Anti-encroachment drive ordered
BHIWANI, April 13 — Mr Kanwal Singh, Development and Panchayat Minister, Haryana yesterday directed district officers to remove encroachments on panchayat lands in the villages as well as from other property on a war footing and register cases against the encroachers.

Meeting on SYL on April 25
AMBALA, April 13 — The convener of the Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, Mr Om Parkash Malik, said here yesterday that a meeting of the leaders of various political parties had been convened for April 25 to discuss modalities for launching a struggle for the state's interests.

Shrine board plans home for aged
CHANDIGARH, April 13 — The Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula, has decided to set up a home for the aged and inmates would be engaged in cottage industries.

6 hurt in clash
ROHTAK, April 13 — At least 6 persons were injured in a group clash at Singhpura village yesterday evening.

1 killed in road accident
ROHTAK, April 13 — One person was killed on the spot when a tractor ran over him on the Jind road here today.

• 2 IAF personnel killed in mishap
• Governor, CM greet people
• 15 hurt in acid attack

Reeling under power cuts
From Sameer Sabharwal

GURGAON, April 13 — Southern Haryana, particularly Gurgaon district has been facing an acute power shortage for over 10 days now. Industrial areas are particularly feeling under prolonged power cuts, sometimes ending late in the nights.

These conditions are not only affecting industrial production but also leading to retrenchment because of disrupted work schedules. Mr D. Aggarwal, an industrialist of Udyog Vihar, says he is shocked at the grim power situation particularly in view of the reported rapid strides towards achieving 24-hour uninterrupted power supply.

Power shortage has also affected water supply in the district as the HVPN tries to distribute power in two groups by rotation of one hour each. Most of the water pumps are not backed up with generating sets and are, therefore, inoperative without power. Mr Dharambir Guaba, local Congress MLA, said many residential colonies situated at a relative height are, hardly receiving any water supply.

Mr Guaba regretted that the district authorities and the Municipal Committee had not taken appropriate steps to improve water supply and sewerage in the city despite repeated representations made to them. He said he had already informed the district administration of their plan to launch an agitation on May 1 if the authorities failed to alleviate the sufferings of the citizens. He asserted that despite high claims being made by the Chief Minister, the ground situation is just the opposite.

Mr J.S. Dahiya, Superintending Engineer, Dakshini Haryana Biljee Vitaran Nigam Ltd (HVPN South Zone), however claimed that the situation had arisen due to an extraordinary shortfall in generation in the Northern region caused by the forced closure of generating stations of various states and central generation agencies. This has resulted in a drop 2,000 MW in the availability of power from the northern grid.

Mr Dahiya said the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) had reduced the supply of gas to gas-based power plants of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), causing about a 400 MW shortage. Additionally, a few power stations like the NTPC Dadri unit, the Narora atomic power plant machine (220 MW), three units of the Ropar thermal power station and one unit of the UPSEB at Anpara have been shut down for a few days. The Singrauli station of the NTPC is expected to be on a planned shutdown for a few days. The BBMB has reduced the release of water supply by 6,000 cusecs, resulting in a fall of power generation.

Mr Dahiya clarified that prior intimation of power failure cannot be given because the frequency of the grid goes down whenever load goes up in the northern region as a whole, necessitating immediate power cut measures.

Federation for lifting ban on recruitments
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 13 — The Haryana Universities Non-Teaching Employees Federation has demanded immediate lifting of ban on new recruitments in universities and sought protection against the financial crisis being faced by various universities.

The federation warned the state government that it would launch a statewide agitation in case its demands were not met.

A meeting of the federation was held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Kartar Singh Dhankar, president of the Maharshi Dayanand University Non-Teaching Employees Association. The meeting was attended by representatives of Kurukshetra University, Haryana Agriculture University and Maharshi Dayanand University. Representatives of Guru Jambheshwar University could not attend the meeting due to prior engagements. However, they assured their support for the decisions taken at the meeting, claimed Mr Tara Chand Sharma, general secretary of MDU Non-Teaching Employees Association.

The meeting expressed concern over the non-payment of salaries to employees of MDU. The federation also expressed resentment over the growing-financial crisis in the university and demanded from the government necessary arrangements to be made to overcome the financial crisis in the university.

The federation leaders have also decided to meet the Chancellor very soon to apprise him of the ground realities.

Cess on farm goods justified
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 13 —The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, has justified an increase of 1 per cent in the rural development cess imposed on agriculture commodities.

Talking to newsmen here yesterday Mr Bansi Lal said already 2 per cent cess was being charged in Punjab. The hike in the cess would not affect the traders, producers and consumers much because 90 per cent of the cess was to be paid by the Central Government which procured major crops of wheat and paddy in the State.

Referring to the demand made by the state executive of the BJP for the withdrawal of the hike in the rural development cess, Mr Bansi Lal said the cess was increased with the approval of the BJP members of the Cabinet.

