‘Smart’ cards for Ambala too
AMBALA, Dec 12 The district administration, Ambala, is planning to introduce "smart" driving licences and vehicle registration certificates on the pattern of Chandigarh next year.

BJP-INLD pact to continue for assembly poll
YAMUNANAGAR, Dec 12 — The BJP will contest the coming Haryana Assembly elections in alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal. Mr Ram Bilas Sharma leader of the BJP Legislature Party, talking to newsmen here today at Canal Rest House said INLD leader Om Parkash Chautala was like an elder brother and the alliance with the INLD would continue.

22 lakh quintal cane to be crushed
PANIPAT, Dec 12 — The Panipat Cooperative Sugar Mill has set a target to crush 22 lakh quintal of sugarcane during the current crushing season, as compared to 16.98 lakh quintals crushed during last season.

CM urges farmers to pay bills by Jan 10
JIND, Dec 12 — Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala, addressing members of All- India Food and Allied Workers Union and the Food Corporation of India Workers Union and a large numbers of labourers at a meeting at Narwana , about 35 kilometres from here, yesterday said if any contractor was found exploiting workers, his security would be forfeited and a criminal case registered against him.

Gang of vehicle thieves busted
HISAR, Dec 12 — The CIA staff of the district police has claimed to have busted a gang of dacoits and vehicles thieves operating in the district and its adjoining areas.

200 huts demolished
PANIPAT, Dec 12 — In a drive against encroachers, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has demolished about 200 huts constructed illegally by ragpickers.

CPM flays teachers’ recruitment
ROHTAK, Dec 12 — The Haryana unit of the CPM has described decisions regarding recruitment of teachers and survey about old age pension as "stunts" to "mislead" the people in the next assembly poll.

Move on mid-term poll
Chautala may face no resistance
By Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala’s plans to hold mid-term poll in the state is unlikely to meet with any resistance from the rebel HVP legislators who are now part of Mr Chautala’s INLD.

That the INLD supremo is keen on holding mid-term election in Haryana is a certainty now. Last Friday, the Chief Minister met the Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, and subsequently flew to Delhi and reportedly obtained Prime Minister Vajpayee’s consent for dissolving the state Assembly. Some problems may arise over the seat sharing arrangement with the BJP but the Chief Minister is expected to sort out through his good offices with the saffron party’s central leadership.

Mr Chautala is also continuing with his policy of announcing sops for virtually every section of society. This policy had earned rich dividends for him in the recently concluded Lok Sabha poll. On Sunday major concessions were announced for the benefit of the farming community as the HVPN decided to grant the facility of making payments of the outstanding power bills without any surcharge or interest on the principal amount to the agricultural power consumers in Haryana.

However, it was anticipated that the Chief Minister’s moves to hold mid-term poll in the state would not go down well with his Cabinet colleagues, a majority of whom had switched loyalty from the Bansi Lal’s camp to Mr Chautala and they were believed to be opposed to the idea of ending their stints abruptly.

Former HVP legislators, who are now senior ministers in Mr Chautala’s Cabinet, however, ruled out any possible revolt by ministers in case of dissolution of the Assembly. Sources said the HVP rebels remained united as long as it was needed to circumvent the anti-defection law.

Once this was achieved, the HVP rebels — who had formed the HVP(Democratic) before they merged that outfit with the INLD — had ceased to operate as a group within the INLD. The sources acknowledged that there were periodic outbursts against Mr Chautala, such as Mr Jagan Nath, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, Rao Narbir Singh, Mr B.M. Singla and Mr S.N. Lather, who had openly crossed swords with the Chief Minister.

"But that is about all", the sources said and added that there might still be one or two dissenter but the majority of the Cabinet would go by the Chief Minister’s decision on the issue of midterm poll.

It was also learnt that on more than one occasion, including at Cabinet meetings, the Chief Minister had sounded his colleagues on the dissolution of the Assembly and the response was that whatever Mr Chautala thought fit would be adhered to by the ministers.

There is, however, a big question mark on how many of the HVP rebels will be able to get the ticket from Mr Chautala’s party if mid-term poll is held in the state. On this score, HVP rebels have apparently surrendered to their fates. "This is Mr Chautala’s prerogative. He will decide who is to be given the ticket", a senior minister said.

