BJP leader backs demand on IT
CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 — The President of the Industrial Cell of the Haryana BJP, Mr Kirti Prashad Jain, has supported the demand made by the Janata Party President, Dr Subramaniam Swamy, that income tax should be abolished in toto.

Rise in pollution in Rohtak
ROHTAK, Jan 23 — There has been an alarming increase in the pollution level in the town.

Teenaged girl abducted
ROHTAK, Jan 23 — A teenaged unmarried girl was recently abducted from the town by a resident of Delhi.

Mishap victims identified
HISAR, Jan 23 — All nine member of a marriage party who died in a road accident between a Tata Sumo and a private bus, near Siwani, about 30 km from here, yesterday, have been identified.

• Father, son killed in accident
• Bar clerks join lawyers' strike

Congress ‘not averse’ to support ouster of
Bansi government
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Jan 23 — The HPCC President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, reiterated here today that for bringing down the Bansi Lal Government, the Congress would not hesitate to seek or extend support to any other party.

Addressing reporters, he said the ruling alliance had failed on all fronts and people were getting disillusioned with it.

He said the Congress proposed to bring a no-confidence motion against the government in the ensuing Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha. The party, he said, would welcome support from other opposition parties for its motion.

He reiterated that the party would maintain equidistance from the HVP, the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal, but if like-minded parties formed an alternate government, the Congress would support it.

The pradesh Congress chief said the political situation in the state was fluid. Discontent prevailed among HVP legislators and the state was heading towards mid-term elections. The Congress, he said, was ready to face the elections any time.

Mr Hooda said the Bansi Lal Government could fall earlier, if Mr Om Parkash Chautala pressured the BJP to withdraw support.

The INLD had four MPs in the Lok Sabha and their support was vital for the survival of the Vajpayee Government, he added.

Mr Hooda said Mr Bansi Lal did not have the moral right to continue as Chief Minister. Both Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Chautala were in league with each other for their vested interests, he alleged.

He said neither the ruling alliance nor Mr Chautala had any interest in finding a solution to inter-state disputes, including the construction of the SYL Canal.

He said the chief ministers of Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh would be honoured at a parivartan rally scheduled to be held at Jind on February 13 for galvanising the party in their respective states.

BJP leader backs demand on IT
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 — The President of the Industrial Cell of the Haryana BJP, Mr Kirti Prashad Jain, has supported the demand made by the Janata Party President, Dr Subramaniam Swamy, that income tax should be abolished in toto.

In a statement issued here today Mr Jain said income tax contributed only 3 per cent of the total revenue collection while it was the single major source of harassment to citizens, particularly the business community. He alleged that the provisions of the Income Tax Act were such as only served to keep the control of the bureaucracy over the business community, leading to corruption and generation of black money.

Mr Jain urged the Haryana Government and the Centre to expedite the development of the Saha industrial growth centre in Ambala district. He said the Centre had sanctioned two industrial growth centres in Saha and Bawal in Rewari district. While 85 per cent work at Bawal had been completed, the work on the Saha growth centre was still stalled. He urged the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to take personal interest in the Saha project.

The BJP leader also demanded that the Centre should sanction a large project for Ambala district to commemorate the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa because of the long association of the district with Guru Gobind Singh.

Mr Jain has written letters to the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, besides Mr Bansi Lal, in this connection.

Rise in pollution in Rohtak
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 23 — There has been an alarming increase in the pollution level in the town.

Local residents have decided to launch a campaign to solve the problem.

The Citizens Welfare Association says that the local administration has become indifferent to the problem.

According to a survey, thousands of generators being operated in the morning and evening following power cuts are the main source of pollution.

The problem is more acute during the winter season than in summer.

Besides, the power cuts, the rising number of vehicles, especially the diesel-operated ones, is also leading to the increase in the pollution level.

According to information, about 4000 autorickshaws are operating in the town.

While no measure has been taken by the authorities to monitor their operations, only checking of documents is done once or twice a year.

The last such campaign was launched about six months ago when hundreds of vehicles were impounded.

Highways in bad state
From Ashwani Dutta

YAMUNANAGAR: Roads in Yamunanagar district are in a pitiable condition resulting in an increase in accidents.

There are a number of roads, constructed about two decades ago which have not been repaired yet. These have a number of potholes and in the rainy season it is practically impossible to use them.

The Yamunanagar-Saharanpur highway, used by thousands of vehicles daily, is also in a bad condition. Heavy rain in last October worsened its condition. A 3-km stretch of it is particularly bad. Although repair of the road is going on, it is likely to take a long time.

It is reported that due to bad roads a number of vehicles have been damaged. When this reporter went to the site he found about half a dozen vehicles being repaired on the roadside, causing inconvenience to passers-by.

Other roads in a bad condition include Kansapur road, Sasoli road and Model Town road. It is learnt that a proposal to make the road from New Fountain Chowk to Aggarsain Chowk a four lane one is hanging fire probably due to non-clearance by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam. Three years ago the four-laning project was cleared but due to the need to shift electric poles it has not materialised yet.

According to an official of the Public Works Department (B&R) over 827 km of roads in the district cannot be repaired at one time. The department had demanded an allocation of Rs 2.64 crore, of which Rs 1.40 lakh would be spent on the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur highway, which was extensively damaged recently. Work on this road is scheduled to be completed by February 28.

Teenaged girl abducted
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 23 — A teenaged unmarried girl was recently abducted from the town by a resident of Delhi.

According to a delayed report lodged with the police by the mother of the victim, the girl, aged about 17, was allegedly abducted by one of her relatives Rajender living at Gumanhera in Delhi.

It is reported that the girl had gone to Bal Bhavan here in connection with some work when the accused took the girl with him to an unknown destination without her consent.

