Wednesday, April 21, 1999

Speaker not to send House copies to HC
CHENNAI, April 20 — Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan today said he would not send to the Madras High Court the copies of the House proceedings from March 22 to 24, relating to the assault on Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam by AIADMK Legislature Party leader R. Thamaraikanni on March 22 in the House.

Thambi Durai denies Jethmalani's charge
NEW DELHI, April 20 — Former Law Minister M Thambi Durai today said the Centre’s notification on trial of corruption cases against AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha was issued by the Personnel Ministry headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself and he had nothing to do with it.

World Book Day on April 23
NEW DELHI, April 20 — The National Book Trust and the Federation of Indian Publishers in cooperation with UNESCO will celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day on April 23.

CPM flays diesel price hike

No plan to join Cabinet: Gamang

BHUBANESWAR, April 20 (PTI) — Orissa Chief Minister Girdhar Gamang today scotched all speculation about the possibility of his joining the Union Cabinet if the Congress formed a government at the Centre.

“I will continue as chief minister here and have no plan to join the Union Cabinet”, he said on his arrival from Chennai here this morning.

Asked if the Congress wanted him to be at the Centre in view of his long parliamentary experience, Mr Gamang said: “That phase is over. I think such a situation will not arise”.

Mr Gamang said his presence in the Lok Sabha to vote during the confidence vote was neither unethical nor unconstitutional.

The allegation levelled by Opposition parties against his action was politically motivated, he said.

Questioned if he would go to Delhi again to cast his vote when the new non-BJP government sought a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Minister said it might not be necessary. “In any case. I will be guided by the directive of the party”, he said.

Citing the example of Mr Saifuddin Soz, who had been expelled from the National Conference for going against the party whip and voting against the Vajpayee government, Mr Gamang said he would have met the same fate if he had not voted against the confidence motion.

“The BJP should blame Saifuddin Soz, a member of its ally, and not me for its defeat on the floor of the house”, he said adding the government fell because of its inherent contradictions.

“I continue to be a member of the Lower House and have the division number 479. I am drawing my salary and allowances from the Lok Sabha and not the state assembly,” he said adding that he had no voting right in the assembly.

“I even travelled to Delhi from Bhubaneswar and from there to Chennai and back by using the air travel facility provided by the Lok Sabha and not the state government”, he clarified.

Asked about the reaction of senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Nandini Satpathy, who disapproved his voting in Lok Sabha, Mr Gamang said she would have been justified if she had made the comment before the enforcement of the anti-defection law. Now it was not the individual’s conscience which guided a member as far a voting on the floor of the House was concerned.

Heavy water leaks
Workers exposed to tritium

MUMBAI, April 20 (PTI) — About six tonnes of heavy water leaked out during the inspection of a coolant channel at the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) last month, exposing some of the repair workers to excess tritium which is mildly radioactive, officials confirmed.

A committee had been constituted to investigate the root cause, to review the design of the special sealing plug used for inspection from where the leak occurred and suggest remedial measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) officials said.

The leak, which occurred on March 26 at unit two of MAPS which was shut down for inspection, was initially categorised as a “below scale” or “zero” event on the international nuclear event scale (INES) which ranges from zero (no safety significance) to seven (major accident).

However, the incident was under study and the INES rating of the incident was expected to be one, officials said.

“Some of the persons involved in leak rectification tasks received tritium uptake in excess of the investigation level of 100 micro curies per litre of urine and have been restricted to work in the reactor as per station procedures”, NPCIL officials said in a statement.

Heavy water, used as a moderator and coolant in pressurised heavy water reactors, contains tritium, a heavier version of hydrogen. Tritium is harmful only if it enters the body.

M. Das, Chief Engineer (Health and Safety) at NPCIL, said as a precautionary measure the seven workers who were involved in rectifying the leak were restricted to work in the reactor.

The workers were exposed to twice or thrice the amount they would have received in a week’s time, according to U.C. Mishra, head of the Health Safety Division at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) here.

NPCIL officials said the workers engaged in rectification of the leak wore protective plastic suits to avoid tritium uptake.

There was no adverse effect on reactor safety during the incident, or any abnormal release of radioactivity.

An additional precaution taken after the leak was to declare a plant emergency to prevent the spread of any contamination and to operate safety mechanisms.

The leak occurred during the in-service inspection of the coolant channel, using a special device called “BARCIS” developed at BARC.

BARCIS has a special sealing plug to seal the channels and an inspection head which measures ultrasonic and eddy currents at different locations on the 5.1-metre-long coolant channel inside the reactor.

The inspection head is pushed remotely inside the channel with extension rods.

The heavy water started leaking from the special sealing plug while the extension rod was being connected, according to the NPCIL.

About six tonnes of heavy water spilled on the floor of the fuelling machine vault.

The water was subsequently recovered through leakage collection systems.

One tiger ‘lost everyday’

CALCUTTA, April 20 (UNI) — Tigers are facing the worst-ever crises in the 25th year of India’s Project Tiger due to lack of political will, according to the latest report published by the UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).