It may be recalled that MLAs ministers who had revolted against Mr Chautala, had opposed the move to hold mid-term poll. However, those who remained with Mr Chautala tried to establish rapport with the Chief Minister on an individual basis and thus lost their bargaining power, the sources added.

Rationed kerosene, sugar disappear
From R.D. Sapra

SONEPAT, Dec 12 —The Public Distribution System (PDS) seems to have become a subject of public criticism in this city and elsewhere in the district following reports about diversion of rationed commodities, particularly levy sugar and kerosene, into the black market instead of reaching the ration card holders, particularly the poor and middle class, for whom it is meant.

Most of the poor and middle class consumers are deprived of their monthly ration of levy sugar and kerosene and all complaints made to the authorities concerned go unheeded.

This racket in Sonepat's Public Distribution System is flourishing while the poor keep making endless trips to the ration shops to be often turned away on one pretext or the other.

From time to time, sugar stocks too disappear from the ration shops as there is a wide difference between its subsidies price and the open market price.

Kerosene is perhaps the most thriving blackmarket racket. It is alleged that a large quantity of the rationed kerosene is sold off to halwais etc by dealers or owners of the fair price shops. While the rationed price of kerosene is Rs 3 and 5 paise per litre, the market price varies from Rs 6 to Rs 10.

Many consumers also point out that this racket could be exposed if the higher authorities carry out raids on the shops of halwais and other establishments where the kerosene is used for running the generators.

The officials of the department concerned are said to be aware that at least half of the ration supply is going to the middlemen. However, the managers of the PDS always turn a blind eye to all this in the hope that the remaining rationed items would reach the masses.

Some members of the Fair Price Shop Owners Association while admitting some cases of diversion of genuine quota of consumers, blamed much of it on the short supply to them and the number of bogus ration cards that the department has not been able to eliminate.

The Residents Welfare Association today urged the government to order a high-level probe into the affairs of the food and Supplies Department and complaints about the maldistribution of levy sugar and kerosene under the PDS.

Scientists focus on livestock farming
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Dec 12 — Developing countries will need to change from the traditional grain-oriented farming to mixed farming with equal focus on livestock. This is necessary to meet the growing demand for food, given the rate of increase in population.

These observations were made by scientists at the recently concluded international conference on sustainable animal production, held at CCS Haryana Agricultural University.

Dr R.B. Singh, Chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, who also attended the conference, emphasised the need for giving more attention to livestock farming. He pointed out that "by the year 2010, Third World countries will have to produce 143 million tonnes of meat and 248 million tonnes of milk annually" adding for that an annual growth rate of 3.8 per cent for meat and 2.5 per cent for milk would have to be maintained.

He said due to shrinking land holdings and frequent threats of natural calamities to crop farming, livestock could be of immense help to the developing countries.

The conference was attended by around 200 scientists from India, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The scientists also made several recommendations. They stressed the need for framing an effective plant breeding policy and ensuring efficient feed management for animals.

The scientists sought a check on the indiscriminate use of non-bio-degradable pesticides on crops which were posing a serious threat to the animal wealth, besides contaminating meat and milk products. They recommended a complete ban on the use of BHC and DDT.

The conference also laid emphasis on the systematic improvement of indigenous germplasm. They said since crossbred animals were less adaptable in the tropical environment as compared to indigenous germplasm, it needed to be improved with suitable inputs at different stages of breeding, feeding, management and health care.

NPA for Haryana doctors
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 12 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has not ruled out the possibility of mid-term election to the Vidhan Sabha though constitutionally the term of the state assembly expires in May, 2001.

Informally speaking to newsmen here today, Mr Chautala said no Chief Minister would prefer early elections but in a democracy nothing could be said with certainty as to when the elections would be held.

He, however, hastened to add that there was no political compulsion or crisis in the state and personally. I will prefer to complete the full term of the present Vidhan Sabha".

The Chief Minister said the state was facing a severe financial crisis but he hoped to overcome the situation shortly. He claimed that his government had made adequate arrangements to provide uninterrupted electricity to consumers, including the industrial and agriculture sectors.

Mr Chautala reiterated that his government was committed to streamlining the generation, transmission and distribution of power in the state. He again appealed to the defaulting consumers to pay the outstanding electricity bills by January 10 next failing which their power connections would be cut.

