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Friday, July 24, 1998

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LS passes power amend Bill
Pvt investment in transmission allowed
Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, July 23 — The Lok Sabha today passed the Electricity Laws (Amendment) Bill which provides for private investment in power transmission, with the government assuring that the move did not mean privatisation of transmission.
Replying to the debate on the Bill, the Union Power Minister, Mr R Kumaramangalam, allayed apprehensions of members stating that it did not privatise transmission.
"We only want to facilitate private investment for providing facilities in the transmission sector. But real operations will be under the government and its agencies," he said.
The Bill which was moved this week in the Lok Sabha seeks to provide for transmission as a distinct activity under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electric (Supply) Act, 1948, and to empower the central government or the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to grant transmission licence in the case of inter-state transmission of energy.
Licence could also be granted by state governments or the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) for intra-state transmission.
Mr Kumaramangalam also announced the constitution of the CERC and said a notification to this effect would be made soon. He informed the House that at least 12 states had come forward and applied the Regulatory Act.
"We hope we will be able to meet by 2007 the objective of ensuring that India is a modern nation where power is not a liability," he said.
Referring to demands by Mr K.D. Sultanpuri (Congress) about projects for Himachal Pradesh, Mr Kumaramangalam said that any new power project, the state gets 12 per cent share of free power which was, indirectly generation tax.
Of the problem of the Bhakra-Beas Management Board, he said a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Northern states had been convened during August second week to discuss it.
Mr Kumaramangalam said he was hopeful that by 2002, the Tehri Dam would start generating power. He would visit the area to discuss the problem of rehabilitation of people affected by the construction of the dam.
Earlier, participating in the debate, the SAD MP, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, stressed upon the need to complete ongoing projects and said according to his information there were over 100 such incomplete projects.
Citing an instance, he said, when the Thein Dam project began it was estimated to cost Rs 85 crore and till now Rs 3,000 crore has been spent.
"We are soon going to celebrate the silver jubilee of the project," he said adding that even now the project needed an additional Rs 168 crore for completion.
Mr Chandumajra also lamented that Punjab had been excluded from various projects in Himachal Pradesh like the Parvati Dam, Pong Dam and the Nathpa-Jakhri Project despite being a neighbouring state.
He also stressed on the need of fully utilising the plant load factor. At present if the generation capacity in the country of power plants was 84,000 MW, only half of it was being produced.
Mr Sultanpuri (Congress) wanted the Centre to help Himachal Pradesh which, he said, had to collect Rs 12,000 crore dues from various states for supplying power.
He also countered the SAD MP’s suggestion that when Himachal Pradesh gets 12 per cent free power, why should it be allowed generation tax.
Prof Saifuddin Soz (National Conference) suggested that transmission lines should be underground and said the punishment clause be enhanced to act as a deterrent.
Professor Soz also mentioned that the Kashmir valley had not benefited from the Salal Project since there was no transmission line. However, the Minister later informed the House that the link line project was on.

Pak refuses to sign CTBT
Links with Kashmir issue
ISLAMABAD, July 23 (PTI) — Pakistan has categorically conveyed to the USA its refusal to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) linking it with security concerns and the Kashmir issue.
Contrary to earlier indications that Islamabad might take a line independent of India to sign the treaty, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed today said that his country would not be coerced into signing the CTBT in disregard to its vital security interests.
Speaking to reporters at the end of three-day talks with visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, he said there has to be a "clear demonstration of effective engagement" on part of major powers in the whole process of peace and security in South Asia "which must focus on Kashmir."
Asked about the opposition by Pakistan to sign the CTBT, Mr Talbott said this was one of the main issues that "we have worked on last couple of days....Pakistani leadership is to address the concerns and interests of its people."
Mr Ahmed said, "The timing of acceding to the treaty (CTBT) can be determined only when we are absolutely sure that our vital security concerns have been fully safeguarded."
A joint statement described the talks "substantive and constructive" and said both sides has agreed to continue their discussions the later part of August.
Mr Talbott, who arrived here after having similar discussions with Indian leaders in New Delhi, said his talks with Pakistani officials focussed on "very very tough issues."
He hoped a positive outcome of the forthcoming meeting between Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Colombo later this month.
"A direct Pakistani and Indian dialogue has to resume and (we) will be watching and supporting (it) in every way we have," he added.
Mr Ahmed said President Bill Clinton in his letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif delivered yesterday pointed out that India and Pakistan could resume the dialogue and Washington "will use its influence for engagement between the two countries on Kashmir."
The Foreign Secretary said Pakistan would see to what extent India was ready to reciprocate "our sincerity on the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir" during the Colombo talks between Atal Behari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif.
"Unless the Kashmir dispute is addressed meaningfully and purposefully, the cause of peace and security in this part of the world will remain totally elusive," he said.
The Foreign Secretary claimed that big powers had assured Pakistan of exercising their influence over India to resolve the Kashmir issue.
The joint statement issued at the end of the talks said "the two sides discussed the regional and global dimensions of the security situation in the aftermath of the May nuclear tests, (nuclear) non-proliferation, arms control, Jammu and Kashmir and confidence-building measures."
"The two sides also attached considerable importance to the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Colombo," it added.
The statement said "they also discussed current economic and financial circumstances in Pakistan. In that context, the USA expressed support for the success of the impending mission of the international monetary fund."

