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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Saturday July 11, 1998 |
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H A R Y A N A | |
Saturday July 11, 1998 |
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Panchayat byelections in three phases CHANDIGARH, July 10 — The Haryana State Election Commissioner, Mr J K Duggal, disclosed here today that to fill up vacancies of 198 panches, 35 sarpanches, 15 members of panchayat samitis and six members of Zila Parishad, the State Election Commissioner, Haryana, would conduct byelections in three phases...
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 Mob ransacks powerhouse AMBALA, July 10 — Angry with the frequent power cuts, a mob of villagers went on the rampage and damaged property at the Chaurmastpur powerhouse under Naggal police station in the district late last night... Rain inundates Ambala areas AMBALA, July 10 — Several localities and low-lying areas in the city and cantonment were inundated due to rain here today... |
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Survey
of suicide by farmers needed: VC HISAR, July 10 — Did the farmers in Haryana commit suicide due to their inability to clear the debts? The Vice-Chancellor, CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Prof J.B. Chowdhury, believes that the suicides, if any, may have been committed not due to cultivation problems alone but certain other reasons also... Governor's call to curb growth of population CHANDIGARH, July 10 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, has urged the people to take a pledge on the occasion of "World Population Day" to contribute their mite in implementing the ideal of "small family, a happy family" in its true letter and spirit for the prosperity and happiness of an individual, the state, the nation and the society... Offender arrested after 22 years KURUKSHETRA, July 10 — The Kurukshetra police claimed to have succeeded in arresting Kapoor Singh, an offender, after 22 years... Surjewala indulging in 'petty politics' CHANDIGARH, July 10 — The Haryana Agriculture Minister, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, reacting to the statement of the former Haryana Congress President, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, that several farmers had committed suicide in Haryana because of crop failure, said Mr Surjewala was indulging in "petty politics to gain publicity at the cost of farmers". Grain traders plan 'virat sammelan' KARNAL, July 10 — The agitating grain traders of Karnal today decided to hold a Virat Beopari Sammelan in Karnal on August 9 if their demands to allot plots to the licencees in the new grain market were not conceded by then... Drive to check sales tax evasion FARIDABAD July 10 — The Excise and Taxation Department has launched an intensive drive against sales tax evasion which has reached alarming proportions here... Women's protest in support of nurses ROHTAK, July 10 — Hundreds of women held a demonstration in front of Parliament and courted arrest in large numbers yesterday in support of the Haryana nurses' agitation. The call for the protest was given by the state committees of the Haryana and Delhi Janwadi Mahila Samiti... Rift between civic body members YAMUNANAGAR, July 10 — A confrontation between municipal council officials and elected president of the council has led to inconvenience to the public... Governor lays stone of judicial complex CHANDIGARH, July 10 — A judicial complex will be ready at Panchkula, near here, by September, 1999...  |
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Panchayat byelections in |
| Run, the clouds have come From K.G. Dutt Tribune News Service NARWANA: Apprehension of likely flood devastation is writ large on the faces of residents of this subdivision. They have been experiencing the worst of flood fury over the last many seasons. So-much-so that during the September floods of 1995, dozens of villages remained cut-off from other parts of the state for months together. There were villages like Amar Garh, which could be reached only through boat for months together. People still remember the days when a large number of them had to shift to safer places along with their cattle wealth. In large tracts of land, sowing could not take place for over six months. Therefore, as the monsoon clouds start ariving, people in a number of areas in Narwana sub-division get panicky because of the fear of floods. Although the state government has chalked out a number of ambitious plans to contain the flood fury in the area, yet the slow pace of work is affecting the morale of the people. According to official sources, the state government has sanctioned about Rs 64 lakh for implementing four drainage