Remembering Gandhi YAMUNANAGAR: Students and staffs of Seth Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Institution of Knowledge & Service were given "My Experiments with Truth" free of cost on Gandhi Jayanti. 'Prabhat Pheri' was taken out in Damla village and a large number of women were involved in spinning 'Charkha'.

Ban on recruitment hits teaching
HISAR, Oct 26 — The teaching and research work in the four universities of Haryana has been hit hard due to the non-availability of staff owing to the ban on fresh recruitment in these universities for the past one year.

67 officers shuffled in Haryana
CHANDIGARH, Oct 26 — The Haryana Government which has been preoccupied with transfers for the past several weeks today shifted 67 more officers, including eight from the IAS and 59 from the HCS.

Protest against diesel price hike
SONEPAT, Oct 26 — Hundreds of workers and supporters of the Haryana Krishak Samaj, led by its President Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, held a procession here today in supporting withdrawal of hike in diesel price and granting compensation to the farmers whose crops had been hit by drought, power and water crisis.

Haryana move on canal water supply through pipes
SIRSA, Oct 26 — The Haryana Government has decided in principle that the raw water supply to the canal-based water works throughout the state would be made through underground pipe lines.

DAV College managing panel members
GURGAON, Oct 26 — Padamshree Prof G.P. Chopra and Mr M.L. Khanna, senior Vice-President and General Secretary, respectively, of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, have been unanimously re-elected as president and general secretary, respectively, of the common DAV Managing Committee in Haryana for the next three years at a meeting held in Delhi.

'Sow' new wheat varieties on time
HISAR, Oct 26 — In view of the ensuing sowing season of wheat crop, scientists of CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) have appealed to the farmers to sow on time those varieties of wheat which have been recommended keeping in mind the agro-climatic conditions of various areas.

• Tributes paid to martyrs
• SP's appointment opposed
• Cong flays lack of civic amenities

• 277 units of blood donated
• Bank ex-officer arrested
• Vegetable fruit prices shoot up

Power crisis: big gap between demand, supply
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Oct 26 — Power crisis in the state has thrown normal life out of gear.

Although official version is that power cut was imposed in the entire state in the catchment areas of the urban feeders for four hours daily at different point of time, in reality pitched darkness prevails for longer durations.

The industry is also facing power cut for a longer period than what is officially claimed to be.On the rural feeders, power is available for less than about eight hours a day.

Although officials claim that the normalcy would return by the end of October or, by first week of November, knowledgeable persons take it with a pinch of salt.

The sources said that although the present problem had developed into a crisis, the state was facing power shortage for the past few years. The state’s requirement of power was about 500 lakh units per day. But in earnest, the state supplied only 3.25 lakh units per day.

In normal condition, the supply of power for the Gurgaon circle, which caters to the fast coming industrial areas, is about 30 lakh units per day against the consumption of about 32 lakh units each day. In the present crisis the circle was provided with only 25 lakh units per day.

The general perception is that the crisis during this part of the year was comparatively more severe.

Many see the prolonged darkness as one of the contributory factors in the alleged increase in the rate of crime in the state.

Apart from students are suffering due to the crisis, the residents in Gurgaon and other parts of Haryana are facing acute shortage of drinking water. The treatment and supply of water to the houses by the government agencies are based on power. Due to forced power cuts accompanied with frequent breakdowns, the entire system has gone haywire.

What has accentuated the present problem of the consumers is the accompanied trippings and sudden change of voltage of power resulting in the gadgets getting damaged. Another irritant is the loadshedding after short intervals.

There are many who feel that a section of staff in the HVPN were apathetic towards their duties.This has added a new dimension to the present crisis. The Bansi Lal government had suspended about 400 employees in the state. But after coming to power the INLD withdrew the cases against them and ordered for their reinstatement without going into their antecedents in large number of cases. Also, the INLD government has announced that it would do away with the restructuring in the power establishment by reverting back to the old Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) model. This has led to confusion and lacklustre approach on the part of the employees and officers.

