Bansi Lal rules out free water, electricity
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

KOATH KALLAN (Hisar), Aug 30 — Criticising the Indian National Lok Dal supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for, what he called, misleading the farmers, the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today ruled out supplying electricity and water free of cost to the farmers in Haryana.

Addressing a well-attended public rally here in Barwala Assembly segment, he said, the promises being made by Mr Om Prakash Chautala were only to befool the farmers. He said, it was not possible for the state to supply electricity or water free of cost to farmers.

Referring to Punjab, where the farmers were being supplied electricity and water free of cost, Mr Bansi Lal said, it cannot be carried on for long. He claimed that the World Bank had cancelled a loan to the Punjab government only for this reason.

The Chief Minister assured that within next two years the electricity would be provided throughout Haryana round the clock. He said, work on several power projects started by his government was in full swing. He said, from January next these power plants would start generating 1279 MW of additional electricity.

He said, the World Bank had sanctioned a loan of Rs 2400 crore to Haryana for construction of roads and Rs 1600 crore for construction and repair of canals.

Mr Bansi Lal accused Mr Chautala and Mr Bhajan Lal of trying to destabilise his government. Referring to the election of Mr Devi Lal to the Rajya Sabha, he said, his party agreed to it, only after Mr Vajpayee asked them. He said, Mr Chautala was forcing the ageing Devi Lal into politics, only to serve his own ends.

The Chief Minister disclosed that he had assured the Vice-Chancellor of the CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Mr J.B. Chaudhary, of the Rs 2 crore grant for developing drugs that could control the heliothis disease in cotton.

Mr Bansi Lal sought to clarify the charges of his alleged hostility towards district Hisar. He claimed that the government had been generous in spending on development works in the district. His clarification comes at a time, when his government is being accused of being hostile towards Hisar. The charges were levelled after the Bansi Lal government turned Guru Jambeshwar University into a residential university and stopped the aid to Agroha Medical College. Besides, there is a general feeling prevailing in Hisar, that the district was being ignored by the Bansi Lal government.

Centre responsible for price rise: HPCC

KURUKSHETRA, Aug 30 (PTI) — The Haryana Congress today said people have lost faith in the coalition government (at the Centre) pregnant with instability and uncertainty which has led to economic slowdown and rise in prices of essential commodities.

In a resolution adopted by the general body meeting of the HPCC, the party said by now people have realised that it was only the Congress which could provide a stable government to protect their life and property.

"There are chaos everywhere. Bare necessities of life have become beyond the reach of the common man with meagre sources of income," the resolution said,expressing concern at the "lawlessness" in every sphere of life since the BJP-led government took over six months back.

The resolution said the countrymen were looking forward to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to lead the nation in this critical hour.

Another resolution expressed concern at the deteriorating law and order situation in Haryana and demanded the dismissal of the Bansi Lal government and fresh elections under President’s rule.

"The state is reeling under unprecedented corruption both administrative and political, total loss of peoples’ confidence in the government, daylight murders, abductions, rapes, robberies and lootings," the resolution said, adding that law enforcing agencies have become a mere tool in the hands of political bosses and have failed in performing its duty towards the people to save them from criminals.

Another resolution condemned the Bansi Lal government for abolishing the Haryana State Electricity Board and scrapping of two independent agencies for generation and transmission of electricity in the state.

It demanded a white paper on the conditions tagged with the loan taken from the World Bank in the name of electricity reforms. It expressed concern over the serious shortage of irrigation water and electricity to the farm sector and asked the government to ensure regular supply of both the important agriculture inputs.

The party reiterated its resolve to provide free water and electricity to the farmers of small holdings if the party came to power.

Mahasangh dares CM to suppress
September 16 stir
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 30 — The Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh has dared the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, that any move to suppress the proposed September 16 strike would only lead to its intensification.

Mr S.D. Kapoor, president, Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh and Mr Dhara Singh, general secretary, HSEB Workers Union told newsmen here last night that more than 3.5 lakh employees would go on the September 16 strike. Mr Kapoor claimed that more than 46 unions were supporting the strike which included the unions of the state power board, Education Department, roadways, Public Health and Irrigation Department.

He said on September 3 a meeting of the action committee of Mahasangh would be held at Sonepat.

