularly the Congress would realise the mistake they had committed and it would not be easy for the Congress to carry on with a flock of leaders, each having different ideology and ambition.

Prof B.K. Kuthiala, Dean, Academic Affairs, Guru Jambeshwar University, was of the opinion that the President should ensure that whosoever was invited to form the government proved majority in the House.

Dr Ved Pal Singh, a former president of the Haryana Agricultural University Teachers Association, said the Congress might boomerang. It would not be easy for the party to satisfy the supporting and constituent groups.

According to Mr Deepak Bhandari, an employee of the HAU, it was unfortunate for the country to lose a Prime Minister like Mr Vajpayee.

Sonepat roads in bad shape
From R.D. Sapra

SONEPAT: Roads in this fast-growing industrial city, which is a district headquarters in Haryana, are in a bad shape — potholed and waterlogged. Choked sewers throw up sullage water, befouling the living ambience. Scavenging and lifting of heaps of garbage are irregular. The air stinks and has become a serious health hazard. Contaminated water is causing water-borne diseases. Parks are in a shambles. And street-lighting is erratic and poor.

Residents of Sector 14 have been clamouring for the improvement of civic amenities, but the authorities invariably turn a Nelson's eye to their plight.

* * * *

Eve-testing is becoming a growing menace in this city and other parts of the district. Eve-teasers' field of operation are the markets situated in thickly populated areas. The Ashok Nagar locality is one of them, where the eve-teasers roam throughout the day in general and in the evening in particular. Bus-stands and the railway stations are the other places for eve-teasing.

This social disease, common to all cities and towns in the country, takes a predictable form in action. The SSP of Sonepat, Mr K. Selvraj, has already directed all SHOs of the police stations in the district to take action against the eve-teasers and use Section 294, IPC, the provision of which makes eve-teasing a cognisable offence. The SSP has also asked them to take special steps around the colleges during the ensuing university examinations in this regard.

* * * *

Roads here are getting narrower with each passing day, thanks to shopkeepers and residents encroaching upon the land in front of their shops and houses. Concrete structures, counter benches, signboards and sprawling merchandise on pavements make walking a twisting-and-turning exercise for pedestrians. Then there are the tarpaulin sunshades over the shops and vehicles parked in the front.

In residential areas, it is the angle irons, hedges, barbed wires and concrete structures that hog the roads. On visiting the areas, one finds that some residents have grabbed public and municipal land by landscaping the area, while others have planted trees right on the edges of the roads.

Repeated anti-encroachment campaigns have proved futile because they are carried out either half-heartedly or are biased against certain traders.

* * * *

Representatives of various farmer organisations have urged the state government to order the immediate shifting of the office of the Superintending Engineer, WJC, Feeder GC Circle, Delhi, to Sonepat. They point out that a large number of villages of the district are linked with this office. The farmers have to visit the office frequently and many a time officers are not available even during office hours and the farmers have to return disappointed after spending a lot on transport and food.

The representatives have also demanded a high-level probe into the unsatisfactory working of the Sonepat Water Service Division in the Irrigation Department as the authorities have failed to ensure the supply of canal water at the tail-end villages falling in its jurisdiction. This has led to the causing of huge financial loss to the farmers in view of the damage to crops.

IAF recruitment rally
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, April 18 — The Indian Air Force will organise a recruitment rally at Air Force Station Leh on April 28 for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir for selection of candidates for appointment in non-technical trades.

Giving this information here yesterday, the commanding officer of the 1 Airmen Selection Centre, Ambala cantonment Sqn Ldr Naveen Jain, said that at the rally the eligible youth from all districts of Jammu and Kashmir in possession of domicile certificate or had having passed matriculation examination from the state would be allowed to appear in the selection test.

Sqn Ldr Jain added the candidates having passed matriculation or an equivalent examination with 45 per cent marks in aggregate and at least pass marks in English would be eligible to appear for the test at the rally if they were born between October 1, 1980 and October 1, 1983. More information in this regard can be had from Air Force Station Leh and office of the Deputy Director of Employment Leh.

The test would be held from 9 a.m. onwards, he said. Result would be declared on the spot and successful candidates would be put to medical examination at the Air Force station itself.

Teachers not to boycott marking
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 18 — The proposed week long boycott of the marking of answersheets of the undergraduate examinations by the college teachers in Haryana has been postponed indefinitely. This was stated by the convener of the Haryana Federation of the University and College Teachers Organisations (HFUCTO), Mr Vazir Nehra, here today.

He said the boycott had been planned from April 19 to 25, but the federation had decided to postponed it after getting an assurance from the Chief Minister and the Education Minister.

He said a delegation of the HFUCTO, led by him, had called on the Chief Minister and the Education Minister at Haryana Bhavan in Delhi today in connection with its demands and both ministers had assured them of prompt action regarding their main demand of immediate implementation of the revived UGC grades for teachers in the state.

MC chief "obstructing" work
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, April 18 — Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh Dadri has expressed concern over the "indifferent" attitude of the Municipal Committee president.

The employees showed documents to reporters which were not signed by the president and said there were several anomalies in the purchase of items. On the other hand, the president refuted the allegations. The employees have sent memorandum to senior officers and municipal councillors alleging that the president was deliberately obstructing the working by not sanctioning bills. They have requested the senior officers to direct the president to sign the bills. The President Sumitra Faugat, however, denying the charges, said that she had been doing her job in a democratic way.

Power bill date extended
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 18 — The Haryana Government has decided to extend the date of deposit of first three quarterly instalments of electricity bills up to May 31, under the Surcharge Waiving scheme.

According to official sources, this has been done keeping in view the demand of farmers.

The date of fourth and last instalment would, however, remain unchanged.

Haryana staff to get DA at 10 pc: CM

HISAR, April 18 (PTI) — Employees in Haryana would get dearness allowance (DA) instalment at the rate of 10 per cent shortly on the pattern of the Union Government, putting an additional burden of Rs 250 crore on the state exchequer. Even as the government was already bearing Rs 750 crore on account of the implementation of Fifth Pay Commission, Chief Minister Bansi Lal said today.

Addressing a largely attended meeting at Umra village, about 40 km from here, the Chief Minister refuted the allegation on the Opposition parties that the government had imposed the taxes of several crore.

Cracker factory blast toll 5
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, April 18 — The death toll in Saturday's explosion at a fire cracker factory in Netaji colony here has gone up to five, with one of the three wounded succumbing to her injuries at Civil Hospital early this morning, the police said.

The deceased, Kamlesh (12), had sustained 100 per cent burns in this powerful explosion yesterday. These other victims, included Pawan Kumar Saini, the owner of the factory, two girls Poonam and Suman and a boy Sonu. The children who died in the incident were between 8 to 13 years. The explosion was so powerful that the shed of the labourers and a room of the factory collapsed along with the walls.

The cause of the explosion is believed to be a short circuit.

Exporters demand President's intervention
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 18 — The Haryana Exporters' Association has urged the President to intervene and use his good offices with various political parties for ensuring the smooth passage of the Union Budget.

The chairman of the association, Mr N.C. Jain, in a statement here today said due to the political developments at the Centre an uncertainty had engulfed the passage of the Budget. The industry and trade were unable to plan their business strategies for the current financial year because they were unaware what final shape the Budget would take.

Mr Jain said as the formation of a new government would take some time, it was the duty of all political parties to ensure that the economy of the country was not irreparably damaged. All political parties should rise above narrow considerations and join hands to ensure the passage of the Budget.