159 villages without fair price shops
SONEPAT, March 7 — The administration has completed a comprehensive survey and highlighted problems faced by people in the rural areas of this district.

60 cr for sewerage, water schemes
BHIWANI, March 7 — The Haryana Government will spend Rs 60 crore on the sewerage disposal and augmentation of water supply schemes in the urban areas in the current financial year.

36 INLD activists join HVP
HISAR, March 7 — The Indian National Lok Dal received a setback when about active members of the party, including some state and district-level office-bearers of the party announced their decision to resign from the party and joined the Haryana Vikas Party led by Mr Bansi Lal, Chief Minister of Haryana.

Relief in ST sought
CHANDIGARH, March 7 — The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded that the state government should provide relief in sales tax to the industry to enable it to cope with the current recession.

• 4 HAU students held for assault
• Farm items' rates on Internet
• Resident docs sore with govt
• Couple murdered in Goa
• Road full of potholes

Badal contests Haryana's claim
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, March 7 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said here today that there was no point in completing the SYL canal as Haryana had no right on water from rivers flowing through Punjab. Moreover, there was no surplus water which Punjab could spare for Haryana, he added. Mr Badal, who was talking to newsmen at Gobindgarh village near here, said as per the law, Haryana could not claim right on the river waters. He said during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab, he had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court for adjudication of the issue.

However, later Mr Darbara Singh took over as Chief Minister and the then Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, coerced him into withdrawing the case. He said the earlier award by Ms Gandhi had been announced during the Emergency when the Akalis had been put in jails. When Mr Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister, the issue was reopened again as the Akalis pleaded that it was also an Emergency excess.

Mr Badal said that even before the reorganisation of the state in 1966, a survey had revealed that there was no surplus water to spare for the areas which later became part of Haryana.

He said there was no ambiguity about Chandigarh as it belonged to Punjab. He said Akalis only wanted that Punjabi-speaking areas of Haryana which were contiguous with Punjab should be transferred to Punjab for resolving the territory issue. Earlier Central Governments had no inclination to solve these issues and the present BJP government was too busy in solving other pressing issues, he added.

The Chief Minister said despite provocative statements by the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, terrorism would not be allowed to raise its head in the state. He said the only grouse Mr Tohra had was that he wanted to become the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Badal said at one time he had offered his seat to Mr Tohra but the latter had declined to accept the offer.

Mr Badal claimed that the main grievance of the SGPC members was that Mr Tohra had failed to discharge his duty to propagate the Sikh religion particularly among the youth and manage the gurdwaras well.

The Akali Dal chief felt assured that Mr Tohra would be removed from his post at the March 16 meeting. He said the Akalis had come back to power in Punjab as the party stood for communal harmony. He regretted that Mr Tohra had been criticising the government and the party functioning for the past several months for no reason.

He said the internal feud in the Akali Dal would have no effect on the BJP government at the Centre. He said the lone Lok Sabha member supporting Mr Tohra, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, could not cause any harm. Regarding the action to be taken against Mr Chandumajra for his certain statements against the government, Mr Badal said the party would not take any hasty decision.

Mr Badal was here to attend the marriage-reception of the son of Mr Sukhdev Singh Gobindgarh, Haryana Akali Dal president. Mr Badal was accompanied by Balwinder Singh Bhunder, M.P.

Concern over drop in enrolment
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, March 7 — Dr V.P. Dutt, a former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, here today expressed concern over the diminishing interest of students in technical and science education. He maintained that the enrolment in science courses in the country had come down from about 30 per cent in 1960 to only 19.6 per cent in 1992-93. Furthermore, enrolment in engineering and technology as well as medical sciences was only 4.9 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively.

Dr Dutt made these remarks in his convocation address to students of Dyal Singh College here.

Dr Dutt regretted that the number of admission seekers in agriculture and veterinary sciences was a meagre 1.5 per cent. It was unfortunate that the percentage of students in professional colleges had actually decreased from 19.94 per cent in 1947 to 9.93 per cent in 1996.

The former Rajya Sabha member stated that there was a "mismatch" in the country between the kind of education imparted to students and the employment opportunities available to them. In fact, in a number of areas, education was not related to the needs of society and the environment around.