schemes and some ring bandhs in the area. The construction of drains include Loon drain which would cost about Rs 8.6 lakh, extension of Sunderpura drain which would cost about Rs 6 lakh and Dhanoda drain to be constructed at a cost of Rs 9.40 lakh. Besides, Sarbara drain would be constructed costing about Rs 15.96 lakh. The Irrigation Department has taken up the work of construction of these drains. But a visit to these areas indicates that work is unlikely to be finished before the monsoon comes with its full fury. There is a scheme to construct a ring bandh around Durganpur village at a cost of Rs 6.66 lakh and also Duhanakhera where a pump house will be constructed. An official of the Irrigation Department told this reporter that another sum of Rs 9.51 lakh would be spent to construct a ring bandh around Nacharkhera village. But how far these schemes would provide relief to the people could be anybody's guess as the small water courses of the Irrigation Department in Narwana subdivision are still in a dilapidated condition. It is so because during the worst floods in 1995, the farmers had made long cuts in these water courses to save the village abadis from being flooded. Although in official records, these cuts have been shown as "repaired", yet a visit to the site shows that only half-hearted steps have been taken to undertake the repairs. For instance, it was near Lodhar village, that the villagers had made a cut in the water course. Even today the banks of this water courses are in a broken condition at many places. Likewise, near Karsindhu village, the bank of the canal is not in good form. It could cave in flooding the village abadis. Similarly, Narwana minor is also in a bad condition at a number of places. The concrete lining in the Sirsa Branch which was undertaken at a cost of crores of rupees had not withstood the test of time. The banks of the Sirsa branch are damaged at a number of places. This could lead to seepage in large tracts from these two branches which would ultimately damage the crops. The earth crust in Narwana area is sandy loam. Concrete steps need to be taken to construct pucca ring bandhs and repair the damaged water courses. Villages of Belarkha, Budhanpur, Sunderpura and Ikana (Narwana area) area reportedly affected by rising water table problems. There are villages in Narwana subdivision where even drinking water facilities are not available. In villages like Baroda, Kasun and Khatkar etc. the water courses which run up to 23 km pose problems for farmers during monsoon. People here often complain that the banks of the Sirsa Branch have not been repaired so far. Half-hearted steps have been taken for cleaning the drains and the canal branches as well as water courses. This could result in accumulation of water in the water courses and drains resulting in breaking of banks and consequent flooding of the nearby village abadis. The drainage system even in Narwana town is not proper. Even after the first rains, this reporter saw water accumulation at a number of low-lying areas and even in some mohallas. During the rainy season, even the main bazar is flooded making things difficult for the shopkeepers. Residents of the area allege that crores of rupees sanctioned by the World Bank for repairs of the drains, water courses and canal branches in the area after the 1995 floods, has not been fully utilised. This has also resulted in increasing the miseries of the people. In Narwana town, citizens have been demanding the construction of a wall along the Sirsa Branch which passes through the city. But this scheme has also remained unimplemented. During his recent visit to Baroda, Chief Minister Bansi Lal announced the construction of Barosola feeder. This would provide irrigation facilities at a number of villages including Uchana, Daroli, Kheri, Baroda Ghasokalan, Masania, Kothkalan, Bhagwanpura, Sethamajra, Jheel and Ghaso. This feeder was a long-standing demand of the people of the area. Even though during the regime of Devi Lal, schemes were chalked out to construct the Barsola feeder, the Irrigation Department confined the schemes only on paper. Now the Chief Minister has asked the Irrigation Department to construct this feeder immediately to alleviate the miseries of the people because of non-availability of irrigation facilities. The Chief Minister did not visit any of the flood prone areas to inspect the flood protection work being undertaken there. Had he done so, the pace of flood protection work would have definitely quickened. But till today the residents of Narwana subdivision are keeping their fingers crossed. |
