Monday, August 5, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Rs 714.20-cr drought relief announced

New Delhi, August 4 The government today decided to release Rs 714.20 crore to the 12 drought-affected states for relief work. The Centre has already released Rs 483.56 crore under the Calamity Relief Fund. “A further amount of Rs 714.20 crore towards the second instalment will be released now to the 12 states,” an official note said.

Factfile Relief for loss of jobs in rural areas Directions to banks to reschedule crop loans Subsidy on agricultural inputs for small, marginal farmers

Congress states cry foul
Say aid inadequate; Sonia to meet PM
New Delhi, August 4
The seven Congress-ruled states affected by drought today sought Rs 12,030-crore relief from the Centre, even as they complained of discrimination by the BJP-led NDA government. In video (28k, 56k)

Punjab page A trickle to sustain on Residents of Thatha village in Tarn Taran stand near a well which has gone dry. At least 40 wells have dried up in Chabbal area. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

BJP to make public guidelines on pump allotment
New Delhi, August 4
Under attack from the Opposition on the issue of petrol pump allotments, BJP President Venkaiah Naidu has asked Petroleum Minister Ram Naik to make public the guidelines and procedures followed in such allotments.

    PM for greater party-govt coordination

IED en route Amarnath defused
Jammu, August 4
Security forces today averted a tragedy with the timely detection and neutralisation of an improvised explosive device near Samroli from where a group of pilgrims were to proceed to the Amarnath cave shrine.

    Fernandes visits Amarnath shrine
    Ultras plan to sabotage JK poll
    Centre complicating JK situation: Jethmalani

SHIVANI MURDER CASE
Delhi police raids IG’s house twice
Officer trying to get pre-arrest bail
Chandigarh, August 4
Mr Ravi Kant Sharma, whose Panchkula house was again raided twice by the Delhi police today, is not the first IPS officer of the Haryana to have had a brush with law.

   Bhatnagar family heaves a sigh of  relief
   Haryana page

Bhutto may move court for poll participation
Islamabad, August 4
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is bracing for a showdown with the ruling junta as she announced her decision to return to Pakistan on September 6 to participate in the elections at all costs.

  World page: Benazir seeks US help to ensure fair poll

Fake coins flood Amritsar market Amritsar, August 4 Even as the district police has busted a number of gangs making counterfeit notes, some elements have been manufacturing fake coins. Fake coins that have flooded the market in Amritsar. — Photo Rajiv Sharma