Red alert sounded in Ambala
AMBALA, July 9 — Following the arrest of a suspected spy in the cantonment area some days back and the resulting apprehension of sabotage by the ISI, the Army has stepped up vigilance here. A red alert has been sounded in the cantonment.

Welfare schemes for weavers soon: Rana
PANIPAT, July 8 — The Union Minister for Textile, Mr Kanshi Ram Rana, stated that the central government has planned to launch HAAT scheme in 16 states of the country during the current financial year to boost the handloom and handicraft industry and also to benefit the weavers.

BSP to go it alone in Haryana
HISAR, July 9 — The Bahujan Samaj Party will contest all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana on its own. The party will also ensure that representation is given to all sections of the society.

Power cuts: irate villagers block traffic
SONEPAT, July 9 — A large number of residents from the villages falling in the Rai Assembly constituency of this district, gathered at Biswan Meel and blocked the National Highway No 1 for about two hours in protest against the long spells of power cuts, inadequate and erratic power supply in the rural areas.

Petrol staff robbed of Rs 1.72 lakh
ROHTAK, July 9 — A cash amount of about Rs 1.72 lakh was taken away at gunpoint in broad day- light by some unidentified persons from the employees of a petrol station reportedly owned by the Tourism Department of the state in Bahadurgarh town, about 45 km from here, on Thursday.

MDU introduces three courses
ROHTAK, July 9 — Maharshi Dayanand University has introduced three courses from the current academic year through distance education run by the Directorate of Distance Education.

Kavi "sammelan" on World Population Day
CHANDIGARH, July 9 — The Haryana health department will observe World Population Day on July 11 by organising seminars, kavi sammelans and a population run to make people aware of the adverse affects of over population.

Tension grips UP, Haryana villages
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, July 9 — Tension has been mounting between farmers on the borders of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh near Kairana. According to official information from Kairana (Uttar Pradesh) a number of farmers were injured in a clash which took place three days back. The clash was reported to have occurred when residents of Mawi and Sahpat (both in Uttar Pradesh) villages near the Haryana border started sowing paddy in the Khaddar area of the Yamuna.

Mr Manoj Yadav, district police chief, Panipat, told this correspondent that the clash was the outcome of the forcible transplant operations undertaken by the farmers from Uttar Pradesh. Mr Yadav said the SDM of Panipat and his counterpart at Kairana met on July 6 to sort out the matter. The Uttar Pradesh authorities had nothing to show that the proposed disputed land belonged to farmers of the two villages. In fact the revenue records indicated that under the Dixit Award this land belonged to Haryana.

Mr Yadav further stated that it was a common tendency among the farmers of Uttar Pradesh to forcibly occupy the land belonging to Haryana farmers which fell on their side as a result of change of course by the Yamuna. This had happened now also.

Villagers of Sahpat, however, alleged that the Haryana farmers had attacked them and taken away their tractor forcibly. Mr Yadav stated that the tractor had since been returned to the real owners. It had been observed that the farmers of Uttar Pradesh were being provoked by political leaders in Kairana to forcibly occupy the land of Haryana farmers.

Although a number of meetings between senior revenue officers of both states had been held, yet no solution could be reached. Both parties, which were a signatory to the Dixit Award, did not adhere to it. The clashes among farmers or the two states in Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Faridabad, etc. and Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bagpat and Madhura areas of Uttar Pradesh have been common.

However, efforts are on by kisan leaders on both sides to defuse the situation.

MLA withdraws plea against Bhajan Lal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 9 — With the changing political scenario in Haryana, a ruling HVP. MLA , Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana, has withdrawn from the Punjab and Haryana High Court an application filed under the Contempt of Courts Act way back in 1996 against former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and senior Congress leaders.

Apart from Congress leaders, the applicant had impleaded a former Deputy Commissioner and SP of Faridabad, Mr Ram Niwas and Mr K.K. Mishra, a former Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Shiv Raman Gaur, and another Congressman Mr Amarjit Singh of Faridabad, as respondents.