| Mob ransacks powerhouse From Our Correspondent AMBALA, July 10 — Angry with the frequent power cuts, a mob of villagers went on the rampage and damaged property at the Chaurmastpur powerhouse under Naggal police station in the district late last night. According to the official sources, about 200 villagers, mainly from Naneola, Malour, Panjola and Chaurmastpur reached the powerhouse in tractor-trailors at around 11.30 p.m. The villagers were angry with the officials of the Haryana State Electricity Board for not supplying them adequate power. Some of them alleged that the villages had been deprived of power for the past three days which had made their lives miserable. They also alleged that while on record, the officials had shown that elecricity was being supplied to these villages, the position was otherwise. After the angry villagers reached the powerhouse, two HSEB employees on duty locked the gates and ran for a safety cover towards the residential colony of the employees. The irate villagers broke open the gate and went berserk. They damaged the powerhouse and broke the furniture lying in the office. Some of them rushed to the residential quarters and entered the houses. The fear-stricken employees, their wives and children locked the doors from inside and hid themselves on the roofs of the houses to escape the mob fury. The mob damaged household goods in the colony and set some goods on fire by pouring petrol. The orgy of violence continued for more than 45 minutes despite the presence of a police party which had reached the scene. Houses of two employees suffered a lot of damage. About 20 bicycles, a scooter and a van were damaged. Some employees complained that some of their electronic goods were still missing. On receipt of information, the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Navraj Sandhu, reached the spot. The police has arrested 20 persons in this connection and is interrogating them. A case has been registered in this connection. The Superintending Engineer of the HSEB (Operations), Ambala circle, Mr G.R. Sharma, also reached the powerhouse to assess the damage. The HSEB Employees Union has condemned the incident and sought protection for the field staff. The Deputy Commissioner, meanwhile, has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2000 per household unit. The Board Chairman, Mr Ranjit Issar, has also announced a relief of Rs 5000 per household unit. |
| Rain inundates Ambala areas From Our Correspondent AMBALA, July 10 — Several localities and low-lying areas in the city and cantonment were inundated due to rain here today. Rai Market, Gandhi Market, Ram Bagh Road, Mahesh Nagar, Ajit Nagar, Gobind Nagar, Ram Nagar, Kachha Bazar, Pul Chameli, Nishat Road, Anaj Mandi, Sikligar Mohalla and Kabari Bazar were among the localities where there was more than one foot of water. In Dilipgarh village, near here, the water entered several houses Residents had to perch on rooftops for safety. At least 2000 houses in Durgiana Colony and Anand Nagar were submerged in water. In the city, Manav Chowk, the District Courts complex, Nahan House, Jagadhri Gate, Nadi Mohalla, Prem Nagar, Model Town and Civil Hospital Road were badly affected. The Officers Colony was also flooded. Residents alleged that their localities had been flooded due to negligence of the Drainage Department and civic body officials who had not cared to get the drains cleaned before the onset of the monsoon. However, the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Navraj Sandhu, said all drains had been properly cleaned. The water had accommulated due to heavy rain. She said she had surveyed the area and was satisfied with the arrangements. In protest against the flooding of their colonies, angry residents of Baldev Nagar and those living near Manji Sahib Gurdwara in the city blocked traffic on the Ambala-Chandigarh road and the G.T. Road in the morning. The blockades were lifted after an assurance by the district officials. The Deputy Commissioner said a silt clearing machine for the drains had been brought from Yamunanagar for better results. |
| Survey of suicide by farmers needed: VC From Jatinder Sharma Tribune News Service HISAR, July 10 — Did the farmers in Haryana commit suicide due to their inability to clear the debts? The Vice-Chancellor, CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Prof J.B. Chowdhury, believes that the suicides, if any, may have been committed not due to cultivation problems alone but certain other reasons also. He defined poverty, unemployment and growing intolerance among the rural masses as the other reasons which led to suicide. He said that suicide by farmers, if true, was a serious problem but the truth could be ascertained only after conducting a real survey. The CCSHAU would conduct such a survey if asked by the government. But it would be a huge exercise. In the absence of any concerete information, it appeared that the issue was being politicised, he told