There is also shortage in the field staff, including technical persons,of the HVPN. This is so in spite of the fact that there has been exponential growth, both in terms of population and the residential and commercial pockets. Added to it is the all-round rise in consumerism and craze for a better living. In case of fault in the system the residents run from pillar to post for remedy. What is galling to the public is the allegedly prolonged engagement tone of the telephones at the official residences of the authorities concerned and the complaint centres in the evenings. This has often led to wideranging doubts that the authorities and the personnel of the HVPN were often trying to evade the restive public in times of problems.

The strength of the field staff is said to have dwindled on account of retirements (including voluntary), accidental deaths and retirements.

Moreover, although the preceding government had initiated measures for reforms and restructuring in the power sector, it was confined only at the higher echelons. The government allegedly remained shoddy on the basics. The personnel in the field are still working with tools which proved to be inadequate about 20 years ago. For example, the field staff have to often make do without ladders, leave aside even the outdated and cumbersome ones, to tend to the snags in the transmission and distribution systems. They still travel on bicycle to attend to the faults. Majority of them do not even have this facility. More often than not, hapless residents have to go to the complaint centres and bring the technicians and linesmen on their own vehicles to get the community’s facilities working in the evenings.

Meanwhile, the district unit of the Congress today took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, in protest against the government on several issues, including the power crisis.

The procession was led by the vice-president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Rao Dharam Pal, and the local MLA, Mr Dharmavir Gauba.

The memorandum alleged that the power supply in Gurgaon was below normal and the quality of power was not up to the standard.

The processionists also drew the attention of the government to the murder of the leading jeweller of the city, Mr Satish Jain, a few days ago and expressed anguish over the culprits still remaining at large.

Haryana farmers face drought
From Our Correspondent

NARWANA, Oct 26 — Farmers in the Narwana Sub-division and other parts of Jind district and the southern parts of Haryana, including the districts of Mahendergarh, Rewari, Bhiwani and Jhajjar, are reeling under drought conditions.

The farmers are facing a three-fold problem. For one, there has been scanty rain. Secondly, they are feeling the pinch of power shortage and thirdly, the steep hike in the prices of diesel has added to their woes.

A visit to the Uchana area and the western parts of Narwana show large tracts of land lying unsown and barren. The farmers have suffered on account of the fact that there has been over 30 per cent less rainfall in this region as compared to last year. This has affected paddy and Maize production.

Furthermore, the distress sale of paddy below the support price in Haryana markets has added to the woes of the farmers.

A farmer of Kharak Pandva village told this correspondent that because of low output of kharif crop, he had not been able to repay even the loans which he had raised for buying fertilisers and seeds.

Bishambar Singh of Kalram village also said that the scanty rainfall had affected the kharif output and the farmers were suffering because of less availability of power and high diesel prices.

The farmers are now worried about the sowing of rabi crop. A large number of them in each village, who have small holdings, are not in a position to raise funds for buying diesel to run their pumping sets which are needed to irrigate the fields before sowing.

The green fodder crop has also suffered damage. Jind district is known for its cattle population and the farmers here rear milch cattle on a large scale. The shortage of green fodder like maize, bajra and 'chari' has compounded the problems of the farmers. This has affected the milk yield of cattle.

The power shortage is another big bottleneck in the way of wheat sowing. A number of farmers who produce three crops in a year used to sow toria crop before souring varieties of wheat. But this time, as rain has been less and they are unable to irrigate their fields properly, toria could not be sown on large tracts of land. This would also affect the economy of the farmers, Mr Yadram of Uchani village felt.

In the Narwana areas, the farmers are hopeful that the Chief Minister would undertake some radical measures to mitigate their problem. Mr Chautala had fought the election from the Narwana constituency.

The Bharat Krishak Samaj (Haryana branch), led by Mr Samsher Singh Surjewala, has taken up the issue of drought-affected farmers of Haryana. The samaj has demanded remission of 'abiana' and deferment of loans for the drought-hit farmers.

Chautala keen on Jats' inclusion in list of OBCs
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD Oct, 26 — The Haryana Government may place the recommendations of the Gurnam Singh Commission before the State Assembly for approval, Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala indicated here. The Gurnam Singh Commission report which recommended the inclusion of Jats in Haryana in the list of OBCs and providing them reservation in government jobs. The report was earlier rejected by the Assembly during the tenure of Mr Bhajan Lal.