Daylight murder in city
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 23 — In yet another daylight murder, a property dealer of Sector 21 was shot dead by some unknown car-borne assailants in the city here this morning. A property dispute is stated to be the cause of the incident.
The main eyewitness to the murder was 12-year-old Preeti, daughter of the deceased, Baljinder Singh 'Rocky', who was riding pillion on her way to the Sector 9 Carmel Convent School at about 7.30 am.
According to the police, Preeti noticed a white Esteem car following them. She told her father. He ignored her observation even when she told him that the driver of the car had tried to hit them.
They had barely come 200 metres from their house when the car slammed into the scooter, knocking them down in front of house number 1019. As they tried to get up, a person came out of the car and fired at her father hitting him in the head and other parts of the body.
One bullet pierced his helmet. Five shots were fired. Then the car sped away.
The police said the needle of suspicion at this stage pointed towards Balwinder Singh Brar landlord of the house, who had threatened the deceased to vacate the house on many occasions. Mr Brar is the grandson of a former MP from Punjab, Mr NP Brar, and hails from Muktsar.
A police party sent by the local police to Mr Brar's residence in Sector 2 of Panchkula recovered two weapons. But it is yet to be ascertained whether any of the weapons was used in the crime. The police recovered two empties from the spot.
Incidentally the accused and the deceased are both history sheeters with cases registered against them under various sections of the IPC. The "specialty" of both was getting disputed properties vacated after occupying and selling them later on large profits.
The father of the deceased, Mr Mahima Singh, said the landlord had on many occasions threatened them and asked them to vacate the house. "We have been living here for the past 28 years without any problem until the house was bought by Mr Brar."
Another tenant in the house, Mr Gurinder Singh, who runs a dairy, said the accused had on Tuesday night come with armed persons and had again repeated his threat of liquidating anyone who came in his way.
While he denied reporting the matter to the police, the family members of Rocky said their lawyer had written to the IGP and the SSP regarding the threat to their life on August 16, 1997. A case concerning the property was pending in a city court, they added.
The police was told that the car in which the accused came on Tuesday bore the number PB 33 0001, while the number of the car used in the shootout had a Delhi registration number, DL 6 C B 6989 or 6939. Both were white Esteem cars and the police believes that the numbers were "probably fake".
The wife of the victim, Mrs Uma, said she was unaware of any enmity or rivalry of her husband with anyone. He leaves four children, including Preeti, and a two-and-half-month old daughter, Rubika.
The first case registered against the deceased was in 1976. He was booked under the NDPS Act. Subsequently, he was booked under various Sections of the IPC in 1993 (armed robbery), 1996 (two cases of assault) and another case of the same nature in July this year.
Mr Brar on the other hand was booked under Sections 360 and 34, IPC.
He was the second buyer of the property after the earlier owners, S.M. Khan, Jaspal Singh and a Mr Puncchi, could not get it vacated from Rocky.
Rocky was stated to be in illegal possession of another house in the same sector.
A case has been registered in Sector 19 police station for murder and under the arms act.
As the news of the shootout spread, people of the area could be seen discussing the incident while the police cordoned of the area. Senior police officers, including the SSP, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, visited the scene and issued the necessary instructions.
The white scooter of the deceased lay overturned. His broken helmet and a pair of slippers could be seen. A couple of empty cartridges were recovered from the spot.
Residents in the locality were highly critical of the deteriorating law and order situation in the city. It seemed the once peaceful city was going the Bihar and UP way, a resident commented.
The Property Consultants' Association has condemned the cold-blooded murder of Balwinder Singh. Mr Satbir Singh, general secretary of the association, said they would close their shops tomorrow in protest against the killing.
They demanded action against the guilty and write a letter to the Home Secretary and the IGP.
This is the fourth shootout incident in the city in one and a half months.
While Aman Kumar, a nephew of a Haryana MLA was involved in the shootout in a cinema hall where a gatekeeper was injured, a shootout took place in the city courts where fire was exchanged for quite some time between two parties.
Another shootout concerns Manoj Godara in which an SAS Nagar resident was killed in the Sector 10 market.
Meanwhile, the daughter of the deceased is assisting the police in making a sketch of the assailant on computers at the police HQ.

Leave USA, Indian scientists told
WASHINGTON, July 23 (PTI) — The Clinton administration has asked seven Indian scientists working in the USA to leave the country and 75 others are likely to be forced out in what is seen as a punitive action against scientists for India’s achievements in the nuclear and missile fields.
As many as 75 Indian scientists working in US laboratories on exchange and fellowship programme may be asked to return home as per a leaked memorandum by US Energy Secretary Federico pens.
"We are continuing a very thorough review of our science and technology relationship with India and that includes reviewing the suitability of some research projects continuing," the State Department officials told PTI.
The review, they said, would determine "whether or not certain Indian scientists in the USA would need to return India."
As to the number of Indians involved in various programmes and projects in the Department of Energy, they said the department was still trying to determine exactly how many are involved in activities "that would be of concern" from the security point of view.
"Nuclear and missile work would be very high on the list," they added.
The leaked memorandum says that as many as 75 Indian scientists working in research laboratories in the USA may be persuaded or pressurised to leave the country.