TNS. Professor Chowdhury, however, admits that the farmers in the cotton belt are facing problems for the past two-to-three years due to climatic changes that are not suitable for sowing this crop. The cotton crop has been adversely affected by an increase in insect attack due to humid conditions following prolonged rainy seasons. The Vice-Chancellor said that the plant breeders of CCSHAU were developing disease-resistant varieties of cotton. Till the scientists develop such a variety, he advised the farmers to grow desi cotton, which was also disease-resistant. He disclosed that the scientists of the CCSHAU in collaboration with experts from the MITC and Departments of Agriculture and Fisheries were engaged in finalising projects aimed at overcoming the menance of water-logging and the use of the excess water. The detailed project report was likely to be submitted to the government by the end of the month. |
| Governor's call to curb growth of population Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 10 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, has urged the people to take a pledge on the occasion of "World Population Day" to contribute their mite in implementing the ideal of "small family, a happy family" in its true letter and spirit for the prosperity and happiness of an individual, the state, the nation and the society. In his message issued here today, the Governor reminded that the population of our country had crossed the colossal figure of 97 crore which had rendered our development plans and projects fruitless. Now the population of Haryana had also increased to about 1.93 crore from just 36 lakh in 1966 at the time of inception of the state. This had created numerous problems for the State Government to implement the development and welfare schemes successfully. It is, therefore, the right time to check the speedily increasing population of the State, he said. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal has stressed the need for implementing family welfare programme as a mass movement by motivating the people to adopt in letter and spirit the motto of "small family — basis of prosperity." The Health Minister, Mr O.P. Mahajan, also called upon the people to give their unstinted cooperation to check the menace of growing population and adopt small family norms for healthy and prosperous state. |
| Offender arrested after 22 years From Our Correspondent KURUKSHETRA, July 10 — The Kurukshetra police claimed to have succeeded in arresting Kapoor Singh, an offender, after 22 years. The district police chief, Mr Y.P Singhal, told mediapersons here today that Kapoor Singh was arrested by the Pehowa police in a theft case in 1975 and after his release on bail, he had been hiding himself by changing his name and address. He was re-arrested recently from Pehowa when he had gone there on a visit. Another offender, Surja Singh, of Dahria village of Patiala district in Punjab, had been arrested after eight years while Shingara Singh, a resident of village Harigarh Bhorakh, who had been residing with his in-laws at village Bohli, district Panipat had been arrested after seven years. Talking about the achievements of the Offenders Arresting Cell, Mr Singhal said that this cell was created in August, 1997, and since then 135 of the 545 offenders had been re-arrested. Besides, the cell had detected 36 such offenders which had died but were being shown as alive in the office record. The cell had detected seven offenders who had gone abroad by deceiving the police while two offenders had been found as mental patients. There were 82 offenders still at large. |
| Surjewala indulging in 'petty politics' Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 10 — The Haryana Agriculture Minister, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, today denied that any farmer in the State had committed suicided due to the failure of crops. Reacting to the statement of the former Haryana Congress President, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, that several farmers had committed suicide in Haryana because of crop failure, Mr Dalal said Mr Surjewala was indulging in "petty politics to gain publicity at the cost of farmers". He said it was true that crops suffered reverses due to unseasonal rains in September and October last year, but the State reaped a record harvest of 33.55 lakh tonnes of foodgrains during the kharif season as against the previous best production of 32.51 lakh tonnes during 1996. Mr Dalal said the State had fixed the foodgrain production target at 118.50 lakh tonnes during 1998-99 comprising 34.50 lakh tonnes for kharif and 84 lakh tonnes for rabi season. The production targets of sugarcane, cotton and oilseeds had also been fixed at nine lakh tonnes (gur), 15 lakh bales and 