Mr Chautala welcomed the decision of the Central Government to include Jats in Rajasthan in the list of OBCs but regretted that the government had excluded Jats residing in Bharatpur and Dhaulpur districts of Rajasthan from getting the benefit of reservation. Mr Chautala demanded the Central Government should include Jats in Haryana, too, in the list of OBCs. It was ridiculous that Congress leaders who had earlier rejected the recommendations of the Gurnam Singh Commission were now demanding that Jats should be given the benefit of reservation.

Mr Chautala came down heavily on his predecessor, Mr Bansi Lal, and said due to wrong policies of the Bansi Lal Government, his government had been facing a lot of problems. He said the Bansi Lal Government had done nothing to improve the power situation in the state adding that he had asked officers and Engineers of the power board to take urgent steps in this direction.

Ban on recruitment hits teaching
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Oct 26 — The teaching and research work in the four universities of Haryana has been hit hard due to the non-availability of staff owing to the ban on fresh recruitment in these universities for the past one year. The recruitment was banned in three universities, Kurukshetra University, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak and Guru Jambeshwar University Hisar, by the Bansi Lal government in August 1998. Subsequently, the recruitment was also banned in CCS Haryana Agricultural University here by the same government after a few months.

According to the figures available, there are about 200 vacancies of teachers in the HAU, about a 100 each in Kurukshetra University and Guru Jambeshwar University and about the same number in the MDU. There are also a number of vacancies in the non-teaching section in the four universities.

The Vice-Chancellor of the HAU, Mr Vinay Kumar, has already made a representation to the government seeking lifting the ban on recruitment. He pointed out that the recruitment can be banned at the cost of teaching only". In the HAU, there are 202 posts of assistant professors lying vacant in various teaching departments.

The Bansi Lal government had banned the recruitment following differences with the Vice-Chancellors of the GJU and the MDU over some appointments. Since then the ban continues to remain in force. While the teaching continues to suffer due to non-availability of the staff, the Bansi Lal government made some "undue appointments". For example, in the Department of Foods and Nutrition of the College of Home Science, HAU, Dr Umed Singh was appointed as professor on contract without any interview or prior advertisement. This was despite the fact that the work load of existing teachers there was only 50 per cent. It is mainly due to the steep fall in the number of students seeking admission to various courses in the College of Home Science during the past three years.

Similarly, in the GJU, there are about 100 vacancies of teachers. This is about half of the total sanctioned strength. There are about 50 vacancies in the non-teaching departments also. The teaching there has been severely affected. The university, which is still in the formative stage, had to face the hostile attitude of the previous government on purely political reasons. Its status was also lowered down and all colleges and institutions were disaffiliated from it and it was converted into a residential university. The university has been hiring the service of the guest faculty.

There are 13 teachers, whose fate still hangs in balance, as their case is pending with the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university. These teachers along with eight others, were appointed by the GJU in August 1998 after due interviews and approval of the Executive council of the university. However, subsequently the same council recommended cancellation of the appointment of 13 candidates. The candidates approached the high court, which referred the case to the Governor, as the council had already referred it to him. The court had in its order mentioned that they will be at liberty to raise the matter again, if the Governor’s decision went against them. Although the case was supposed to be disposed of expeditiously, it still remains unsettled even after the lapse of about 10 months. This has ultimately affected the teaching in the university itself, as the selected teachers are unable to join.

The four universities are desperately awaiting the lifting of ban, so that appointments can be made against the vacant posts. Because, the ultimate casualty had been the teaching only. Although the universities are also faced with the financial crunch, but the austerity measures should not lead to affecting the teaching, the primary purpose of the university.

67 officers shuffled in Haryana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 26 — The Haryana Government which has been preoccupied with transfers for the past several weeks today shifted 67 more officers, including eight from the IAS and 59 from the HCS.