The contempt proceedings had created a storm in Haryana politics in 1996 because it was considered to be an open battle between Mr Bhadana and Mr Bhajan Lal.

The application had alleged that owing to political rivalry between Bhadana brothers and Mr Bhajan Lal and with a view to grabbing costly shamlat land of Anangpur village bordering Delhi, the former Chief Minister had deliberately revoked the earlier consolidation scheme governing the land in the village. Incidentally, the shamlat land of this village had been a subject of protracted litigation between the municipal corporation of Faridabad and several colonisers and real estate developers.

This act of the Chief Minister and the officers concerned, according to the petitioner, was violative of the status quo orders of the high court dated February 17, 1989. It had been further alleged that this was followed up with the forcible construction of a wall to grab hundreds of acres of prized land bordering Delhi.

When the application came up before Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, a judge of the high court, the plea was accepted and the case was dismissed as withdrawn.

Knowledgeable sources and documents available with The Tribune reveal that the findings of the Vaishnav Commission of Enquiry about these land dealings of Anangpur village also depended heavily on these contempt proceedings, a fact which was accepted by Mr P.H. Vaishnav himself in his report.

With the withdrawal another chapter of a political rivalry seems to have ended.

Canals, drains cleared
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL: All the canals, distributaries and minors have been cleared and made fit on a war-footing in Karnal to carry water so as to cater to the needs of paddy and kharif crop. It has been ensured that water reaches the tail-end of every minor and distributary during this season. According to Mr M.S. Yadav, Superintending Engineer, Yamuna Water Services Circle, Karnal, clearance of the drains, canals and minors has been completed up to 250 km in Karnal district alone. Earlier, the common complaint of the farmers was that 50 per cent of the area did not get water at the tail-end. But now with the water reaching the tail-end of all the above-said water carrier system, there was likelihood of increase in paddy production.

Mr G.D. Sharma, Executive Engineer, told T.N.S. that four carrier channels — W.J.C. Main Branch, N.B.K. Link, S.Y.L. Canal and Munak Canal — in the jurisdiction of Nardak Water Services Division were the lifeline of Haryana. The total length of these carrier channels was 110 km. Besides, Haryana, the water was being supplied to Delhi for drinking purposes and to Rajasthan for irrigation purposes through these main carrier channels. He maintained that these channels had been made fit to cater to the demands during the kharif supplies with minimum expenditure.

Mr Sharma said a network of 43 distributaries and minors with a length of 293 km irrigated farmers' fields in Karnal and parts of Jind district. The total cultureable command area through Karnal network in this division and parts of Jind was 1,03,222 hectares. The entire area was used for paddy sowing. Deweeding and desilting operations had been carried out in a 250 km area. There were 35 tail-ends of channels in the division.

Talking about the paddy crop, Mr Sharma maintained that the Taraori and Nilokheri areas in Karnal were known as the best paddy producers in Asia. These areas were being supplied water through a kharif channel known as Chutang System which was open only for four months for water supplies from the Yamuna. This channel had also been made fit by clearing weeds, grass desilting.Apart from above, there was main regulation Act under the division on the Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) Main Branch which irrigated between 60 and 70 per cent of the area of Haryana. All these regulation systems had been cleared for taking maximum water to the fields.

Mr Sharma maintained that about 950 rice shoots would be given to the farmers for irrigating in the paddy growing areas.

In order to cope with the flood problem in Karnal district, the Irrigation Department had cleared 43 drain weeds and grass. Digging operations by deploying Dragline, Poclain Machine and J.C.B. had been carried out in a 295 km area in the division. It had been ensured that there was no serious flood problem in this district. Diesel and electric pumps were being provided in the villages to clear flood waters from the low-lying areas.

Havildar Lal Singh cremated
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, July 9 — Martyr Havildar Lal Singh of Gokul village in Dadri subdivision of the district was cremated with full state and military honour last evening. His 12-year-old son, Vijay Pal, lit the pyre.

As the body of the martyr reached his village, thousands of people from his village and the surrounding villages thronged the cremation ground. They raised slogans like 'Shaheed Lal Singh amar rahe' and 'Vir shaheedon ki kurbani kabhi naa boolenge hum Hindustani'.