10.20 lakh tonnes, respectively. The oilseed production target included 1.15 lakh tonnes of sunflower. He said sugarcane and cotton had been sowed in about 1.50 hectares and 6.30 lakh hectares. Widespread rains throughout the State were very beneficial for kharif crop. It was estimated that 5.80 hectares of paddy, 1.10 lakh hectares of jowar, 25,000 hectares of maize, 5.70 lakh hectares of bajra, 60,000 hectares of kharif pulses and 4,000 hectares of kharif oilseeds had been covered so far. He said it was anticipated that the entire targetted area of 8.90 lakh hectares of paddy, 1.20 lakh hectares of jowar, 25,000 hectares of maize, 5.80 lakh hectares of bajra, 65,000 hectares of kharif pulses and 6,000 hectares of oilseeds would be achieved in full or might even be exceeded during the current kharif season. He said that with a view to offset high cost of inputs, the State Agriculture Department continued with various schemes for providing financial assistance to the
farmers. A subsidy had been allowed on the sale of
certified seeds of wheat, paddy and barley at the rate of
Rs 200 per quintal each. A subsidy at the rate of Rs 400
per quintal had been given on acid delinted cotton seed
and at the rate of 50 per cent on PP equipment. A subsidy
of Rs 300 per quintal had also been provided on the sale
of certified seeds of pulses and oilseeds. A target of
54,200 quintals had been fixed for the distribution of
certified seeds during kharif 1998. As against this,
65,219 quintals had been distributed for rabi 1998-99,
the target of seed distribution had been fixed at 3.55
lakh quintals. An amount of Rs 150 crore would be spent
for providing subsidy on phosphatic and potassic
fertilisers during current year as against Rs 125 crore
provided during 1997-98. The targets of fertiliser
consumption had been fixed at 9.21 lakh metric tonnes
(nutrients) comprising 3.76 lakh metric tonnes for kharif
and 5.45 lakh metric tonnes for rabi season. Crop loans
to the tune of Rs 607.27 crore were disbursed during
kharif 1997 and Rs 625.31 crore during rabi 1997-98. It
was expected to disburse crop loans worth Rs 789.44 crore
during kharif 1998, hed added.He said that propagation of sprinkler irrigation continued to receive high priority. As many as 6523 sprinkler sets were installed during 1997-98 raising the total number of sprinkler sets in the State to 65,291. |
| Grain traders plan 'virat sammelan' Tribune News Service KARNAL, July 10 — The agitating grain traders of Karnal today decided to hold a Virat Beopari Sammelan in Karnal on August 9 if their demands to allot plots to the licencees in the new grain market were not conceded by then. The announcement regarding the 'maha sammelan' was made by Mr Laxmi Chand Gupta, president of the Haryana Beopar Mandal, while addressing the agitating traders in the grain market here. He announced that the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to meet their demands. However, despite dharna and agitation as well as boycott call by the traders, the Haryana Marketing Board today auctioned 44 plots which fetched an amount of Rs 6.2 crore to the board. The board had decided to auction 106 plots today. But because of the boycott call given by the agitating traders, very few traders from the adjoining areas of Karnal ventured to come forward for participating in the auction. The marketing board had launched a high-whistle advertisement campaign for the auction even in the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. But in view of the prolonged agitation by the traders, there were very few takers for the plots. In all, there are 750 plots in the grain market. About 175 were auctioned in the last auction on June 4 when the traders were lathi-charged also. With today's auction, the board was able to auction only about one-fourth of the available plots. Another distinct feature was that the plots auctioned fetched much less value as compared to the last auction.Meanwhile, the agitating traders also held a demonstration in Committee Chowk where the BJP had organised a dharna in support of the demands of the traders. The dharna was led by Mr Brij Bhushan Gupta, district president of the BJP. The dharna seemed to be the last bid to persuade the Marketing Board as well as the district administration not to go ahead with the auction. The BJP's state leadership had failed in its efforts two days ago to persuade the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to postpone the auction in Karnal. But the Chief Minister is reported to have given a firm "no" to the BJP leadership. Upset over the failure of its state leadership, the local leadership of the BJP threatened to take serious action in case the Chief Minister did not agree to the demands of the traders. In fact, the problem of the BJP is that the Chairman of the Sangharsh Samiti of the Beopar Mandal, which is spearheading the agitation is affiliated to the BJP. Likewise, the State Chairman of the Beopar Mandal also owes allegiance to the BJP, which had been feeding the traders on the hopes that it would be able to force the Chief Minister to withdraw the decision of open auction which was against the interest of the traders. As the frustration amongst the traders is rising, the BJP seems to be fast losing ground in the trading community. |