The mother of the girl said that the incident took place on Tuesday last at about 3 p.m. at Bal Bhavan.

The police has registered a case.

Mishap victims identified
 From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Jan 23 — All nine member of a marriage party who died in a road accident between a Tata Sumo and a private bus, near Siwani, about 30 km from here, yesterday, have been identified.

They are Balwant and Krishan sons of Phul Singh, Sunder, son of Mani Ram (all residents of Muklan village), Surjit, son of Chet Ram, Mangat, son of Sita Ram, Kishan, son of Amar Singh (all residents of Kaimri village), a 10-year-old daughter of Rajinder of Singharia village in Rajasthan, Inder Singh of Churi Bagrian village and his eight-year-old daughter.

Seven persons, including the bridegroom Balwant Singh died on the spot while two succumbed their injuries on their way to hospital here.

Father, son killed in accident
 From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Jan 23 — A father and son died in a road accident at Agroha, about 20 km from here, yesterday.

According to police sources here today, Randhir and Sandeep were going on a scooter when they were hit by a jeep. While Randhir was killed on the spot his son Sandeep succumbed to his injuries in the Civil Hospital here.

They were the residents of Siwani Bolan village, near here. A case has been registered by the Agroha police.

Bar clerks join lawyers' strike
 From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Jan 23 — Bar clerks here today joined the strike of lawyers in protest against the murder of Mr Atma Ram Dhayal, an advocate by his relative on January 16 on the court premises.

Announcing the strike, the president of the Bar Clerks' Association, Mr Chand Singh, said that they supported the demands of lawyers which included transfer of the Superintendent of Police and suspension of the SHO, Adampur police station.

The local lawyers will be on strike till January 27.

Govt offices scattered all over Jind
From: Manohar Lal Varma

JIND: The volume of traffic in this town has increased manifold in recent years. With it traffic hazards have also increased considerably. But no effective steps have been taken to solve the problem.

There are certain peculiar problems facing the traffic situation in Jind town. The foremost of them is that of encroachments along narrow roads which hinder the smooth flow of traffic. At some places the land in front of the shops and footpaths are occupied by shopkeepers and hawkers. The situation is worst near the city railway crossing, in front of the Municipal Council's office, around the grain market, Hansi road and Bhiwani road.

Another problem is that of parking of vehicles at wrong places. As there is no specified parking lots in the town, vehicles are parked haphazardly along the narrow roads and streets causing obstruction.

Rules regarding the speed limit are not enforced strictly and boards indicating the speed limit and other traffic signs have not been displayed at the right places. Animal-driven carts and tractor-trolleys generally do not use rear side reflectors which aggravate the problem and results in accidents at night.

There are bus stops at congested places and sharp turns in the town, such as near the S.D. High School, at Patiala chowk and Jawal Mala turn. Although halting of buses at these places is banned, yet the directive is flouted with impunity.

The railway crossing on the Jind-Panipat line near the local grain market is often the scene of big traffic jams. As the Jind city station is very near, the crossing has to remain closed for a long periods during shunting of trains. The traffic situation is worse at this place during the harvesting season when foodgrains start arriving in the grain market. A few accidents have also taken place at this place. People say that there should be fly over at this crossing.

* * * *

The problem of accommodation for government offices has not been solved fully in Jind although it was made a district more than 32 years ago when Haryana came into existence in 1966. Several government and semi-government offices have been functioning in rented private buildings. These offices include the District Education Officer, the District Town Planner, the District Food and Supplies Controller, the Harijan Kalyan Nigam, the District Public Relations Officer, the Employment Exchange and many more offices. As these offices are scattered all over the town, persons visiting them have to face a lot of inconvenience. Frequent shifting of some of these offices for one reason or the other has added to the people's hardship.

Moreover, the government is paying a huge amount as rent. It is alleged that certain building owners manage to get more than the usual market rent. Some owners keep their houses vacant for months together in search of offices as tenants.

This has led to a considerable rise in the rent, causing hardship to employees and others who find it difficult to get a house at reasonable rent.

Some offices are housed in the building of other institutions. The Civil Surgeon has occupied a portion of the local General Hospital and the District Rural Development Agency is functioning in Zila Parishad building.

The condition of Safidon and Narwana, the two subdivisional headquarters of this district, is no better. There is shortage of government accommodation for offices at these places and most offices are housed in private buildings.

* * * *

There are a large number of quacks operating in the district, particularly in small towns and villages. These self-styled doctors fleece the people on the pretext of treating them. They give cheap and sub-standard medicines which often prove hazardous to the patients. These quacks often exploit innocent people by telling them that the disease is serious and it will require a lot of expenses. Some of them persuade patients to pay in advance a lumpsum for the full course of treatment.

It is felt that stern action should be taken against the quacks so that they do not play with the health of the people. But the Health department has not taken any effective steps to curb this malady. It is alleged that most quacks have political links and officials of the Health department hesitate to take action against them.

* * * *

The proposal to construct a bypass road at Safidon town in this district has been hanging fire for the past 15 years. At present the traffic is being routed through the congested areas of the town. The construction of a bypass has become more necessary as the new bus stand is situated on the proposed bypass. It is alleged that some influential persons got the original route changed which has delayed the construction of the bypass. Residents of Safidon town have demanded that in order to prevent accidents and for the proper flow of traffic the bypass should be constructed without delay.

In the meantime people have also demanded the widening of the Jind-Safidon road.

* * * *

The condition of roads in Jind town has gone from bad to worse as these have not been repaired for long. Big stretches on the local Bhiwani road, Rohtak road, old Hansi road, Circular road, Shastri market road and Safidon road are in a deplorable condition. Several streets in interior parts of the town are also in bad shape.