Apathy makes life miserable
KAITHAL: Family members of the Haryana Police living in the sadar police station complex here have been living a miserable life due to the apathy of various departments which have failed to take notice of their suffering caused by stinking water and presence of heaps of bodies of animals lying in the vicinity of this complex.

BKU threat to disrupt power supply
ROHTAK, Aug 14 — The state unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) here yesterday warned the Haryana Government that if its demands were not met within three weeks, activists of the union will start disrupting power supply in the state.

DoT new local area policy from today
AMBALA, Aug 14 — The Department of Telecommunications has decided to introduce a new local area policy with effect from August 15, Mr C.R. Kataria, General Manager, said here yesterday.

NIFD branch at Rohtak opened

Take pride in womanhood: DC

Sack Bansi govt, says Chautala
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Aug 14 — A rally of the Indian National Lok Dal here today demanded the dismissal of the Bansi Lal Government as it had failed on all fronts.

The rallyists marched in procession led by the President of the newly formed Indian National Lok Dal, Mr Om Parkash Chautala through bazaars of the city to present a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for submission to the Haryana Governor for sacking the Bansi Lal Government. The memorandum accused Mr Bansi Lal of following anti-people policy by getting the power privatisation Bill passed in the Assembly.

It also accused the HVP-BJP government of non payment of sugarcane dues of the farmers pending since last year. Similarly, it alleged that the State government had discriminated against a section of the employees by not implementing the pay commission's report on the Central pattern.

The memorandum also accused the Bansi Lal Government of ditching the people of the state by not providing adequate power supply and also betraying the cause of the grain traders of the state by not allotting them plots, on reserved prices in the new markets of the state.

The memorandum urged the Governor that the HVP-BJP government had lost confidence of the people and had no right to rule.

Earlier, prominent members of the Haryana Janata Dal joined the party today. Prominent among them are Mr Chasham Pal Singh — a former President of the Haryana Janata Dal and who had unsuccessfully contested three Parliamentary elections from Karnal.

While Mr Chasham Pal Singh claimed himself to be heading the Haryana Janata Dal, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi — a spokesman of the Janata Dal had stated a fortnight back that Mr Chasham Pal Singh and his supporters had already been expelled from the party. Many important leaders of the Janata Dal including Mr Prithvi Singh Kharkali, a former Chairman of Marketing Board, Karnal, Mr Risal Singh, former MLA, Mr Jagdish Chander President of District Janata Dal, Mr Rishi Pal, who claimed himself to be the General Secretary of the Karnal unit of the HVP and Mr Ved Parkash of Gharaunda also joined the party.

The grain traders who had been carrying on an agitation against the HVP-BJP government here also joined the party. Presidents of the five markets of Karnal, including Shastri Market, and New Grain Market carrying banners came to the venue of the meeting and announced their support to Mr Chautala.

This was a big set back for the BJP in Karnal where the traders are up in arms against the present government.

Mr Chautala alleged that there was no government worth the name in Haryana. About 60 to 70 incidents of crime took place in the state every month. If such incidents continued to happen, the situation would go out of hand.

Mr Chautala stated that the government had failed to solve problems of the people and the employees had been denied justice. The promise of Mr Bansi Lal to provide 24-hour power supply had proved to be hollow. He maintained that he would simplify tax structure in the state if voted to power. He also assured that octroi would be abolished.

Mr Chasham Pal Singh explaining the reasons for his re-entering the party said that he had been a follower of Mr Devi Lal for a number of years. But a few years back when he had left the party, workers felt suffocated in the Lok Dal. But now Mr Chautala had refurbished the party and workers were being given their due.

Mr Ram Pal Majra, General Secretary of the Lok Dal alleged that money changed hands during the recent police recruitments. Mr Majra also accused the present government of ignoring the interests of the farmers in the state and maintained that all sections of the society were fed up with the regime of Mr Bansi Lal.

Help handicapped, Prasad's
appeal to rich
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Aug 14 — Haryana Governor Mahavir Prasad has launched three welfare projects developed by the District Red Cross Society and the District Child Welfare Council.

The Governor laid the foundation stone of a Red Cross building which would be built at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh over an area of 1500 square yards. This building will consist of a physiotherapy centre, a conference hall, rest house and an artificial limbs manufacturing centre to cater to the needs of this region.

He also inaugurated a skating rink built at a cost of Rs 6 lakh on the premises of the Bal Bhawan. This skating sink will provide coaching to students of the area. He also handed over the keys of a new air-conditioned ambulance to the district Red Cross Society for giving timely help to the patients.

At another function organised by the district Red Cross Society on the premises of the mentally and physically retarded children centre, he distributed seven tricycles, 28 clippers, 26 sewing machines and seven hearing aids to the disabled and helpless persons of the society.

Speaking on the occasion the Governor appealed to all rich sections of society, voluntary organisations and administrators to extend help to improve the lot of the physically and mentally handicapped persons especially the women and children residing in the slums and rural areas of the district.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Kumar, informed that these organisations had distributed 54 sewing machines, 56 tricycles, five wheel chairs and 16 hearing aids to the disabled during the past year.

Later the Governor inaugurated a laser unit at Sri Baba Mastnath charitable eye hospital and a modern science college in the Asthal Bohar Math Campus, 8 km from here. He also inaugurated a new boys hostel of this institution.