The education system had not been able to keep pace with new developments and new directions being taken in the developed world. He, therefore, wanted that private enterprise must promote professional and technical education.

Dr Dutt stated that the direction of education should be changed to ensure more purposeful content. It must be related to production and the environment as well as the building of a civil society. What he pleaded was "to change and move forward". The task before the citizens and the educators was to provide opportunities to the socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society for acquiring knowledge so that they became partners in establishing "a progressive and modern economy society".

Dr Dutt lamented that government spending on education had declined over the years. It was enigmatic that the government, without preparing universities and colleges for raising resources, was now asking them to raise up to 20 per cent resources of their required expenditure.

Dr Dutt wanted that steps should be initiated to promote girls' education at the elementary and secondary levels.

Dewan Gajendra Kumar, president of the Dyal Singh College Trust Society, stated that education was a social welfare effort. He regretted the small quantum of support for education in the budget.

Dewan Gajendra Kumar maintained that the college was finding it difficult to meet even 5 per cent of the deficit. The trust had tried to generate income through self-financing courses. But directions from the state government had thwarted these efforts. He urged the state government to either lift these restrictions or provide 100 per cent grant to institutions like Dyal Singh College which did not receive any donations.

Principal S.K. Jain of the college conferred degrees on 402 graduates and postgraduates.

Dr Dutt gave away prizes to 93 students for their academic achievements.

Plan to cut damage to power equipment
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, March 7 — The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has introduced incentives to reduce rate of damage to power transformers in the state, Mr Attar Singh Saini, Minister of State for Power and Public Relations said here today.

According to the minister, an annual analysis of the damage rate would be done in each sub-division of the Nigam for each year and the sub-divisions would be categorised on that basis. The sub-divisions having more than 20 per cent rate of damage of transformers would be placed in group-A while the sub-divisions having the damage rate of 20 per cent or less would be placed in group-B.

He said that eligibility for incentive would be reduction of five per cent in the rate of damage for group-A and 2.5 per cent for group-B during the year under review. The sub-divisional officer of the qualifying sub-division would be given an incentive of Rs 5,000. Three 11 KV feeders and three complaint centres having minimum damage rate would also be identified in these sub-divisions. The in charge junior engineers or assistant foremen of the 11 KV feeders would be given Rs 2,500 and each of the member of such complaint centres would be given Rs 2,000.

Similar exercise would be carried for operation divisions and operation circles also. The executive engineer of the qualifying division would be given a cash award of Rs 5,000 with a letter of appreciation while in charge superintending engineer of the qualifying circle would be issued a letter of appreciation for achieving desired reduction in damage rate.

Mr Saini said that the incentive scheme would be applicable for each year commencing from January 1 last. However, analysis for the period April-December, 1998 was also being done and the employees would be rewarded for reducing damage rate of transformers during that period. For entitlement for the incentive, the official should have served the area for at least nine months in the year of the incentive.

Thrust was being given to add sufficient number of distribution transformers of proper capacity in the power distribution system in the state, under the Power Reform Project. Under first action plan of Rs 240 crore of the project, about 6,000 transformers were being replaced with that of higher capacity of 100 KVA and 200 KVA. Old cables of transformers were being changed and the transformers provided all required protection equipment. Field officials had been asked to keep complete history record of every transformer including date of maintenance and load on it.

159 villages without fair price shops
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, March 7 — The administration has completed a comprehensive survey and highlighted problems faced by people in the rural areas of this district.

The survey revealed that 159 villages had no fair price shops, which were the only source of supply of foodgrains, levy sugar and kerosene to those living below the poverty line. At least 303 villages lacked purchasing centres and farmers had to transport their produce to other centres for selling it at the support price fixed by the government.

According to the survey, fair price shops do not open at the specified time and the availability of levy sugar and kerosene was not satisfactory.

Residents of villages had demanded that they should be given new ration cards and ration shops should be attached with mini banks. Moreover, the owners of fair price shops must keep their shops open during the specified time. Separate depots should be opened for those living below the poverty line and the weaker sections.

The survey also revealed that 184 villages do not have mini banks and 280 more villages do not even have other banks. At least 173 villages had no complaint centre of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam. In 74 villages there were no transport facilities available to people.

There were no primary health centres in 294 villages and 198 villages had no sub-centre of the Health Department. As many as 287 villages out of 348 in the district were without chemists shops.