Mr Ranjit Issar, OSD Manpower Planning has been given the additional charge of Commissioner Inquiries-I, relieving Mr Prem Parshant. Mr S.S. Prasad, Director, Rural department, has been given the additional charge of Joint Secretary, Rural Development. Mr S.S. Ahlawat, Joint Secretary, Archives, will also look after the work of Archaeology department. Mrs Dheera Khandelwal, Joint Secretary, IT&V, Education has been appointed Managing Director, Women and Child Development and Director and Joint Secretary, Women and Child Development, in addition to her present duties. Mr S.N. Roy, Director, Development and Panchayats, will also look after the work of Joint Secretary, Development and Panchayat. Mr M.K. Midha, Joint Secretary, Health, becomes Chief Executive Officer, Mewat Development Agency, in place of Mr K.S. Yadav, who takes over as Executive Director, HIPA, Gurgaon. Mr Shyamal Misra, Subdivisional Officer (SDO) Civil, Ballabhgarh, goes as such to Hodal.

Mr Subhash Chandra is awaiting orders of posting as Secretary, Haryana Housing Board, Panchkula, vice Mrs Neelam Pardeep Kasni. Mr Phateh Singh, awaiting posting orders, becomes Deputy Secretary, Transport. Mr Virender Kumar, awaiting posting, goes as Special Collector, Sirsa and Mr Anand Sharma as GM Projects, HHKN, Mr Risal Singh Khara, awaiting posting, goes as General Manager, Haryana Roadways, New Delhi. Mr M.L. Kaushal, Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Kaithal, becomes Deputy Secretary, Boundary Area Committee, Mr H.B. Chaudhary, awaiting posting, goes as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-CEO, DRDA, Kaithal. Mr J.P. Kaushik, awaiting posting, becomes Managing Director, Cooperative Sugar Mills, Meham. Mr P.D. Verma, awaiting posting, goes as Estate Officer, HUDA, Karnal, vice Mr Sanjeev Varma, who goes as DDPO, Narnaul. Mr Jai Singh Sangwan, awaiting posting, goes as Under Secretary, Education and Archaecological Department, vice Mr Prithvi Singh Bishnoi, who becomes Senior Administrative Officer, DGHS, Haryana. Mr J.P. Thaman, Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Mahendragarh, and Mr R.S. Verma, Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Kosli, swap places. Mr B.S. Bishnoi, FSO, FC office, Haryana, goes as Joint STC, Commercial. Mr S. Dayal Theraja, awaiting posting takes over as Chief Administrative Officer, Haryana Dairy Development Corporation and Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation. Mr T.K. Sharma, ADC, Rohtak, will be new MD, Coop, Sugar Mill, Jind. Mr H.S. Malik, ADC, Sonepat, has been posted as ADC, Rohtak. Mr Ashok Yadav, CEO, KDB, Kurukshetra, becomes ADC, Sonepat. Mr Suraj Bhan-II, GM, Haryana Roadways, Bhiwani, goes as Secretary, RTA, against a vacant post. Mr R.K. Chaudhary, Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Kalka, becomes GM, Haryana Roadways, Kurukshetra, in place of Mr Jog Pal, who will be new City Magistrate, Kaithal. Mr J.S. Arya, Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Siwani, and

Mr Maheswar Sharma, Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Meham, swap places. Mr N.K. Singla, GM, Haryana Roadways, Gurgaon, takes over as Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Panchkula. Mr S.B. Lohiya, awaiting posting goes as Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Loharu, vice Mr Shiv Prasad, who becomes City Magisrate, Faridabad. Mr R.C. Powaria, Subdivisional Officer (SDO), Civil, Hodal, has been posted as Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Faridabad. Mr Neelam Pradeep Kasni, Secretary, Housing Board, Panchkula, becomes Secretary, HSAMB, Panchkula. Mr C.R. Yadav, awaiting posting, goes as Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Bahadurgarh. Mr S.S. Dalal, City Magistrate, Faridabad, becomes Enquiry Officer, HSAMB. Mr Vivek Dhankad, City Magistrate, Gurgaon, goes as ADO, HIPA, Gurgoan. Mr K.K. Gupta, Deputy Director, Local Bodies, goes as Deputy Secy, Agricultural and Fisheries. Mr R.K. Garg, GM, Haryana Roadways, Sirsa, goes as AO, Directorate of School Education, against a vacant post. Mr Narender Singh, SDO, Civil, Kaithal, will also look after the work of Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Kaithal. Mr R.P. Gupta, SDO, (Civil), Thanesar, will hold additional charge of Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Kurukshetra.

