INLD to contest elections in 6 states
AMBALA, April 28 — A former Chief Minister and leader of the Indian National Lok Dal, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, said here today that his party would field candidates in six states, including Haryana and Delhi, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Haryana gesture to widows
CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The Haryana Government will incur Rs 1.85 crore to provide financial aid to the widows belonging to the Scheduled Castes for solemnising marriages of their daughters and also other members of the Scheduled Castes to construct houses in the state in the current financial year.

2 petrol pump men hurt in loot bid
YAMUNANAGAR, April 28 — Four armed persons shot at and seriously injured two employees of a petrol pump today on the Kurukshetra-Yamunanagar highway. Both of them have been admitted to a hospital in serious condition.

Bansi Lal must 'resign gracefully'
CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The Haryana Congress today predicted that the days of the HVP-BJP Government in the state were numbered in view of the dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha.

10 yrs' jail term for drug trafficker

"Lift ban" on recruitment

Highest-ever turnover by Hafed

Villagers face water shortage

Meagre relief for farmers
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, April 28 — The Centre has sanctioned a meagre amount of Rs 13.27 crore as compensation for farmers who suffered heavy losses due to rain and floods in Haryana in October last year.

This has been stated in a letter written by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Som Pal to a former minister, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda. The letter is dated April 20.

Mr Hooda had on November 8, 1998, urged the Prime Minister, who also held the Agriculture portfolio to pay adequate compensation to the farmers who had suffered losses to the tune of over Rs 2000 core.

Mr Som Pal told Mr Hooda that the Haryana Government had an amount of Rs 27.79 crore, including a central assistance of Rs 20. 84 crore, in its Natural Calamities Relief Fund in 1998-99.

The state government, he said, had demanded immediate relief of Rs 757.29 crore and the Centre was "pleased" to sanction Rs 13.27 crore on March 15 last. The Haryana Government, he added, would soon get this amount.

The Chief Minister, it might be recalled, had in a memorandum to the Prime Minister said the state had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 2099 crore due to the loss to the crops and other infrastructure like roads, including national and state highways and link roads.

An- eight member team , comprising officials of the union ministries of Agriculture, Food and Supplies, Surface Transport, Finance and Planning Commission had visited the affected districts on October 27 to make an on- the spot assessment of the damage caused to the crops due to the unprecedented rains and floods.

Although the state government had ordered girdawri to assess the losses, no compensation was paid to the farmers till now. Mr Hooda urged the government to pay compensation to the farmers without further delay as the Centre had already released Rs 34 crore for this purpose.

Mr Hooda demanded a bonus of at least Rs 30 per quintal for wheat growers as was being paid during the regime of the Bhajan Lal Government. He urged the government to lift the procured wheat immediately as heavy stocks were lying in the open.

The former minister said the shortage of gunny bags was causing problems and annoying food grain dealers. He suggested that the government should ask the Food Corporation of India to lift the wheat on a war-footing.

Rise in STDs among women
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, April 28 — Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) appear to be widely prevalent among women in the rural areas of Jhajjar and Rohtak districts.

These startling facts came to light during the medical examination of men and women at the week-long family awareness campaign launched on April 26 in the two districts. These medical examination camps are being funded by the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO).

Besides Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, the other districts where this campaign has been launched are Panipat, Faridabad and Gurgaon. The target group are persons between the age group of 15 to 49, considered to be vulnerable to such diseases.

The Deputy Commissioner, Jhajjar, Mr Arun Kumar, told TNS that of the 2,849 persons examined on April 27 in the district, as many as 727 were found suffering from STDs. Among these, 676 were women. Similar was the position on the first day of the campaign.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr B.D. Kalra, said during the first two days at Rohtak, over 1,545 persons were detected suffering from STDs. A majority of these patients were women, he said.

Dr Kalra said the treatment of men suffering from STDs was necessary so as to prevent these women partners from getting AIDS. He said 80 per cent such women might fall victim to AIDS if STDs were not controlled immediately.

Mr Arun Kumar said medicines up to Rs 50 were being supplied free of cost to STD patients at 21 health centres set up in Jhajjar district.

The state government had also deployed 18 additional doctors from outside Jhajjar to assist the administration in identifying and treating the STD patients. The health authorities in Rohtak were being assisted by women doctors of the local Pt B.D. Sharma Post-graduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

The Jhajjar administration had held meetings of sarpanches, teachers, anganwari workers, social organisations and health workers at every block headquarters in the past four months.

The health and anganwari workers had visited every village in the district to persuade the people to visit the health centres.