Army officers and colleagues of the martyr, who had come to attend the last rites, recalled his act of bravery in the Kargil sector where, in spite of being riddled by bullets, he continued firing at the enemy.

Before cremation, Lal Singh's body was placed in the grounds of the village primary school where thousands of people paid their homage to the martyr.

The school has been renamed after the martyr as Shaheed Lal Singh Government Primary School. At the time of cremation, when the guard of honour was presented to the martyr, his father,70-year-old Namardar Jai Ram said: "God should give such a brave son to everybody".

On behalf of district administration Former MP Surendra Singh, Prof Chattar Singh Chohan, Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Satpal Sangwan and Mr Narpinder Singh, both MLAs were present at the time of cremation on behalf of the district administration.

Red alert sounded in Ambala
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, July 9 — Following the arrest of a suspected spy in the cantonment area some days back and the resulting apprehension of sabotage by the ISI, the Army has stepped up vigilance here. A red alert has been sounded in the cantonment.

According to sources, the state intelligence also has been asked to intensify vigil in the area surrounding the cantonment and the local Air Force station.

The Army authorities have barricaded some of the approach roads which were earlier open to the civilians. Vehicles are allowed through only after proper checking and verification of identity.

The district administration has also asked the sarpanches to make arrangements for performing patrol duty at night in their respective villages.

Meanwhile , the intelligence agencies were searching for two Muslim women who had stayed several times in different hotels in Ambala Cantt some weeks ago by giving fake addresses.

Welfare schemes for weavers soon: Rana
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, July 8 — The Union Minister for Textile, Mr Kanshi Ram Rana, stated that the central government has planned to launch HAAT scheme in 16 states of the country during the current financial year to boost the handloom and handicraft industry and also to benefit the weavers.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Mr Rana said the scheme had already been introduced in five states, including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, so that the weavers could sell their products directly to the consumers in order to earn more income.

Mr Rana said the central government proposes to set up yarn banks in every state to provide yarn to the weavers at reasonable rates, provided the state governments gave land for this purpose. These banks had already been set up in the north eastern states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and this scheme had proved to be a boon for the weavers and the handloom industry in the region.

The Union Textile Minister along with members of the All-India Handloom Board visited some handloom units here. The main purpose of the visit of the team was to acquaint themselves with the techniques of the handloom industry.

Earlier while addressing a meeting of manufacturers of handloom products here, he said the central government was seriously considering the proposal related to improvements in the handloom industry. The Centre had already formulated new textile policy which would be announce shortly. The committee already set up by the central government in this regard would submit its recommendations shortly for bringing improvement in the handloom sector.

The Union Textile Minister stated that the Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojna has been reintroduced in the country to provide cheap cloth to the consumers.

Referring to the welfare schemes for the weaves, the Union Textile Minister said the central government provides Rs 18,000 to each weaver for the construction of a house. It had also introduced the Group Insurance Scheme from April, 1998 and a health scheme under which the weavers would be provided free medical treatment.

He added that the Centre had also launched a project package scheme in the country. Under the scheme each weavers society would be given Rs 25-30 lakh for setting up ventures. The state government would contribute 25 per cent share in the scheme. To effectively implement the scheme the Textile Ministry would strictly monitor the utilisation of funds given to the weavers.

BSP to go it alone in Haryana
Tribune News Service

HISAR, July 9 — The Bahujan Samaj Party will contest all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana on its own. The party will also ensure that representation is given to all sections of the society.

In a statement, the State General Secretary of the party, Mr. Pradeep Chaudhary, said the BSP would give representation to a cross section of people. He ruled out any alliance with the Congress.

Mr Chaudhary said, by supporting Mr Bansi Lal, the Congress had betrayed the people of the state and it would be suicidal for any party to align with that party.

The BSP leader hinted that the party may give ticket to some of those candidates, who, while contesting as independent candidates during the previous Lok Sabha elections, secured 1.5 lakh and above votes. He claimed, the party was in touch with four such candidates.