The Government has also issued posting order of 22 new HCS Officers, on completion of their training. They are Mr H.C. Sharma, Under-Secretary, Cooperation, Mr Raj Kumar Rohilla, Jt. Director Admn. Public Relations, Mr Jitender Kumar, City Magistrate, Sonepat, Ms Hema Sharma, City Magistrate, Jind, Mr Naresh Kumar, City Magistrate, Bhiwani, Mr R.K. Yadav, City Magistrate, Fatehabad, Mr Mahavir Kaushik, City Magistrate, Panipat, Mr Yashpal-City Magistrate, Gurgaon, Mr Yashvindra Singh-City Magistrate, Rohtak, Mr N.S. Bangar-City Magistrate, Kurukshetra, Mr Rajeev Mehta-City Magistrate, Sirsa, Mr Pradeep Kumar-City Magistrate, Karnal, Ms Anju Chaudhary-Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Panipat, Mr Dharmendra Singh-Estate Officer Urban Estate, Sonepat, Ms Reetu-Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Sirsa, Mr Jai Kishan Abhir-Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Jind, Mr Dharamvir Singh-Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Mr Raj Kumar Singh-Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Rewari, Mr Sushil Kumar-Jt. Commissioner, MCF, Ballabgarh, Mr Manoj-Zonal Administrator, HSAMB, Karnal, Mr Shakti Singh, Asstt Director of Consolidation of Holdings, Rohtak, Mr Giarsi Lal Yadav, Deputy Director, Local Bodies.

Remembering Gandhi
From Ashwani Dutta

YAMUNANAGAR: Students and staffs of Seth Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Institution of Knowledge & Service were given "My Experiments with Truth" free of cost on Gandhi Jayanti. 'Prabhat Pheri' was taken out in Damla village and a large number of women were involved in spinning 'Charkha'. This information has been given by the chairman of the institution, Seth Ashok Kumar

The Lions Club, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri honoured Dr K.L. Johar, Former Vice-Chancellor, GJU, Hisar and Vice-Chairman, Seth Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Institutions of Knowledge & Service for his service to the cause of education. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, gave him the award.

Seth Ashok Kumar presented a draft of Rs 2.6 lakh to the Chief Minister for the Chief Minister's War Heroes Relief Fund. Earlier, a sum of Rs 1.36 lakh was presented to the Deputy Commissioner, Dr K.L. Johar thus bringing the total contribution of Mukand Lal institutions to the fund to Rs 3.96 lakh.

The Tilak Raj Chadha Institute of Management & Technology is all set to start MBA classes from the current session. The institution has got the requisite approval from the All India Council for Technical Education, State Government and Kurukshetra University.

The institute, designed by Dr Rajesh Arya, was formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

Protest against diesel price hike
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 26 — Hundreds of workers and supporters of the Haryana Krishak Samaj, led by its President Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, held a procession here today in supporting withdrawal of hike in diesel price and granting compensation to the farmers whose crops had been hit by drought, power and water crisis.

Carrying placards they raised anti-government and anti-Vajpayee slogans and passed through the main bazaars of the city.

A large number of farmers, along with their tractor-trailers took part in the procession.

The procession reached the mini-secretariat where Mr Surjewala and other leaders submitted a memorandum listing the demands of the Samaj to the Deputy Commissioner.

The memorandum pointed out that steep hike in diesel’s price had caused deep distress and resentment among all sections of the society, particularly the farmers, transporters, small-scale industry, businessmen and traders. The hike, it said, had also resulted in pushing up prices of farm operators, consumers and industrial goods as well as vegetables, fruits and other essential articles.

The memorandum demanded immediate withdrawal of hike in diesel and a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre to the farmers whose crops had been hit by drought. It also demanded a compensation of Rs 3,000 per acre to the crop-sharers and Rs 5,000 per family to the farm labourers. It also demanded postponement of crop loans and waiving the interest on them.

The memorandum also demanded regular power and water supply to the farmers during the Rabi season.