Wheat procurement
Haryana nearing target
by U K Bhanot
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 28 — With early wheat arrivals, Haryana is nearing its procurement target. The arrivals in state mandis have already crossed 31.22 lakh tonnes with Sirsa having touched 4.36 lakh tonnes. It is followed by Fatehabad (3.93 lakh tonnes), Karnal (3.72 lakh tonnes), Kaithal (3.70 lakh tonnes), Kurukshetra (3.09 lakh tonnes) and Jind (3.05 lakh tonnes).

While Hafed has succeeded in procuring 36 per cent of the total wheat arrivals in the state mandis, the Food and Supplies department has purchased 22 per cent. While consumers are yet to make purchases directly for their domestic consumption, traders have kept away and have not made purchases totalling even 1 per cent of the arrivals.

Earlier the state government had been given a procurement target of 33 lakh tonnes which has not been revised to 35 lakh tonnes. In view of the earlier arrivals which ranged between two lakh tonnes and three lakh tonnes in aggregate in several mandis, Haryana may even cross 37 lakh tonnes. In fact arrivals had begun 10 to 12 days before the expected date of Baisakhi. This is why even the peak arrival days have been advanced due to comparatively dry weather conditions in the area. Haryana mandis saw peak arrivals between April 18 and 20 as against last years peak arrivals on April 29 and 30.

Almost the entire wheat arrivals except 14,717 quintals of wheat purchased by traders, have been procured by state agencies which total 31,08,151 tonnes. Of this, the Food and Supplies department has procured 6.92 lakh tonnes, Hafed 11.31 lakh tonnes, the Food Corporation of India 4.85 lakh tonnes, the Haryana Agro Industries Corporation 2.23 lakh tonnes, Haryana Warehousing Corporation 3.39 lakh tonnes and Confed 2.35 lakh tonnes. The highest arrivals on a single day so far were 3.33 lakh tonnes on April 19 which is a record so far.

As compared to last year, farmers had fewer problems this year and the quality of grain is healthy and mature. The yield is also much better than last year. In spite of the fact that the target is being achieved well before the supplies have started tapering, the state agencies will continue to purchase whatever quantities of wheat are brought to the mandis at Rs 550 a quintal. Last years procurement price was Rs 510 which included Rs 55 as bonus from the central government.

Last year the arrivals in the entire season in the mandis totalled 32.31 lakh tonnes of which the state agencies procured 31.57 lakh tonnes.

All payments are being cleared within 72 hours of the purchases, says senior official. And, there are no complaints, he adds.

DC urges villagers to pay arrears
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, April 28 — A village-level open darbar was held at Shahpur village 25 km from here, today. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Rastogi, presided.

Nearly 62 applications for the redress of grievances were received at the darbar. The Deputy Commissioner directed the officers concerned to settle the complaints of the applicants as quickly as possible. The complaints were mostly related to electricity, drinking water, canal water, Indra Awas Yojna, etc.

A deputation of Shahpur village met the Deputy Commissioner and complained that some villagers had encroached upon the village pond. The Deputy Commissioner ordered the Block Development Officer and sarpanch of the village to get removed the encroachments on the pond land after demarcation.

A deputation of village Kanth, Bijawa and Buand Lakhu villages complained that the women of Shahpur village wash clothes in the drinking water channel, and as a result the villagers of above villages do not get pure drinking water. The Deputy Commissioner directed the officer concerned that arrangements for washing of clothes by women may be made separately.

The Executive Engineer of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner that over Rs 4 lakh were due as arrears of electricity bills against consumers of Shahpur village. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the villagers to make payment of the pending bills without any delay.

He told the people that the surcharge levied on pending bills would not be charged if they made the payments before May 3.

INLD to contest elections in 6 states
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, April 28 — A former Chief Minister and leader of the Indian National Lok Dal (INDL), Mr Om Parkash Chautala, said here today that his party would field candidates in six states, including Haryana and Delhi, in the coming Lok Sabha elections. He said except Congress, the INLD was willing to have an alliance with any national party and had kept its options open.

Mr Chautala, who was talking to mediapersons after a workers' meeting, said his party would contest elections in Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He said under the current political scenario the Congress was feeling humiliated. He further said in order to win the maximum possible seats, his party would try to have seat arrangements with other political parties. He added that he did not consider any party as untouchable.

Mr Chautala said there was dissensions within the ruling Haryana Vikas Party and the government could fall under its own weight. He flayed the Congress for forcing a mid-term poll on the people of the country. He blamed it for withdrawing support on earlier occasions also.