Pressure tactics won't work'
NEW DELHI, July 23 (PTI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes today asserted that India would not buckle under pressure from "any quarter" in its nuclear weaponisation programme, but refused to comment on whether nuclear arms would be inducted into the defence forces.
"There is no question of buckling under any pressure from any source or any quarter", he said replying to queries from Mr Arif Mohammed Khan (BSP) during question hour in Lok Sabha whether the government was hesitant to induct nuclear weapons into the armed forces because of "some external pressure".
He, however, refused to comment on the subject, saying, "it is not wise to make any statement in this regard."
Asked by some members about the composition of the National Security Council (NSC) and when it would begin functioning, the Defence Minister said the matter was under consideration but "it will not be in the interest of national security to divulge information in this regard."
The task force, set up for the formation of the council, submitted its report to the government on June 25 but "a total view of the report has not yet been taken by the government," Mr Fernandes said in reply to questions raised by Mr Jaipal Reddy, Maj-Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd), Mr Nadendla Bhaskar Rao and others.

Phone racket detected
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 23 — An STD PCO operator of Sector 16 of Panchkula has been identified as the kingpin behind the commissioning of a large number of "fraudulent phone connections" in Chandigarh Telecom district since May 1.
The department has ordered the closure of 15 new connections and four other telephones of shift cases. Initial investigations reveal that 27 new connections granted "fraudulently" have been detected in Panchkula alone.
The "kingpin" has reportedly gone underground.
The modus operandi of the gang was to advertise in classified sections of local newspapers offering new or existing connections. The beneficiaries were charged between Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,500 per connection.
While the alleged involvement of employees of the Department of Telecommunication, especially those belonging to Commercial section, cannot be ruled out, the gang used to operate in the Chandigarh Telecom district as three cases of similar "fraudulent telephone connections" have been detected in Chandigarh. Similar cases in SAS Nagar and other areas under the district cannot be ruled out.

Youth dies in police custody
Tribune News Service
BATHINDA, July 23 — Baljit Singh (24), who was allegedly illegally detained in the Maur Mandi police station died under mysterious circumstances at about 4 a.m. last morning.
The police sources said Baljit was picked up from the bus stand of Maur Mandi by Assistant Sub-Inspector, Bhavkhand Singh and two Home Guard jawans on July 21 evening.
Baljit was illegally kept in the police custody and he was allegedly beaten up. Baljit was shifted to a private hospital at Maur Mandi where his condition deteriorated. Later, he was shifted to the Civil Hospital, Maur Mandi.
The father of deceased Baljit Singh, Mr Nahar Singh, was only informed about the death of his son. He said the police did not inform him about his son's detention.
Mr S.R. Ladhar, District Magistrate, has informed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about the custodial death.
Sources said the police was earlier trying to hush up the case by turning it into "natural death" but the member of National Council, People Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Dr Vineeta Gupta, intervened into the matter and got a case registered according to the instructions of the NHRC.
Mr M.S. Chinna, SP (D), when contacted admitted that Baljit was picked up from the bus stand and kept illegally in the police custody. He said ASI Bhavkhand Singh had been placed under suspension and sent to police lines. A case under Section 302, 342 and 34 of the IPC had been registered in this regard.
He, however, said the case was not registered against any police official by name as the father of deceased could not name any police official who was involved in this case.
On the other hand, Mr Nahar Singh, the father of the deceased, while talking to TNS said as he was not aware of kidnapping of his son by the police, he could not name any police officer in this case. However, the residents of the Burj Maur village, to which deceased belonged, alleged that an FIR was not registered by name by the police to hush up the case.
Mr Ladhar, when contacted said he had also ordered a magisterial inquiry into this case and SDM, Talwandi Sabo, Mrs Kanwal Preet Kaur, would conduct the probe.
Official sources said post-mortem report had shown injury on the right part of skull of the deceased that might have been fatal, according to the panel of doctors, who had conducted the post-mortem about 18 hours after receiving the body.
The post-mortem report had also revealed that ants had eaten up most of the parts of body. However, doctors who conducted the post-mortem said ants did not damage any part that could have affected the post-mortem.
Mr Chinna said the DSP (D) had been asked to conduct a probe for identifying the guilty policemen who were responsible for the death of Baljit Singh. He added all guilty police officials would be punished as per law.
Dr Vineeta Gupta, however, said the police should also explain why the body was shifted to the Civil Hospital 12 hours after the death. She also said the hospital authorities should explain why the ice slabs were not placed with the body for about six hours.
She said she had written to peoples commission about this custodial death. She added a comprehensive report of the custodial death would also be sent to the NHRC by the PUCL.
It may be mentioned here that it is a second custodial death in this region. Earlier, Jaggar Singh of Kot Dune village died under mysterious circumstances in the Dhanaula police station in the Barnala police district on July 15