Earlier, a rally was also held in the Municipal Park and it was addressed, among others, by Mr Surjewala, Mr Umed Singh Dahiya, Mr Ram Kishan, Ms Sumitra Chauhan, Ms Kalawati Panchal, Mr Hoshiar Singh and others.

YAMUNANAGAR: The members of the Haryana Krishak Samaj held a demonstration on Tuesday in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in protest against the anti-farmer" and "anti-labour" policies of the Central government. Mr Sat Pal Kaushik, district president of the samaj, criticised the Central government for increasing diesel price. He added that it had crippled the entire business community in the country.

He alleged that there was a conspiracy by the BJP to dislodge the farmers and other lower classes from the national scene.

Mr Kaushik said that due to the low price of sugarcane, there was drought-like condition. The government should provide seeds and pesticides at subsidised rates.

He also demanded that Rs 10,000 per acre should be given to each farmer as compensation. He further demanded that sugarcane price should also be announced immediately and all cooperative and private sugar mills should start cane crushing by the first week of November.

A memorandum was given to the Deputy Commissioner to be sent to the Central and Haryana governments.

FATEHABAD: The Haryana Kisan Sabha has castigated the Centre for hike in the prices of diesel and other essential commodities.

Addressing a meeting at Bighar village in this district, the state general secretary of the sabha Mr Krishan Sawaroop, the hike in prices had severely affected the common man particularly small farmers.

The leader also criticised the state government for the power and water shortage in the state. He announced that a kisan panchayat would be held at Fatehabad on October 30 in protest against the policies of the government and appealed to the farmers to participate in the panchayat.

JIND: Activists of the district unit of the Bharat Krishak Samaj, led by Mr Randip Singh Surjewala, MLA, took out procession in the town today in protest against the hike in the price of diesel. Later they submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

The samaj also expressed concern at the distress sale of paddy in grain markets of the state. It alleged that the farmers were being forced to sell their paddy at a price much below the support price. The samaj demanded that the government procurement agencies should purchase paddy at the support price fixed by the Centre.

AMBALA: The Ambala unit of the Haryana Krishak Samaj today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in protest against the unprecedented increase in the price of diesel .

The samaj has demanded that the hike should be withdrawn immediately.

ROHTAK: Activists of the Krishak Samaj on Tuesday held a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in protest against the hike in the prices of diesel.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner.

HISAR: Activists of the Haryana Krishak Samaj and the Congress on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the mini secretariat here in protest against the hike in diesel price.

Later they submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

They also urged the Haryana Government to announce Rs 10,000 per acre as a compensation to the farmers in the drought affected areas of the state.

Haryana move on canal water supply through pipes
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, Oct 26 — The Haryana Government has decided in principle that the raw water supply to the canal-based water works throughout the state would be made through underground pipe lines. This would keep the water free of dirt, dust and environmental pollution. This was disclosed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana while addressing a gathering at Khuiyan Malkana village, 50 km from here today. Mr Chautala is touring countryside of district Sirsa.

The Chief Minister announced the setting up of separate water works for several villages which would be completed at a cost nearly Rs 4 crore includes Kaluana, Maujgarh, Neelanwali, Khuiyan Malkana, Tiggari, Chatha, Jogewala, Risaliakhera, Banwala and Khai Shergarh. These water works being constructed would augment the water supply in the region which was facing short supply of water because of spurt in population. He said that boosters would also be installed at places wherever these were needed. The pipe lines supplying water to the water works would also be made wider, the water pipes generally supply water were of three inch diameter now it would be made six inch diameter.

Mr Chautala said that all roads would be repaired by May next. The depression in link roads would be raised and constructed with cement and concrete. This would strengthen the roads and would save the area of stagnation of water and mosquitoes. These roads would also be provided with proper drainage system and the water would be drained out in the village ponds. The Chief Minister also ordered the construction of necessary missing links of roads in several villages like Mamer Kaluana, Tiggari-Khokhar etc.

Mr Chautala said that he had requested the Punjab Chief Minister for providing pucca roads linking border villages of both the states. The Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal had assured the completion of these roads at the earliest possible. Wherever the roads falls in Haryana territory these would be constructed by us simultaneously.