The INLD leader said it would have been unfortunate if Ms Sonia Gandhi had become the Prime Minister. He lauded the role of the SP leader, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav in this regard.

Mr Chautala said due to the wrong policies of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, the SYL water which was meant for Haryana was going waste. He claimed that his party's image had got a boost after it extended support to the Vajpayee government in national interest.

Haryana gesture to widows
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The Haryana Government will incur Rs 1.85 crore to provide financial aid to the widows belonging to the Scheduled Castes for solemnising marriages of their daughters and also other members of the Scheduled Castes to construct houses in the state in the current financial year.

Stating this here today, Dr Kamla Varma, Social Welfare Minister, said the Social Defence and Security Department, had launched many ambitious schemes to ameliorate the lot of the people belonging to weaker sections.

Dr Varma said that the government was providing Rs 10,000 to such widows whose daughters were not less than 18 years. This financial benefit would be available upto two marriageable daughters. She said that the government had earmarked Rs 85 lakh in the current financial year to provide financial aid to 850 widows.

The minister said to provide shelters to those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and having their own plot of minimum 50 sq yards would be given a subsidy of Rs 5000 for construction of their dwellings. In the current financial year Rs 1 crore would be provided to 2000 as financial aid.

Dr Varma claimed that to improve the environment in colonies and bastis inhabited by Scheduled Castes families and to provide basic needs like pavement of streets in rural areas, the government was providing Rs 50,000 to village panchayats.

The minister said in order to encourage inter-caste marriage the government was providing a grant of Rs 25,000 to the newly wed couples provided either of the spouse was a scheduled caste.

Hisar hottest place in region

CHANDIGARH, April 28 (PTI, UNI) — The maximum temperature in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh was today recorded above normal, forcing people to remain indoors.

Amritsar in Punjab had a high of 43.3°C with mercury going 7°C above normal, a weather office spokesman said.

While Ambala recorded 41.8° C, Patiala had a maximum temperature of 42.5°C which was 5°C above normal.

There was no respite from heat wave in Chandigarh as the city's maximum temperature was 41.2°C.

Even as the heat wave continued unabated in the region, the weather office predicted no respite from the torrid condition in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Hisar in Haryana again turned out to be the hottest place with mercury rising to 44.8° C, 5° C above normal.

Srinagar, reported a high of 28.8° C, 8° C above normal while the winter capital Jammu recorded the maximum at 41 plus, 6° C above normal.

Shimla recorded the maximum at 27.3° C, 6° C above normal.

In Delhi, too, the day temperature rose to 42.6° C at Palam.

2 petrol pump men hurt in loot bid
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, April 28 — Four armed persons shot at and seriously injured two employees of a petrol pump today on the Kurukshetra-Yamunanagar highway. Both of them have been admitted to a hospital in serious condition.

According to information received here, round 2 a.m. today, four persons forcibly entered the cabin of the Devki petrol pump at Radaur, 20 km from here. The accused threatened them with dire consequences if they did not hand over the cash. When both employees, Mr Sushil Kumar and Mr Navin Kumar, resisted, the accused started firing and also attacked with a knife. Both of them shouted for help which forced the culprits to flee from the scene.

Mr K.K. Sindhu, Superintendent of Police said a crime team had been summoned from Madhuban and a dog squad had also been called.

A case has been registered under Section 458 of IPC.

Bansi Lal must 'resign gracefully'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The Haryana Congress today predicted that the days of the HVP-BJP Government in the state were numbered in view of the dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha.

Launching a public contact programme of the party in Kurali and Nagawan villages of the Naraingarh Assembly constituency today, the General Secretary (Press) of the Haryana Congress, Mr Rajinder Singh Hooda, said since the political developments in Haryana would be adverse to the present government, Mr Bansi Lal should himself gracefully resign.

Mr Hooda claimed that there was a fast erosion in the vote banks of the BJP and the Lok Dal in Haryana and these parties had been exposed badly before the people. He said his party was fully prepared to face the mid-term Assembly poll along with that of the Lok Sabha. He said after coming to power the Congress would order an inquiry into the assets acquired by the HVP-BJP ministers in the past three years.

He reiterated that the Vajpayee Government fell after the AIADMK withdrew support to it, and the Congress had no role in destabilising the Central Government.

Among others who spoke were a former General Secretary of the Haryana Youth Congress, Mr Rajiv Ahuja, and the President of the Haryana Chhatra Parishad in Panjab University, Mr Chand Singh.