In the district 280 villages had no patwar khanas and the condition of the chaupals in 233 villages was bad.

The survey also revealed that 84 and 59 villages lacked co-education schools and girls’ schools, respectively.

Residents of most villages had been facing a scarcity of potable water. Defective pipelines had added to their woes. Many residents suggested that the field staff should make a complete list of the defective pipelines and get these repaired on priority.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.K. Mahapatra, said here today that the primary objective of such a survey was to ensure the eradication of unemployment, accelerated growth of agricultural production and reduction of disparities in incomes.

60 cr for sewerage, water schemes
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, March 7 — The Haryana Government will spend Rs 60 crore on the sewerage disposal and augmentation of water supply schemes in the urban areas in the current financial year.

This was stated by Mr Surinder Singh, MP from Bhiwani after laying the foundation stone of a sewerage disposal scheme in Siwani, 60 km from here, today. He also laid the foundation stone of the augmentation of the water supply scheme.

Mr Surinder Singh said the Haryana Government had started a number of schemes for the welfare of people. He said the government was providing financial assistance to the youth to start their own ventures. The government had provided a financial assistance of Rs 52 crore to 16000 youth under the self-employment schemes.

About providing round-the-clock power supply to the consumers he said, the government would fulfil its commitment in a few months. He alleged that the power crisis in the state was due to the negligence of this sector by the previous governments.

Mr Jagan Nath, Public Health Minister, said the government had released 41,000 water connections in the past 32 months. He said potable drinking water was available to all villages including "Dhanis". He said the capacity of water supply schemes was being enhanced to provide 115 litre water per capita per day. He exhorted people not to waste water.

They also heard the grievances of the people and directed the officials concerned for the quick disposal of the complaints.

Free power not feasible: Bansi

JHAJJAR, March 7 (UNI) — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal today, called upon people to be beware of the "gimmicks" of those politicians who claimed to provide free power supply to the farmers.

He was addressing a public meeting at Chhara village of this district.

The Chief Minister termed the announcements of the former Prime Minister Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, the former Deputy Prime Minister Mr Devi Lal and Mr Om Prakash Chautala as "fictitious" to provide free electricity to the farmers at the Indian National Lok Dal party’s rally at Delhi yesterday.

Mr Bansi Lal reminded that Mr Deve Gowda presided over a meeting of Chief Ministers in his tenure as the Prime Minister in which it was decided that electricity would not be supplied to the farmers less than the rate of 50 paise per unit which would subsequently to be increased by 50 paise per unit yearly.

If it would have been applied the rates of power supply would have been three times more now, he said a huge amount of money was being spent on generation, transmission and distribution of power, so it was not feasible for any government to provide free electricity.

Mr Bansi Lal asserted that law and order situation in Haryana was not so worse as alleged by Mr Om Prakash Chautala and others at the rally, who claimed that the law and order situation of Haryana was worse than Bihar.

The Chief Minister clarified that even today the recovery graph of crimes like murder, theft and dacoity in the state was as good as that of any state in the country.

He reminded that Mr Chautala should not forget the Meham episode in which nine persons were killed in a day. He said the situation of Bihar could be better even now as compared to the regime of Mr Chautala.

He said the construction work of Tajewala headworks would be completed before June 30 and would cost Rs 219 crore.

Referring to the local demands, the Chief Minister announced to sanction the construction of various minors which included the minors at Nai Rewari Khera, Sikanderpur extension of new Chhera minor, Asanda and Badan Singh minor.

He announced to upgrade the Girls High School at Chhara village and at Dulehra village and upgradation of Middle School at Rewari Khera village.

He declared that Rs 25 lakh would be spent on the development of Chhara village out of the fund received from the Centre.

36 INLD activists join HVP
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, March 7 — The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) received a setback when about active members of the party, including some state and district-level office-bearers of the party announced their decision to resign from the party and joined the Haryana Vikas Party led by Mr Bansi Lal, Chief Minister of Haryana.

They met Mr Bansi Lal here yesterday in the Canal Rest House and expressed their faith in him and the policy of the party. Mr Bansi Lal who is also the President of the party welcomed them.