DAV College managing panel members
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Oct 26 — Padamshree Prof G.P. Chopra and Mr M.L. Khanna, senior Vice-President and General Secretary, respectively, of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, have been unanimously re-elected as president and general secretary, respectively, of the common DAV Managing Committee in Haryana for the next three years at a meeting held in Delhi.

Dr J.K. Pasricha, noted eye-surgeon of Karnal, and Mr Vijay Sabharwal, journalist-cum-industrialist of Kurukshetra, were also unanimously re-elected a vice-president and treasurer, respectively, of the Haryana committee.

According to a spokesman of the committee, Dr Amar Singh, Dean of Colleges, Kurukshetra University, and Dr Mishra, a senior Hindi professor from M.D. University, Rohtak, were present at the meeting as nominees of the Vice-Chancellors of both universities. The meeting was presided over by the president of the committee, Mr T.R. Tuli. The Deputy Secretary, Education, Mr R.K. Sharma, represented the Director Higher Education, Haryana. Principals of all 13 colleges in the state were nominated as members of the executive committee.

The meeting also approved the pension scheme for employees working in DAV colleges in Haryana, effective from May 11, 1998 in lieu of Contributory Provident Fund, pursuant to the rules, regulations, conditions and instructions contained in the memo of Director Higher Education, Haryana. The meeting authorised the president to prepare and finalise the salient features of this pension scheme at the earliest.

The committee also accepted a donation of Rs 25,000 given by Mr B.S. Behl, vice-president DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, for the Kailash Behl DAV Centenary Public School, Sector 7-B, Chandigarh, for the purchase of library books.

Tributes paid to martyrs
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Oct 26 — Tributes were paid to Major Nitin Bali who was killed during Operation Rakshak in Batalik sector and Jawan Sanjeev Kumar, who was killed during Operation Vijay in the Kargil sector, at a district-level function jointly organised by the Shaheed Nitin Bali Shorya Samiti and the Haryana Pradesh Poorv Sainik Sabha (Regd) on the premises of Panchayat Bhawan here yesterday.

The Chief Guest was Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ashok Kumar Arora, who paid rich tributes to the martyrs.

Major Bali’s mother, Mrs Adarsh Bali, appealed to the people the they should take care of the martyrs’ families and render them due respect.

The sabha leaders presented a charter of demands to Mr Arora which included providing employment to Mr Ranjeet Singh, father of Sepoy Sanjeev Kumar, at Kurukshetra University by relaxing its rules, providing 5 per cent reservation in various courses run by Kurukshetra University to the wards of soldiers and ex-soldiers, providing 5 per cent reservation to the ex-soldiers during the allotment of shops constructed by local Municipal Committee, Kurukshetra University and government institutions as well as nominating Haryana Pradesh Poorv Sainik Sabha’s district unit on District Sainik Board as government member.

Mr Arora assured that he would take up their demands with the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for fulfilment. Mr Arora also assured Mrs Bali that he would take up her request to name the District Library after her son, to Mr Chautala.

Others who paid tributes included Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Haryana, Mr Rajbir Singh Chauhan, state president, Haryana Pradesh Poorv Sainik Sabha, Mr Attar Singh Ahlawat, Superintendent of Police, Kurukshetra and Mr Babu Ram Gupta, Assistant, Registrar, Kurukshetra University.

Earlier, Mr Arora inaugurated Amar Shaheed Sanjeev Kumar Science Block, constructed at the cost of Rs 4 lakh on the premises of Government Model Senior Secondary School here, where Bal Kalyan and Charitar Nirman Sabha, Kurukshetra organised a district-level patriotic essay competition to pay tributes to martyrs Maj Nitin Bali and Jawan Sanjeev Kumar.

'Sow' new wheat varieties on time
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Oct 26 — In view of the ensuing sowing season of wheat crop, scientists of CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) have appealed to the farmers to sow on time those varieties of wheat which have been recommended keeping in mind the agro-climatic conditions of various areas.

Dr B.L. Jalali, Director of Research, CCSHAU, said here today, that the average yield of the newly released wheat varieties — WH 542, PBW 343, UP 2338 and HD 2687 — recommended for timely sowing in the state, is around 55 to 60 qtls per hectare. He said that during 1998-99, Haryana witnessed record production of 86 lakh tonnes of wheat and average yield of 39 quintals per hectare was recorded in the state.