Admitting that the State was facing a severe cash crunch, Mr Bansi Lal said the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations had "broken our financial back". Haryana would have to bear an additional burden of about Rs 250 crore per annum because of the grant of 10 per cent DA by the Centre.

He said the Centre should take Chief Ministers into confidence before taking any decision affecting the finances of the states also.

He agreed with a suggestion that a solution to the river waters issues was possible only after the Supreme Court adjudicated upon the issue. He said he would not allow anyone to harm the interests of Haryana.

Mr Bansi Lal, who had been a Defence Minister of the country, said the Bhagwat issue was a sensitive issue and should not be discussed in the Press. He said even if a Joint Parliamentary Committee was formed on the issue, its proceedings should be held in camera.

He appreciated the former Prime Minister, Mr I.K. Gujral, for sanctioning a 430-MW gas-based power project exclusively for Haryana. He said Mr Gujral had done a great service to Haryana.

He said the main worry of his government was about drainage and roads. The Centre had helped the state to make a one-time saving of Rs 600 crore by declaring 700-km-long state highways as national highways.

Anti-encroachment drive ordered
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, April 13 — Mr Kanwal Singh, Development and Panchayat Minister, Haryana yesterday directed district officers to remove encroachments on panchayat lands in the villages as well as from other property on a war footing and register cases against the encroachers.

He was presiding over the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee meeting at Panchayat Bhawan.

The Minister also directed the officers to take due care in the construction of village streets saying the material used should be of high quality and construction must ensure smooth flow of sullage.

Meeting on SYL on April 25
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, April 13 — The convener of the Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, Mr Om Parkash Malik, said here yesterday that a meeting of the leaders of various political parties had been convened for April 25 to discuss modalities for launching a struggle for the state's interests.

Mr Malik said that the leaders would chalk out a plan to protect Haryana's interests in the SYL canal water and territorial issue in view of the statement of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, that there was no spare water.

He said that the statement issued by another Akali leader, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, in this connection was a challenge to the people of Haryana.

Shrine board plans home for aged
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 13 — The Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula, has decided to set up a home for the aged and inmates would be engaged in cottage industries.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the board presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, who is also board's Chairman, here last evening. Rupees 5.40 crore budget was also passed to undertake various development activities in the complex.

The board also decided that out of the offerings of gold a "mukat and chhatar" of the goddess Mansa Devi be got prepared with latest design and the rest of the gold be used for making locket and "mangal sutra" having emblem of Mata Mansa Devi for sale to pilgrims.

The board also decided that an akhand jyoti would be lit at the bhandara complex. The Chief Minister suggested that two or three dining halls be constructed in the premises with modern design of kitchen.

The Chief Minister said a bhandara complex would also be constructed by the board.

Dr Kamla Verma who is Vice-Chairman of the board, said developmental works including the construction of yagyashala, puja bhavan and dhyan kendra, pravachan sthal and residential quarters for the staff were in progress.

Mrs Saroj Siwatch, Chief Administrator of the board, said 136 booths had been constructed near the shrine by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). She said these would be given to the shopkeepers who were operating from their kiosks.

6 hurt in clash
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 13 — At least 6 persons were injured in a group clash at Singhpura village yesterday evening.

The FIR lodged by Hawa Singh said Raj Singh, Samar Singh and Jagat Singh had encroached upon a part of land belonging to a joint plot of Hawa Singh, Maha Singh, Ranbir Singh and Kuldeep.

Police sources said members of both the groups used sticks and sharp-edged weapons during the scuffle. One person fired on the rival group resulting in serious injuries to Ranbir and Raj Kumar.

The injured have been admitted to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences. Their condition is stated to be out of danger.

1 killed in road accident
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 13 — One person was killed on the spot when a tractor ran over him on the Jind road here today.

The deceased has been identified as Prem. One Mr Balraj said in the FIR that a speeding tractor hit Prem when he was going on foot along with his wife.

In a separate incident, the police found body of a youth near the local sugar mill. He has been identified as Ram Chandra (Mokhra), a rickshaw-puller.

The post mortem report confirmed that the victim was strangulated to death. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC but no arrest has been made so far.

2 IAF personnel killed in mishap
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, April 13 — Two IAF personnel named Harsh Vardhan and Lakshmi Narayan were killed on the spot when their two-wheeler was hit by an unidentified vehicle near Aminpur under Naggal police station in this district. The police has registered a case in this regard.

15 hurt in acid attack
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 13 — At least 15 passengers travelling on the DPM (Delhi-Panipat) shuttle service sustained burn injuries when acid was thrown on them at Harsana Kalan railway station, about 5 km from here, last night.

According to a preliminary report, as soon as the train arrived at the railway station here, the victims were admitted to various hospitals in the city.

The Railway police has registered a case and further investigations are in progress.

Governor, CM greet people
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 13 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, and Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today greeted the people on the historic occasion of tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa Panth.

They said the Khalsa Panth was a unique example of secularism based on equality of all human beings. They urged the people to emulate the high ideals propagated by the Gurus to strengthen the secular fabric of the country.