Poaching for international trade and exploitation of the forests were not only pushing the tiger towards extinction, but were threatening the security of India’s forests, water resources and people, who depend on them, the report said and reiterated that “One tiger is lost in India everyday”.

The EIA has identified Madhya Pradesh as one of the most critical areas for the survival of tigers. As home to over 30 per cent of the Indian population of tigers, believed to be around 3,000, MP is accountable for around 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the world’s total tiger population estimated to be between 5,000 and 7,000, it said.

The self-declared ‘Tiger state’ boasts five Project Tiger reserves, including the Kanha Tiger Reserve, and 39 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries covering about 3.7 per cent, area of the state. Over half of the state’s tigers were outside these protected areas, the EIA report pointed out.

Setting up of various organisations such as the Tiger State Committee and Tiger Cell in 1994 and the Tiger State Foundation Society in 1997 have not proved to be of much help, the EIA claimed and added that, of these three, only the last one was still functioning.

Lambasting the system of conducting tiger census in India, the EIA pointed out several anomalies in the way by which the Forest Department authorities measure their success and which leads the staff to show an increase in the number of tigers in order to present the authorities in a favourable light.

Citing an example the EIA said, the Madhya Pradesh authorities continued with a census. Even before the field work had been completed, there were reports that orders had percolated down the ranks to the field staff to ensure that over 1,000 tigers would be counted in the state to show an increase from the 1993 census of 912 tigers the EIA claimed. A former state forest minister announced on January 4, 1998, that the population of tigers in Madhya Pradesh had risen from 912 in 1993 to 927 in 1997, the EIA alleged.

The authenticity of tiger population statistics has become so doubtful that the Director of Project Tiger has decided that he will not officially accept the 1997 figures.

Reporting on instances of poaching, the EIA said Madhya Pradesh offered plenty of opportunities for those driven by lucrative profits in trading in tiger and other wildlife parts.

The EIA said Madhya Pradesh had ignored legislation intended to project India’s natural heritage. It said the state authorities had failed to act as the Forest Department staff were beaten up and sometimes killed by mafia operators, involved in illegal wildlife and timber trade.

India objects to US remarks

NEW DELHI, April 20 (PTI) — India today described as “not appropriate’’ the US remarks that any new regime in India should accept international demands on nuclear and missiles issues and “move fast” on the Lahore declaration signed between Delhi and Islamabad.

“There is no question of the so-called non-proliferation demands. India does not accept any such demands,” an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in response to a question on comments by the US State Department spokesman, Mr James Rubin, in Washington.

“We believe that it is not appropriate to make such pronouncements in the course of a process of democratic transition,” the spokesman said.

He said “India has been engaged in an intensive dialogue with a number of countries, including the USA on the matters related to disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to harmonising our respective points of view.”

Speaker not to send House copies to HC

CHENNAI, April 20 (UNI) — Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan today said he would not send to the Madras High Court the copies of the House proceedings from March 22 to 24, relating to the assault on Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam by AIADMK Legislature Party leader R. Thamaraikanni on March 22 in the House.

The Speaker gave the ruling when Mr P.R. Sundaram (AIADMK) drew his attention to the high court decision to seek the opinion of three senior counsels in the case, challenging the sentence meted out to Mr Thamaraikanni by the House and take into consideration the House proceedings.

“The proceedings are available in the Assembly library and anyone is welcome to refer to them”, he said.

Thambi Durai denies Jethmalani's charge

NEW DELHI, April 20 (PTI) — Former Law Minister M Thambi Durai today said the Centre’s notification on trial of corruption cases against AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha was issued by the Personnel Ministry headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself and he had nothing to do with it.

Refuting Urban Affairs Minister Ram Jethmalani’s allegation that he was the brain behind "clandestinely" issued notification without the Cabinet being taken into confidence, Mr Durai said "as to whether the matter is required to be placed before the Cabinet or processed at the PM’s level alone, is a matter for the PM to answer."

On the claim of Jethmalani that he had tendered his resignation protesting against the notification on April 9, the former Law Minister said in a statement "the alleged protest of Jethmalani is a fabricated afterthought".

"It may be recalled that AIADMK ministers submitted their resignation on April 5, which was accepted three days later and the government was on the brink of a fall. One is reminded of the parable of rats deserting a sinking ship," he said.

Mr Durai said, "by commenting on the notification of the central government dated February 5, Mr Jethmalani has committed contempt of court as the Supreme Court has concluded its hearing and reserved verdict on the subject matter."

He said "Jethmalani is today, a disgruntled politician who has lost his cabinet berth due to the defeat of the confidence motion moved by the Prime Minister."

Mr Durai said serious corruption charges were pending against Mr Jethmalani in the form of a representation made to the PM by a MP (Subramaniam Swamy in Ms Shoes case) and which matter has been referred to the Attorney General for opinion.