He made it amply clear that the outstanding bills would be recovered at all costs. The government, however, had announced the waiving of penalty and surcharge if the bills were paid by January 10.

Earlier, addressing the "silver jubilee conference" of the HCMS Association, Mr Chautala announced the grant of non-practising allowance (NPA) at the rate of 25 per cent of the basic pay to doctors, including those serving at Pt B.D. Sharma PGIMS. He also announced removal of the anomalies in the pay scales admissible to HCMS doctors after completing the necessary formalities.

Mr Chautala assured the Director, PGIMS, Dr S.B. Siwach, that an MRI scan machine would be provided to this premier medical institute of the state.

The Chief Minister gave a call to doctors to serve the people with missionary zeal, especially those living in the far-flung rural areas.

Mr Chautala stressed the need for adopting effective measures to control the growth of population as it was hampering the development process.

The Chief Minister also announced that the doctors serving in the ESI would come under the Health Department. He also inaugurated the administrative block of the PGIMS constructed at a cost of Rs 52 lakh and a 30-bedded Surgical Oncology Department.

The Chief Minister accepted almost all demands of the nurses working at Pt B.D. Sharma PGIMS. The demands included the payment of allowances on a par with their counterparts in central government service.

‘Smart’ cards for Ambala too
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Dec 12 The district administration, Ambala, is planning to introduce "smart" driving licences and vehicle registration certificates on the pattern of Chandigarh next year.

If it is finalised, Ambala will be the first district in the state and Haryana will be the third state in the country to implement this high-tech digital technology. Gujarat was the first to introduce this system.

According to sources, the main reason behind the move is to eliminate fake driving licences and registration certificates. Quick delivery of the documents without the involvement of any middleman will also be possible after the introduction of this system. Recently, the Punjab Police had nabbed some persons in Ambala who were involved in issuing fake driving licences.

The sources said initially this new arrangement would be introduced in Ambala district but later it could be extended to other districts also. Deputy Commissioner, Ram Niwas, said: "We are already in touch with some companies dealing in smart card products like Tata Infotech, HCL and Semiconductor Complex Ltd. which will install and will manage all arrangements for issuing the high-tech driving licences and registration certificates. The arrangement will be made on the basis of boot system. It will replace the present manual process operating in SDM offices which has some shortcomings.

"Smart" card is the generic name for a credit card sized plastic card with an embedded microchip. This microchip makes the card more secure and versatile and powerful. The microchip is so sensitive that it will be able to store all detailed personal information and even the thumb impression of the licence holder. The memory can be divided into zones with secret access codes to restrict read access to these zones. Data will be saved in these protected zones.

Because of the security feature, the "smart" card cannot be forged or duplicated.

The sources said for checking of these cards, the authorities had to provide the police "hand terminals" which would be able to read to data stored in the chip and would be visible on the screen fitted on the terminal. The checking authorities could add any information like the date and reason for the fresh challan in the card through this terminal on the spot. In case of any doubt, the thumb impression could also be tallied. Moreover, like the present system, the photo of the licence holder would not be pasted on the card separately but it would be embossed on the card. The life of the card would be more than 30 years and it would be water proof.

BJP-INLD pact to continue for assembly poll
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Dec 12 — The BJP will contest the coming Haryana Assembly elections in alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal. Mr Ram Bilas Sharma leader of the BJP Legislature Party, talking to newsmen here today at Canal Rest House said INLD leader Om Parkash Chautala was like an elder brother and the alliance with the INLD would continue.

He said given that the Lok Sabha poll results were 100 per cent there was no question of any change of policies for the Vidhan Sabha poll. He said the party wanted the Vidhan Sabha to complete its tenure, but in case Mr Chautala decided otherwise they would go along with him.

Regarding seat adjustment with the INLD, he said there was no cause for anxiety and leaders of both the parties would reach an amicable settlement.

On the question of joining the Haryana Government he said it was on his mind earlier, but due to Lok Sabha election the idea was postponed. Now the party is waiting for the INLD to join the Union Cabinet before the BJP joins the Haryana Government.

He condemned the ugly incident at Jandali Village in Mahendragarh district in which four persons were killed and said that today morning he had told the Chief Minister that the law must take its own course. His relatives are alleged to be involved in the incident.

Brother caught personating sister
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Dec 12 — Impersonation in examinations is not an uncommon thing. But a boy impersonating a girl is unusual. However, it happened here today in the statewide JBT examination.