| Drive to check sales tax evasion Tribune News Service FARIDABAD July 10 — The Excise and Taxation Department has launched an intensive drive against sales tax evasion which has reached alarming proportions here. Stating this here today, Mr Mukesh Gambhir, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (East), said during the past week, a penalty worth Rs 4.44 lakh had been imposed on four industrial houses for evading sales tax. He said the highest amount of fine imposed was Rs 2.25 lakh for selling old machinery to a factory in South without paying sales tax. The others include units manufacturing lubricants, shoes and iron and steel. The said most of the tax evasion was done by traders dealing in consumer goods in collusion with transporters after the lifting of the tax barriers in the state. He said the department had resorted to round-the-clock checking of vehicles, verification of transactions and records of traders and industries to improve the revenue of the state exchequer. |
| Women's protest in support of nurses From Our Correspondent ROHTAK, July 10 — Hundreds of women held a demonstration in front of Parliament and courted arrest in large numbers yesterday in support of the Haryana nurses' agitation. The call for the protest was given by the state committees of the Haryana and Delhi Janwadi Mahila Samiti. Ms Vrinda Karat, general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Samiti (ABJMS), and Ms Asha Lata and Ms Jagmati Sangwan, state secretaries of the Delhi and Haryana units, addressed the gathering. They criticised the "discrimination" in the pay scales of nurses and sought the intervention of the Centre regarding the "undemocratic" steps by the state government to curb the nurses, agitation. The demonstrators, later received an invitation for negotiations from the Haryana Health Minister. Meanwhile, Ms Bimla Hooda, district secretary of the ABJMS, said that women from neighbouring villages would largely attend the "jan nyaya panchayat" proposed to be held tomorrow at Pehrawar village, near here. The Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti has been striving since June 16 for a CBI inquiry into the alleged rape and murder of a minor of the village a month ago. The panchayat is being held to apprise the people of the episode and the "suspicious" role of the police in the investigation. |
| Rift between civic body members From Our Correspondent YAMUNANAGAR, July 10 — A confrontation between municipal council officials and elected president of the council has led to inconvenience to the public. The Congress nominee, Mr Nand Kumar, is heading the municipal council for the past three years. He is a brother-in-law of the Minister of State of Environment and Cooperative, Mr Subhash Chaudhry of the HVP and a close associate of Mr Bhajan Lal. According to reports, a meeting of the council was convened on July 8 and the agenda was issued by the secretary of the council, but only 13 councillors were present and 10 absent. The council president alleged that the executive officer and the Secretary deliberately boycotted the meeting. He cancelled the meeting and sent a complaint to Deputy Commissioner to take action against "erring" officials. A copy of complaint has been sent to the Local Bodies Minister. The next meeting of the council has been fixed on July 14. Mr Nand Kumar has demanded that the Chief Minister should intervene in the matter. He claimed that a majority of councillors were with him but they were not being allowed to function. The rift has affected the civic amenities work in Jagadhari. Most of the drainage are choked and water supply is poor. Heaps of garbages can be seen all over and street lights are out of order. |
| Governor lays stone of judicial complex Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 10 — A judicial complex will be ready at Panchkula, near here, by September, 1999. The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, today laid the foundation stone of this complex which would cost approximately Rs 2.93 crore. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, a number of his Cabinet colleagues, Judges, advocates and many senior officers of the State Government were present on the occasion. |
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