Plea to implement commission report
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, April 28 — The Sarva Karamchari Sangh Fatehabad issue has assailed the state government for its failure to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Commission in boards, corporations and educational institutions. At a meeting of the sangh yesterday, Mr Sarbat Singh Poonia, president, alleged that the government had been adopting delaying tactics in the matter of implementing the recommendations of the pay commission in boards and corporations. The sangh leader said they would have to resort to other measures in case the government failed to concede their demands through negotiations. The sangh also supported the agitation of Class IV employees of the local civil surgeon office and said the sangh would not remain a silent spectator for long in case the demands of the employees were not met.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Roadways Workers Union has expressed strong resentment over the service conditions in the local depot of the roadways. Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, after a meeting of the local depot of the union, Mr Anil Kumar Manjhu, president of the local unit, said the roadways employees were not granted leave even after one year of service. He said the employees had to take without-pay leaves though their regular casual leaves had not yet been exhausted.. He said the roadways workers were made to work for 12 to 16 hours a day and were not being paid overtime allowance.

DCC seeks relief for victims of violence
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, April 28 — The District Congress Committee (Urban) has demanded compensation for those persons whose household goods were damaged by some miscreants on April 24 last at Rangia Mandi.

The party has also sought the withdrawal of "false" cases registered against the victims who were "attacked and injured" by supporters of the local MLA, Mr Anil Vij.

In a resolution passed by the committee under the presidentship of Mr Brij Anand, a former MLA, the Congress said that cases should also be registered against municipal councillor Lalita Prasad and his supporters for allegedly damaging property of the victims of violence. The party urged the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to take appropriate steps in this connection.

The Congress threatened to launch an agitation against the MLA and the administration if its demands were not accepted.

Among those who attended the meeting were Mr Shiv Kumar Sharma, Mr Ashok Jain, Mrs Sudershan Dua, Mrs Neelam Sharma, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, Mr Virender Gandhi, Mr Arjun Lal Kalra and Mr Darshan Dua.

Highest-ever turnover by Hafed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (Hafed) has achieved highest-ever turnover of Rs 1273 crore in the financial year 1999-2000.

This was disclosed here today by Mr P.K. Chaudhery, Managing Director, Hafed, at the 235th meeting of the Board of Directors.

Analysing the wheat procurement operations of the federation, he said so far Hafed has procured 11.5 lakh tonnes of wheat in Haryana, which is the highest purchase made by any of the state agencies and is likely to exceed its set target of 12 lakh tonnes regarding distribution of fertiliser. A sale target of 4.5 lakh tonne has been set for the year 1999-2000 as against the last year's achievement of 4.25 lakh tonnes.

With a view to ensuring remunerative prices to the cotton growers, Hafed has proposed to purchase and process 50,000 bales of cotton in the coming year, he said.

Mr Chaudhery added that to uplift its working capacity, Hafed had also prepared an ambitious plan for modernisation of its existing rice mills and oil complex at Ratia, which would involve an outlay of Rs 2.75 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively. Further, in order to cater to the increasing demand of Hafed products, the existing capacity of its oil mill at Rewari and the cattle feed plant at Rohtak had been doubled.

Appreciating the demand of the consumers, Mr Chaudhery said Hafed had decided to enlarge its existing consumer products range with Sunflower oil.

At present it is marketing kachhi ghani mustard oil, refined mustard oil and cotton seed refined oil.

10 yrs' jail term for drug trafficker
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, April 27 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge has sentenced Satpal, a resident of Chausla, to 10 years' imprisonment and fined him Rs 1 lakh for drug trafficking.

Satpal was arrested by the police at Tohana on October 6, 1993, and 1 kg of opium recovered form his possession. The police had registered a case under Session 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychtropic Substances (Prevention) Act against him.

Villagers face water shortage
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, April 28 — Mr Rajesh Dahia, President, Gram Vikas Yuva Mandal, of Nigana Khurd village in a press statement here yesterday said that villagers of Nigana Khurd and Kalan had been facing acute shortage of drinking water this summer. He alleged that people were compelled to drink impure water brought from distant places by the women and even the school children run from one house to another in search of drinking water.

Mr Rajesh alleged that the water works in the village was in name only as substandard material had been used in its construction.

"Lift ban" on recruitment
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 28 — The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes cell of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee has appealed to the government to exempt posts lying vacant for over two years from the ban imposed on recruitments in the state.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Ram Mehar, Convener of the cell, alleged that the educated unemployed youth belonging to the backward classes were being deprived of the employment opportunities as the posts were generally for the reserved category.

He demanded that the ban on recruitments should be reviewed in the interest of weaker sections of the state.