Mr Kapoor alleged that the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, was going to privatise the HSEB because of his personal interest. He threatened that if a single employee was retrenched the Mahasangh would go for 'Chakka Jam' throughout the state. He blamed the state government for having failed in providing better pay and working condition to its employees. Mr Dhara Singh said the Chief Minister had not kept his election promise. He had not held a single meeting with the HSEB union for the past two and half years on any of the pending demands.

Mr Kapoor and Mr Dhara Singh, who are touring the state, said on September 2 district level meetings would be held at Rohtak, Jind and Ambala to mobilise the employees.

Mr Inder Dutt Sharma, president, HSEB Employees Union, was hopeful of the September 16 strike being a success.

Earlier a meeting of HSEB workers was held at Jindal Power House here. Mr Amrik Singh, of the HSEB union, Mr Som Nath Sharma, press secretary, Bhai Ashok Chibber, president, Hydel Project Union were among the speakers.

A sum of Rs 31,000 was presented to Mr Inder Dutt Sharma for the union activities.

And now Haryana dairy project for women
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 30 — The Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation has launched an ambitious Centrally-sponsored Haryana Women's Dairy Project costing Rs 4.48 crore.

Disclosing this the Haryana Cooperation Minister, Mr Narbir Singh, stated here today that this project would benefit about 10,000 women through 200 Women Dairy Cooperative Societies ( WDCS) in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Jind, Rohtak, Faridabad and Sirsa.

He stated 200 societies would be organised in three years. It was planned to set up 70 WDCS in the first year, 80 WDCS in the second year and 50 WDCS in the third year.

The societies would be initially set up with 40 members collecting 80 litres of milk per day which would gradually increase to 150 litres per day for becoming fully viable and self-sustaining.

He said the main aim of the project was to increase the production and procurement of milk through the establishment of Women's Cooperative Societies. In addition, the societies would also help in creating general awareness and would also become the centres for overall development of rural women.

Mr Narbir Singh said a number of facilities including financial as well as training facilities would be provided to the WDCS during the first three years. All the WDCS would be given initial support in terms of milk testing equipment including chemicals, glassware and stationery, equipments etc. at the rate of Rs 5,000 and five milk cans at the rate of Rs 7,500 per society one time only.

He said a provision of managerial subsidy on tapering basis at the rate of Rs 5,000 , Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,500 for first, second and third year respectively per WDCS would be provided to meet the expenditure of salary and wages of their paid employees i.e. Women Secretary and Women Tester.

Water sells for Rs 4 a bucket in Meham
From Jatinder Sharma
Tribune News Service

MEHAM, Aug 30 — Although the peak summer season is over, the residents in certain localities of this sub-divisional town are still forced to purchase drinking water.

Residents of Tulamba Chowk, Bara Gurdwara, Mohalla Khateekan and Shakti Mandir complained about the non-supply of the piped water for weeks in a row. Mr Basant Lal Girdhar, president, Jan Sewa Samiti, told that the residents of these mohallas were forced to buy water at a rate of Rs 2 to Rs 4 per bucket.

The erratic power supply has further disrupted life here and in surrounding villages. The booster installed by the Public Health Department has not met the water requirement of the residents.

When the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Kumar, held an open durbar here on May 22 last, women of the town cried for adequate water supply. They told the Deputy Commissioner that due to the shortage of water people had to go without bath for many days. The situation has not changed despite specific assurances that efforts would be made to provide piped water in every house.

The Jan Sewa Samiti has acquired three tankers to provide drinking water in the worst affected areas. Mr Girdhar told that the samiti supplies nearly 50000 litres of water every day. The Punjabi Jan Sewa Samiti, another voluntary organisation, too supplies water to people here.

The situation is not different in the rural areas though every village has been brought on the map of the piped water supply schemes of the Public Health Department. But the water supply in the rural areas has been affected because of the erratic electricity supply.

The Bharat Vikas Parishad, Meham branch, had a few weeks ago submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr T.K. Sharma, to seek his intervention in improving the power supply. The Parishad had complained that the erratic power supply and low voltage had damaged electrical gadgets besides disrupting the water supply.

The low voltage has also adversely affected the functioning of the flour mills in the rural areas. Mr Ram Mehar Nehra, a farmer of village Nindana, complained that when the farmers return home after day's toil in the fields, they are greeted by the darkness.

7 cases of dropsy in Gurgaon
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Aug 30 — Seven persons from two families have reported with symptoms of dropsy in Gurgaon, both families, one from Sector 4 and another from the Ravi Nagar locality were reportedly using Dhara mustard oil.