There who joined the HVP include Mr Dharam Pal Siwach, Mr Hoshiari Mal Bansal, Mr Ram Singh, Mr Chander Bhan, Mr Ram Singh Bhankhur, Mr Maan Singh Panwar, Mr Ved Prakash Sarsana, Mr Mange Ram Arya, Mr Ram Kumar, Mr Chander Tiwari, Mr Kuldeep Singh, Mr Suresh Sharma, Mr Mange Ram Dinodia, Mr Phool Chand Verma, Mr Kapoor Singh, Mr Giani Ram etc.

Relief in ST sought
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 7 — The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded that the state government should provide relief in sales tax to the industry to enable it to cope with the current recession.

In a statement issued here today, the President and the Senior Vice-President of the chamber, Mr Shiv Pratap Bajaj and Mr N.C. Jain, respectively, said the rate of sales tax in Haryana on several items was much more than that in adjoining states.

This was one reason why manufacturers preferred other states for establishing their units.

Accusing the state government of neglecting the industry, the chamber leaders said this attitude of the government was proving fatal for the state's industrial growth. Even the power tariff in Haryana was much more than that in Punjab. The HVP-BJP Government had not so far fulfilled its promise to abolish octroi. The rate of land in newly developed industrial estates was beyond the reach of small-scale entrepreneurs.

They demanded that the rate of sales tax should be brought on a par with that in the neighbouring states. Power for the industrial sector should be subsidised on the pattern of the agricultural sector.

Mr Bajaj said due to indifferent attitude of the government towards the plywood industry. About 250 plywood units in Yamunanagar were in dire straits.

Farm items' rates on Internet
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 7 — If all goes well, the daily rates of agricultural commodities in various mandis of the country will soon be available on Internet.

Stating this here today, the Chairman of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr Ved Pal, who is also the Chairman of the National Council of State Agricultural Marketing Boards (COSAMB), said a website for COSAMB and a satellite website for various state agricultural marketing boards would soon be set up.

The state boards would also have an on-line computer link. Once the state boards feed the prices and other critical information pertaining to the marketing of farm commodities, these would be available on COSAMB website worldwide.

Mr Pal said a delegation would be sent by COSAMB to foreign countries to study infrastructure for marketing of farm produce there. This would enable the farmers to get better return for their produce.

Resident docs sore with govt
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, March 7 — The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Pt B.D. Sharma Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences has charged the Haryana Government with giving "step-motherly" treatment to medicos.

In a statement Dr Jai Bhagwan Jatain, general secretary of the RDA, said a delegation of the association met Chief Minister Bansi Lal in the Canal Rest House here during his Rohtak visit today.

He alleged that the Chief Minister ignored their demands.

The medicos have demanded 10 per cent advantage to internal candidates seeking admission to MD/MS courses and withdrawal of the increase in reservation for HCMS candidates for admission to these courses.

Couple murdered in Goa
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, March 7 — Family members of a newly 2-married couple received the information yesterday about the alleged murder of the couple in Goa.

According to a report, the newly-weds had gone to Goa for a honeymoon trip after the marriage was solemnised here on February 22. Reportedly, cash and other valuables worth several thousands of rupees were missing. The theft of cash and valuables could be the reason for the murders, it is learnt.

Both the girl and the youth belonged to rich families and their marriage was solemnised with great pomp and show. The parents of the victims suspect foul play and are likely to approach the police to hold a thorough probe into the crime.

4 HAU students held for assault
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, March 7 — The police has arrested four students of Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) in connection with the stabbing incident on the campus on February 18 in which Bhupinder Dalal, a student of the College of Agricultural was injured.

The arrested students are Vivek Balyan, College of Agricultural Engineering, Sushil Goyal, College of Agriculture, Vikas Malik, of College of Veterinary Sciences and Vipin Tomar of College of Animal Science.

These were produced in the court yesterday and remanded to judicial custody. They were booked under Section 307 of the IPC.

Road full of potholes
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, March 7 — The road from Udham Singh Chowk Cheeka to Punjab Border is full of potholes and ditches. Many vehicles overturn and passengers as a result sustain injuries.

The road users have brought this matter to the notice of the PWD (B and R) authorities, but no action has been taken to improve the condition of the road during the past five years.

The Guhla MLA, Mr Dilu Ram, has threatened that if no action is taken soon he will start a dharna at the Kaithal district secretariat.