He demanded the dissolution of the Haryana Assembly and said simultaneous elections should be held to the Assembly and Parliament.

Power cuts: irate villagers block traffic
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 9 — A large number of residents from the villages falling in the Rai Assembly constituency of this district, gathered at Biswan Meel and blocked the National Highway No 1 for about two hours in protest against the long spells of power cuts, inadequate and erratic power supply in the rural areas.

They held up traffic and did not allow any vehicle to pass through this road.

Mr Harish Chand Jain, SDM and Mr S.K. Handa, Superintending Engineer (Operation) of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) arrived there to negotiate with leaders of protestors. They assured that the HVPN authorities would take steps to maintain the power supply in the villages.

After sometimes, a group of women also blocked the road again at 11.30 a.m. The protesters also raised slogans against the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, and his government.

The SDM and the SE (operation) of the HVPN again reached the spot and assured the women that the HVPN would maintain eight-hour power supply at a stretch in the villages.

According to another report, inhabitants of Butana village blocked the traffic on Gohana-Jind road for about five hours to protest against the continuous power crisis. They also raised slogans against Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, HPCC President.

The protesters held a dharna in the middle of that road and had altercations with the police personnel who arrived to lift the blockade. However, on the intervention of some aged persons, the protesters lifted the blockade and allow the vehicles to pass through.

Petrol staff robbed of Rs 1.72 lakh
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, July 9 — A cash amount of about Rs 1.72 lakh was taken away at gunpoint in broad day- light by some unidentified persons from the employees of a petrol station reportedly owned by the Tourism Department of the state in Bahadurgarh town, about 45 km from here, on Thursday.

According to police sources, the incident happened when two employees of the petrol pump owned by the Gaurriya tourist complex at Bahadurgarh town were going on a scooter towards a bank, to deposit the cash totalling Rs 1.72 lakh at noon. Some unidentified persons came in Maruti van and hit the two-wheeler, brandished a pistol, snatched the bag containing the cash from the employees and fled away.

The police has registered a case and has launched hunt to trace the culprits.

Meanwhile, in another incident the police has registered a case of dowry death against a person and his parents belonging Pakasma village in the district.

According to a complaint lodged by one Chander Singh of Karor village in the district, his daughter Meena, married to One Sanjay of Pakasma village, a few years ago recently committed suicide by consuming some poisonous tablets after being harassed by her husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law for not bringing adequate dowry. The police has booked a case under Sections 304-B and 498-A of the IPC.

MDU introduces three courses
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, July 9 — Maharshi Dayanand University has introduced three courses from the current academic year through distance education run by the Directorate of Distance Education.

These courses are Bachelor of Library and Information Science, prabhakar and MA/M.Sc. The fee for the Bachelor of Library and Information Science and prabhakar would be Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,500, respectively.

Any candidate willing to do prabhakar will have to take examination through distance education only. The candidates, hitherto were eligible to appear in this examination as private candidates.

The other courses run by the university through its Directorate of Distance Education are B.Ed (two year), BA/B.Com (three year), MA (Hindi, English, Sanskrit, economics, political science, history and public administration) and M.Com (two-year).

According to a university hand-out, normal admissions for MA, M.Com, BA/B.Com and prabhakar will be held from July 19 to August 28. A late fee of Rs 500 will be charged from August 29 to September 18 and Rs 1,000 from September 19 to 30.

The admissions for B.Ed is scheduled from July 19 to September 18 and with a late fee of Rs 500 up to September 30. The admission to the Bachelor of Library and Information Science will start on July 19 and end on September 30.

Kavi "sammelan" on World Population Day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 9 — The Haryana health department will observe World Population Day on July 11 by organising seminars, kavi sammelans and a population run to make people aware of the adverse affects of over population.

While Haryana Health Minister, Dr Dharamvir Yadav, will inaugurate the state-level kavi sammelan at Karnal, the Minister of State for Health, Mr Bijender Singh Kadiyan, will flag off the population run competition to be held at Bhiwani.