Andreas, Monika, Dulari and Grace residents of Ravi Nagar are under treatment at the Push-Panjali hospital while Mahesh, Poonam and Vashudev of Sector 4 have moved to Delhi for treatment.

The civil surgeon, Gurgaon, Dr N.K. Jain, said that condition of all seven persons was stable. He added that oil samples from shops had been taken for testing and those found positive have been seized from shops.

The Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Devender Singh said that the shopkeepers had been asked to disclose their oil stocks. Samples from these stocks will be tested and if found positive it will be destroyed, Mr Singh added, the DC said that special teams had been set up to conduct checks at shops under SDMs. Officials from Food and Civil Supplies Department, Health and Police would be members of these committees. A cell has also been opened at the office of Civil Surgeon, besides, Public Relation officials and Tehsildar will inform the public in Mewat and Jhuggi clusters about the disease, the DC said.

On symptoms of dropsy, Dr N.K. Jain said if feel swelling of limbs diarrohoea, breathlessness, decreased frequency of urination and pain in the eyes, ask for immediate medical attention. Arrangements under the supervision of medical superintendent, Dr Subhash Bhardwaj had been made at the civil hospital to treat dropsy cases.

The district administration has also stepped up vigil on the areas bordering Delhi to check smuggling of adulterated mustard oil in Gurgaon.

Nutrition week from Sept 1
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 30 — The Haryana Government has decided to celebrate Nutrition Week from September 1 to 7 to spread the message of "Parivar aur paushtik ahar", among the people of the state.

This information was given by Dr Kamla Verma, Social Welfare Minister, here today.

During the current financial year Rs 31.38 crore would be spent for providing supplementary nutrition to women and children in the State.

She said during the week-long celebrations the Women and Child Development Department in collaboration with the Departments of Horticulture , Rural Development, Health and Family Welfare and Education would organise group discussions, film shows, baby shows, recipe competition and film shows etc. to acquaint the people about the importance of balance diet and nutrition. Gram panchayats in collaboration with functionaries of the Integrated Child Developments Services Scheme would organise gram sabhas to highlight the role of the family in taking care of its nutritional needs.

Give ‘special fiscal package’ to Haryana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 30 — The Independent MLA from Ambala Cantonment, Mr Anil Vij, has come out with a suggestion to help fund-starved Haryana in generating funds for repair of roads.

Haryana was on the verge of finalising an over Rs 1000 crore loan from the World Bank for repair and strengthening of its roads when the country went nuclear, which jeopardised the loan.

In a statement issued here today Mr Vij, who is supporting the Bansi Lal Government, said both the ruling combine and the main Opposition party, the Lok Dal, in Haryana had extended support to the Vajpayee Government at the Centre. Therefore, it would be appropriate if the leaders of the HVP, the BJP and the Lok Dal jointly approached the Centre for immediate release of grant-in-aid to the state for repair of roads.

The Centre, he said, should also be considerate towards a state from where it was getting support from all major parties. In this respect, Haryana had a unique position. If the Centre could announce a special financial package for the BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh, it should not discriminate against Haryana which surrounded the national capital from three sides.

Mr Vij urged the state government to enquire into the functioning of private schools which, he said, believed in the principle of "high fees and less salaries". Though girls were entitled to free education in the state, several private schools charged fees from them on various pretexts.

Mr Vij suggested a committee of citizens and parents should be formed. No government grant should be released to any school till such committees certified that the functioning of the concerned school was as per norms.

He also urged the Chief Minister to direct Transco to augment the 220-kv substation at Dhulkot for improving the quality of power supplied to Ambala.

18 lakh subsidy on ginger cultivation

MORNI (Haryana), Aug 30 (UNI) — Morni hills, known for their scenic beauty, are emerging as a major producer of ginger.

Farmers in the area were earlier cultivating ginger as a traditional crop but of late the Haryana Government had given them incentives to boost its cultivation. Most of the farmers now prepare powered ginger, which finds an easy market even in Delhi.

The state government has earmarked Rs 18.30 lakh to provide subsidy on ginger cultivation in the Morni hills in the current financial year. A sum of Rs 13.50 lakh is being provided by the Shivalik Development Board to give 50 per cent subsidy to small and marginal farmers on ginger seeds, an official spokesman said.