World Book Day on April 23
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, April 20 — The National Book Trust (NBT) and the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) in cooperation with UNESCO will celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day on April 23.

To mark the occasion, among other things, two programmes have been arranged. The first is a seminar on “Towards a Book Reading Society: Challenges in the Next Millennium” and the second is the first day cover release function by the Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, a press note stated.

The idea of World Book Day was mooted by the International Publishers Association and was submitted to the General Council of UNESCO by the Government of Spain. The resolution was adopted on November 15, 1995. It was expanded by the Russian Federation to include the concept of copyright, the note said.

It pointed out that the FIP will be collecting books from various publishers to donate to economically weaker sections of society to mark the day.

Notice to music company on ‘Laloo’ cassette

NEW DELHI, April 20 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today issued fresh notices to a private music company and presenter of a music programme on a petition accusing them of “denigrating” the Bihar Chief Minister, Ms Rabri Devi, and her husband, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav.

A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Mr Justice K.S. Gupta issued the notices to “BMG Cresendo” and presenter Udham Singh on a petition seeking to restrain them from circulating video album — “Jat In The Mix”.

The petition filed by Mr Mukti Nath Upadhayaya also sought direction to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for laying down guidelines to prevent the telecast of such programmes.

The fresh notices were issued to the company and the presenter as they failed to file replies to notices issued by the court on March 8.

The petitioner had alleged that the music company had “deliberately and knowingly” tried to paint the present and former Bihar Chief Ministers in a “vulgar” manner in the pop song — “Punjabi bhangra, jat yamla....”

The court had issued notices to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the two respondents, earlier after viewing the video cassette.

CPM flays diesel price hike
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, April 20 — The Politburo of the CPM has sought quashing of the government’s decision to hike the price of diesel.

In a statement issued here, the Politburo, while condemning the decision, has said that the BJP-led government, which lost the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, could no longer take such decisions.

It has expressed the view that the increase in freight charges for transporting diesel in the Railway Budget have been passed on to the consumer. A further hike in price of diesel will have a cascading inflationary impact on the economy.

Month-long theatre festival
NEW DELHI: In a treat for Hindi drama lovers, the month-long summer theatre festival of Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts will start here on Thursday. Featuring five popular plays in Hindi, including an adaptation of Dario Fo’s “Comedy of Terrors” and Moliere’s “Don Juan”, the festival will be on from April 22 to May 23. Other plays to be performed during the festival are “Daaku” written by Mudrarakshas, “Sar-e-Bazar” by Anuja Dalvi and “Purush” by Jayant Dalvi. — UNI

Justice Sachar to visit Israel
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Justice Rajindar Sachar has been invited as a member of a delegation of legal experts to visit Israel on April 21 to campaign against the eviction of Palestinian Jerusalemites. The campaign is being organised by the lobby for human rights in partnership with local Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisation. — PTI

Saraswati’s statue found
DHARWAD: A unique statue of Saraswati in Padmasana, belonging to the 12th century, has been found at Madanabavi in Dharwad district of Karnataka by the Karnatak University Kannada Research Institute (KRI). KRI museum curator S.K. Melakar said this sculpture was found near Ramalinga Temple at Madanabavi. The goddess was seated in a lotus posture with four hands holding “ankusha, pasha, pustaka (book) and akshamala”. Mr Melakar said he also found a 12th century inscription on the side of the temple. — UNI

Musk deer vanishing
DEHRA DUN: The Himalayan musk deer population, once found in large numbers in the upper reaches of the Garhwal Himalayas, has dwindled drastically due to poaching and diseases. Efforts made by the government to protect this species have not proved successful and today the musk deer (kastura) is found only in isolated pockets of the Himalayas. It has already vanished from many previously known areas of its existence, in the Himalayas. The kastura is highly valued for its kasturi (musk bag). This is carried by the male kastura beneath its abdomen and is about the size of an apple. Kasturi is used in traditional Chinese and Unani medicine and is also used in perfumes and cosmetics and as an aphrodisiac. — UNI

‘Treeman’ honoured
DEHRA DUN: “Treeman” Vishweshar Dutt Saklani who belongs to the Tehri Garhwal area and has single-handedly planted more than 400,000 has been conferred with the “Virasat Samman’99” by organisers of the 10-day cultural festival which concluded in the Doon valley recently. The honour has been given to Saklani for “cultural ecology”. A freedom fighter, Saklani found solace in planting trees after he lost his brother in the year 1948. He has made it his life’s mission to plant the native oaks (banj), cedar (deodar) and rhododendron (burans). — UNI

Rs 7 lakh looted from bank
GARHWA (Bihar): Armed desperadoes on Tuesday looted more than Rs 7 lakh from a Punjab National Bank branch here, the police said. Three armed persons raided the bank at around 10.40 am and after overpowering the bank employees at gunpoint decamped with Rs 7.72 lakh, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Praveen Bashist, said. He said the district’s borders had been sealed and raids were being conducted to nab the looters. — PTI