Dr Jalali said there was still scope of raising the average wheat yield in the state by bringing the maximum area under the aforesaid varieties with special emphasis on timely sowing.

For the control of termite loose smut, seed treatment has been recommended before sowing, adding that the seed rate of these varieties should be kept at 50 kg per acre besides using the recommended doses of NPK 10 kg per acre of zinc sulphate.

First irrigation of the crop had been advised after three weeks of sowing. Subsequent irrigation could be done 45, 65 and 85 days after sowing.

Irrigation at the time of milking stage i.e. grant development would help the farmers achieve a bumper harvest of the crop. Besides use of good quality seed, special emphasis should be laid on balance of fertilisers, judicious use of irrigation water as also adoption of proper weed-control measures. The period between November 7 and 25 has been described as the best time for sowing the crop, he added.

SP's appointment opposed
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT Oct, 26 — Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, president of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U) today described the recent reshuffling in the Police Department as "politically motivated" and urged Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala to appoint only honest and impartial police officers as SPs at the district headquarters for effectively checking the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

In a signed press statement issued here, he also criticised the indiscriminate transfers of IAS, IPS, HCS and other officers and alleged that such transfers had put a great burden on the state exchequer and caused widespread resentment among the bureaucracy. He particularly opposed the appointment of Mr R.C. Misra as Superintendent of Police at Mahendragarh allegedly under Political pressure from Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, a former BJP minister and leader of the BJP Legislature Party. Mr Misra, he alleged had been responsible for unprovoked firing on agitating farmers in the district in October, 1997. His appointment had caused wides pread resentment among amon the farmers who were contemplating to launch an agitation against the state government.

277 units of blood donated
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Oct 26 — As many as 277 students and staff of Mukand Lal National College, here, donated blood today to coincide with the birthday celebrations of Seth Jai Parkash, a founder of the college.

Mr Ashok Arora, speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, also donated blood on the occasion. Mr Arora lauded the efforts of Mr Ashok Kumar, chairman, Seth Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Institutions, for supporting the noble cause of education.

Dr K.L. Johar, a former Vice-Chancellor, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Dr Ramesh Kumar, Principal of the college, welcomed the chief guest and apprised him of the academic and social activities undertaken by the students and members of the staff of the college.

Cong flays lack of civic amenities
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Oct 26 — The district unit of the Congress today took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner to protest against several issues, including power crisis.

The procession was led by the vice-president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Rao Dharam Pal, and the local MLA, Mr Dharambir Gauba.

The memorandum alleged that the power supply in the town was below normal and the quality of power was not up to the standard.

The processionists also drew the attention of the government to the murder of a leading jeweller of the city, Satish Jain, a few days ago and deplored that the culprits were yet to be traced.

The memorandum further alleged that the authorities were not providing proper civic amenities in the town. It specifically pointed out the condition of the Civil Hospital.

Bank ex-officer arrested
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Oct 26 — The crime branch of the CBI has arrested a former bank officer of UCO Bank on a charge of a fraud of about Rs 36 lakh during his stint as branch manager here.

According to sources, the arrest was made yesterday and the accused was taken to Ambala to produce him in the special CBI court. It is reported that he allegedly embezzled the amount from the fixed deposit receipts of the account holders. It is learnt that the amount withdrawn was shown as loan taken against the fixed deposits made in the bank. His services were terminated by the bank authorities a few months ago.

Vegetable fruit prices shoot up
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 26 — Prices of vegetables and fruits have shot up in the markets of this city and elsewhere in the district following an indefinite strike by the truck operators which entered the sixth day today.

Similarly, the prices of pulses and edible oils have also gone up considerably and this had been causing anxiety among the people both in urban and rural areas of the district.

Meanwhile, the traders are selling the potatoes and tomatoes at higher price in the absence of any checking by the authorities concerned.

Meanwhile, the Residents Welfare Association has urged the district authorities to take stern action against the hoarders and profiteers and safeguard interests of the consumers.