He said 780 quintals of ginger seeds were distributed among farmers of Morni last year. This year 786 beneficiaries had been provided 943.20 quintals ginger seed. Each of the beneficiaries had been given a subsidy of Rs 1380 on ginger seeds, he said.

Vikas Parishad to enlighten people
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 30 — The Bharat Vikas Parishad has decided to open branches in Haryana to educate people about cultural, educational, moral and spiritual values.

Presiding over the foundation day ceremony of the Parishad at Meham, 40 km from here today, Dr Ashok Garg, President, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Haryana, said that the objectives of the parishad included a spirit of nationalism and brotherhood among various communities in urban and rural areas.

Mr Jatinder Sharma, Tribune Correspondent, stressed on vigorous drive against environmental pollution. He said that health and cleanliness of the body and the surroundings formed basis of good culture in society. But we seem to have gradually lost touch with this very important subject.

He said that the HUDA, the government owned coloniser, had major role in creating slums and thereby polluting the environment.

While carving out sectors, residential and industrial, HUDA authorities had failed to make provisions for the dumping of domestic refuge and industrial waste. This neglect on the part of HUDA had resulted in mushroom growth of slums in Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Panipat and other industrial estates, Mr Sharma said.

Two cops booked for graft
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 30 — An ASI of the Haryana Police, Babu Ram, and constable Mam Chand, were caught red-handed while accepting bribe Rs 5000 by a team of the Vigilance Department here yesterday.

According to the FIR lodged by the complainant, Mr Krishan Kumar, a resident of Shimla, the suspects had sought money in return for favour to be shown to the latter's wife who was in judicial custody as she was facing trial in a case.

The complainant handed over the money to the ASI on the Sessions Court complex. The Vigilance team led by DSP Avtar Singh Bhullar immediately caught the ASI and the constable. They were made to wash their hands in water. However, due to the melee which ensued, the suspects were able to give a slip to the Vigilance officers.

On the basis of the complaint lodged by Mr Krishan, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against them.

Another case was registered against them at the Baldev Nagar Police Station for escaping from police custody.

Haryana flayed for raising water tariff
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 30 — President of the Meham Chaubisi Jansangathan and a prominent Lok Dal leader Meena Chaudhary criticised the Haryana Government for increasing the water tariff for irrigation by 10 per cent and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

In a written statement issued here today, she alleged that farmers of the state had already been suffering due to nature calamities and non-supply of water and power. Advocating free power and water for farmers, she said the increase in water tariff showed that the HVP-BJP Government was not worried about the farmers’ problems.

Ms Meena Chaudhary said residents of Balabha and Nidana villages in Meham subdivision were facing the problem of waterlogging but the administration had done nothing to solve it. She also drew the attention of the administration towards the scarcity of drinking water and undeclared power cuts.

Bansi for strict action against
unauthorised vehicles
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Aug 30 — Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal has directed the officials concerned to take strict action against unauthorised vehicles plying in the state.

Presiding over a District Public Relations and Grievances Committee meeting here last evening, he said unauthorised vehicles other than maxi cab permit holders drove vehicles carelessly, resulting in several fatal accidents. The government had to pay compensation to the victims in all such cases. He appealed to the people to restrain themselves from travelling in these unauthorised vehicles. He said all these unauthorised vehicles in big towns of the state would be parked half a kilometre away from the Haryana Roadways bus stands.

The Chief Minister said strict action would be taken against canal water thieves. He revealed that more than 1000 cases of canal cut and other thefts had been registered during the past two months.

The Chief Minister directed that cleanliness in all municipal areas should be ensured. The HUDA areas which had been handed over to the municipal councils or municipal committees should also be kept neat and clean.

Kidnapping case against MLA's son
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Aug 30 — Mrs Krishna Punia, wife of Mr Relu Ram Punia, Independent MLA from Barwala, has got a case registered against Sunil, son of Mr Relu Ram Punia, for allegedly kidnapping her car driver and threatening her.

The case under sections 364, 285, and 506, IPC, was registered by the Uklana police last night on the basis of a complaint made by MLA's wife.

She alleged that Sunil and 12 others stopped her car and kidnapped car driver, Rajpal near Bhaini village while she was going from Hisar to Narwana last night.

Only last week the Uklana police registered a case under sections 307, 506, 148, 149 and 120-B, IPC, against Mr Relu Ram Punia and his relatives for allegedly attacking his wife, Krishna. This case was registered on the basis of a complaint from Krishna.