Among others present on the occasion included Mr Shri Kishan Dass, Town and Country Planning Minister, Lt-Gen (retd) O.P. Kaushik, Vice-Chancellor, MD University, Rohtak Mr P.K. Chaudhary, Commissioner of Rohtak Division and Mr Manik Sonawane, Secretary to the Governor.

The Governor also planted a sapling of maulsari in the complex of the Asthal Bohar Math.

Apathy makes life miserable
From Satish Seth

KAITHAL: Family members of the Haryana Police living in the sadar police station complex here have been living a miserable life due to the apathy of various departments which have failed to take notice of their suffering caused by stinking water and presence of heaps of bodies of animals lying in the vicinity of this complex. The building and the residential quarters were built at a cost of more than Rs 1 crore by the Haryana Police Housing Corporation.

In the residential quarters many families of the non gazetted officers live. The low-lying land on which this complex was built belongs to Patti Afghan and the department spent lakh of rupees to raise the level of land to make it fit for the construction of this complex, but while choosing the site the department concerned ignored the environment and went ahead to execute the project inspite of the fact that this area remains permanently surrounded by the stagnant stinking water of over-flowing sewers and nullahas. "Hadi Rora centre", a place for storing bodies of animals in the neighbourhood of this complex has only added to the miseries not only of the residents of this complex, but also the people living in the nearby localities. The inmates of the Kaithal sub-jail have also not been able to save themselves from the ill-effects of the surroundings as the whole area remains full of foul smell.

Many residents complain that it has become difficult for them to remain in such polluted atmosphere. Many others say that they have been suffering from various diseases. But the Public Health Department, the civic body and officials of the police department have failed to take note of the suffering of the affected people.

The residents demand that the department concerned should take immediate steps to make the area clean. They also feel that the district authorities should direct the civic body to shift the place where dead animals are kept for de-skinning.

Take pride in womanhood: DC
From Our Correspondent

REWARI, Aug 14 — The Deputy Commissioner, said here yesterday that the status of women in Indian society, which had been undermined during the days of the Mughal and British rules, had regained its prestige after Independence and women were now enjoying a status which was socially, legally and constitutionally at par with men.

Addressing a conference on ‘Women’s development and literacy day’, the DC called upon women to take pride in their womanhood and contribute their might towards the upliftment and beautification of society.

Describing dowry as a great stumbling block in social advancement, the DC urged the women to take a pledge that they would neither give dowry during their daughters’ marriage nor accept the same during their sons’ weddings.

The DC also exhorted women to educate themselves and also make their daughters literate.

Mother, daughter commit suicide
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Aug 14 — Two women, Phoolpati and her daughter Suman, both residents of Krishna Colony here ended their lives by consuming poison on Thursday. According to a report Phoolpati first gave poison to her daughter and later on took it herself.

Shweta opens NIFD branch at Rohtak
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 14 — Model and actress Shweta Menon inaugurated the local branch of the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), here today.

Speaking to newsmen Ms Menon said besides modelling she would take up acting assignments. Her first film "Bandhani" is scheduled for release next month.

She said she wanted to make a mark in films, but she would not leave the ramp until she was quite established.

Earlier, the comperer and media manager of NIFD, Mr Pallab Bose, claimed that the institute was the first in the private sector to have so many branches in the country.

BKU threat to disrupt power supply
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 14 — The state unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) here yesterday warned the Haryana Government that if its demands were not met within three weeks, activists of the union will start disrupting power supply in the state.

Announcing this, the president of the state unit of the BKU, Mr Ghasi Ram Nain, said farmers had started losing patience with the "oppressive rule" of the government in the matter of power and water supply.

Mr Nain said while the hike in power rates had been frequent and unjustified, power supply in the state was poor. He said the damaged transformers had not been repaired. The authorities were forcing the farmers to pay inflated bills, he added.

He threatened to disrupt power supply to urban areas also if the transformers were not repaired and the supply not improved.

Mr Nain said supply lines to residences of senior officials would be cut during the campaign and roads blocked.

DoT new local area policy from today
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 14 — The Department of Telecommunications has decided to introduce a new local area policy with effect from August 15, Mr C.R. Kataria, General Manager, said here yesterday.

According to the revised policy, the local area which was so far within a 5 km radial distance from the exchange would now be the area coterminous with short distance charging area (SDCA). Calls made by any subscriber within the same SDCA would be charged as a local call and calls made by the subscribers of one SDCA to the subscribers of the adjoining SDCA would be charged at the rate of 180 seconds.

For dialling adjoining SDCA numbers, the first digit, zero, of the national dialling code has to be replaced by the new code "92" to avail the benefit.

This facility would be available to all subscribers with or without STD.

Mr Kataria said the Ambala secondary switching area comprised six SDCAs, namely Solan, Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Ropar, Saharanpur, Rajpura and Chandigarh.

Probe sought into varsity
appointments
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, Aug 14 — A former member of the Kurukshetra University executive council and court, Mr Brij Gopal Sharma, has welcomed the ban imposed by the state government on the appointment of teaching and non-teaching employees in two universities in the state and demanded a judicial inquiry into the appointments made in the University of Kurukshetra during the past two years.

He said here today that various appointments in the university had been made without assessing the workload.