Suresh Kumar of Dhingwa village was caught while impersonating his sister Rajlaxmi. He managed to bluff supervisory staff with his make-up. He had put on a salwar kameez, used sufficient lipstick, wore dozens of bangles, put a bindi and used a chunni to add to the feminine looks.

The supervisor in charge of the room, where Suresh was taking the test, however got suspicious about his identity. He tried to inquire about "her" name. First Suresh tried to pretend he had not heard the queries. This further added to the supervisor's suspicions. Eventually he had to respond and the moment be opened his mouth, he was trapped.

He was immediately handed over to the police.

22 lakh quintal cane to be crushed
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Dec 12 — The Panipat Cooperative Sugar Mill has set a target to crush 22 lakh quintal of sugarcane during the current crushing season, as compared to 16.98 lakh quintals crushed during last season. To achieve the target, the mill will be run for 150 days this season against last season's running of 109 days. Stating this to mediapersons, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Garg claimed that sugarcane growers had already been paid arrears of last season. The mill authorities had been directed to make payment within 15 days after lifting of the cane from procurement points. Nearly Rs 2 crore had already been paid to the farmers up to December 10, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chairman of the mill, said following the increase in support price to Rs 110 per quintal, 3,625 cane growers of the district would get additional income of over Rs 3 crore during this season.

CM urges farmers to pay bills by Jan 10
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Dec 12 — Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala, addressing members of All- India Food and Allied Workers Union and the Food Corporation of India Workers Union and a large numbers of labourers at a meeting at Narwana , about 35 kilometres from here, yesterday said if any contractor was found exploiting workers, his security would be forfeited and a criminal case registered against him.

He stressed the need for cordial relations between entrepreneurs and labourers to ensure all round development. He said recently Honda of Japan had signed a memorandum of understanding on a Rs 50 crore plant for manufacturing two wheelers.

He had recently visited Mumbai and invited industry to set up units in Haryana saying the entrepreneurs would be provided a single window facility.

The Chief Minister appealed to farmers to pay pending electricity bills of tubewells by January 10 saying , if they did so, the penalty and interest would be waived.

Mr Surender Singh Barwala, MP, Mr H.P. Singh former MP and general secretary of FCI workers union also addressed the meeting.

Gang of vehicle thieves busted
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Dec 12 — The CIA staff of the district police has claimed to have busted a gang of dacoits and vehicles thieves operating in the district and its adjoining areas.

Mr Rao Sohan Lal, SP, said here today that the police had arrested seven members of the gang following information that culprits were hiding near the Mirzapur road bypass here and were planning to commit a robbery at a petrol pump.

A police party conducted a raid at their hide-out last night and arrested them. Two pistols, two cartridges, two knives and three rods were recovered from their possession.

Those arrested have been identified as Sharwan Kumar, Jain Gali, Hisar; Krishan Pahalwan of Kharar village, Hisar; Roshan Saini of Dhani Jaidev, Hisar and Dilshad, Rajesh, Ravi and Rakesh, all residents of Uttam Nagar in Delhi.

He disclosed that the gang had earlier stolen two jeeps and three cars from the city and sold them. He said the police was seeking the Interpol assistance for the recovery of these vehicles.

200 huts demolished
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Dec 12 — In a drive against encroachers, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has demolished about 200 huts constructed illegally by ragpickers.

According to information, following complaints of residents of HUDA Colony and officials of HUDA, a large contingent of police force, HUDA officials along with bulldozers, ambulance, fire tenders and hundreds of labourers reached the site on Saturday and asked the hut-dwellers to vacate their huts within half an hour.

They tried to oppose the demolition move. However, all huts were razed to the ground.

Encroachments on Kutani road were also removed by the squad.

CPM flays teachers’ recruitment
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 12 — The Haryana unit of the CPM has described decisions regarding recruitment of teachers and survey about old age pension as "stunts" to "mislead" the people in the next assembly poll.

In a statement issued here yesterday, state CPM secretary Inderjit Singh said since the possibility of going for the mid-term poll in Haryana and gone up, the present government was announcing new schemes to mislead the people.

Criticising the decision or recruitment of new teachers, he said, it would result in "unemployment"of about 10,000 youth working as teachers. He said a meeting of the party had been called on December 25 and 26 to discuss these issues.