CM sets deadline for dewatering
CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, released an immediate grant of about Rs 1 crore to the Deputy Commissioners to speed up dewatering operations in those areas where the heavy rain and strong winds had caused devastation recently.

CM’s assurance on
power supply
CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, assured the people that round-the-clock power would be available by July next and the farmers would continue to get power at subsidised rate of 50 paise per unit.

Kapal Mochan beckons pilgrims
YAMUNANAGAR: Kapal Mochan, situated about 28 km from Yamunanagar in the ancient forest area near Bilaspur, is an ancient and religious place symbolising the unity and integrity of the people of different classes, castes and religions.

Varsity, MCI row ends
ROHTAK, Oct 31 — With Maharshi Dayanand University bowing to the supremacy of the Medical Council of India nearly 600 medical students of the institute have heaved a sigh of relief.

Accept demands, urge lambardars
SONEPAT, Oct 31 — Mr Hari Singh Khokhar, president of the Lambardars Association, Haryana, has urged the state government to accept the demands of lambardars.

Bansi Lal visits flood-hit villages
KAITHAL, Oct 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today paid a surprise visit to villages affected by untimely rain.

• CM to confer with varsity experts
• Gujjar Chetna Manch formed
• Held on bribery charge

• 15 hurt in clash

CM sets deadline for dewatering
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, released an immediate grant of about Rs 1 crore to the Deputy Commissioners to speed up dewatering operations in those areas where the heavy rain and strong winds had caused devastation recently.

The Chief Minister, who was presiding over a meeting of Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners, directed them to ensure draining out of the entire stagnated rain water by November 15. He also directed them to provide diesel free of cost to the farmers so as to seek their help in draining out flood water speedily. However, they would ensure proper use of the diesel, he added.

After making a detailed district wise review of various steps taken by the administration for dewatering, he expressed satisfaction at the massive deployment of pumps and other machinery. Exhorting them to continue the operation in all affected areas on a war footing, he asked the Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S Varma, to coordinate with the Deputy Commissioners regarding movement of water pumps from one district to another. He also directed that the pump mechanics from those districts where these were not required at the moment should be posted in affected areas so that the pumps functioned continuously.

The Chief Minister asked them to ensure that diverting of funds allocated for the projects of Irrigation, Public Health, Building and Roads and Electricity Departments to other areas is not done. He said that no laxity would be allowed in the effective implementation of developmental works, especially concerning these departments.

He said that the theft of power should also be checked and those found indulging in theft of power by putting ‘kundis’ should be dealt with sternly. He also directed them to check unauthorised plying of maxi-cabs in their respective areas.

Mr Ram S Varma, who earlier had a separate meeting with the Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners, informed them that the reports of the inspections of developmental projects sent by them from their respective districts were being monitored closely at the State headquarters through NICNET. He asked them to continue to inspect developmental projects in their areas so as to ensure quality of the construction work.

The Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue, Mr KG Verma sand that the State Government would provide them more funds as and when required to speed up the dewatering operation.

Among others present in the meeting were Local Government Minister, Dr Kamla Verma, Panchayats and Development Minister, Mr Kanwal Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr LM Jain, Financial Commissioner, Finance, Mr AN Mathur, and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr DS Dhesi.

CM’s assurance on power supply
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, has greeted the people of the State on the occasion of Haryana Day and wished them more prosperity in the days to come.

In a message issued here today, he assured the people that round-the-clock power would be available by July next and the farmers would continue to get power at subsidised rate of 50 paise per unit. The state was carved out of Punjab on November 1, 1966.

While expressing his gratitude to the people for reposing their faith in the promises made to them by the HVP and the BJP, he sought their continued support in making Haryana synonymous to development. He said that the present Government had, within a short span of two and a half years, taken effective steps to transform the economy of the State so as to raise the socio-economic status of the people. As promised, irrigation water was now available at the tail-end of canals, old age pension was being distributed by the seventh of every month, Punjabi had been declared as the second language, all the pending mutations had been cleared besides speeding up their disposal and the Lok Pal Bill had been passed by the State Assembly to check corruption at high places.

He said that the financial assistance being given to the ex-servicemen had been increased, tax structure had been rationalised and the honorarium of village chowkidars had been enhanced. The pay scales of the employees of the State had been revised on the pattern of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission besides enhancing their allowances.

Loyalists carry the day
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — The loyalists humbled the rebels in the Haryana IAS Officers Association at its general body meeting held in Haryana Niwas here last evening. The loyalists carried the day when by a majority vote the association decided not to include the provision of elected office-bearers in the new and written constitution.

However, the rebels had the consolation when the majority raised hands in favour of having a written constitution for the association. The rebels' victory of course was short-lived because the same majority decided against the provision of election and opted for the tradition of having the Chief Secretary as the ex-officio President of the association.

The provision of elected office-bearers was being interpreted as a measure of no confidence in the present President, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S. Varma.

The meeting opened with an emotional speech by Mr Varma, who said he had a long tenure as Director, Public Relations, and had good relations with several senior journalists. But, he said, he never used the relations for his own interests. Obviously, he was hurt by the reporting of the proceedings of the general body meeting held on May 31 when the association had decided in principle to have a written constitution for itself.

The meeting provided an opportunity to the top triumvirate of the Haryana bureaucracy comprising Mr Varma; Mr LM Jain, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister; and Mr KG Varma, Home Secretary; to show their unanimity against the onslaught of the rebels. While Mr Varma urged his junior colleagues to keep in mind that they were members of a premier service which should take minor things like deposit of their salary arrears in their provident fund in their stride, Mr Varma and Mr Jain defended Mr Varma stoutly.

Mr Jain, who normally does not attend association meetings, assured the members that they "spend hours to protect their interests" but, he said, sometimes things were beyond their control. He pleaded that the association should continue with the tradition of having the Chief Secretary as its President instead of going in for elected office-bearers.

When another senior member of the association, Mr ML Tayal expressed shock that the election of the President had been made an agenda item, the Secretary of the association, Mr SC Choudhary, corrected him by saying that there was no such agenda item.

The loyalists had played their cards well. To enable IAS officers posted in the field to participate in the meeting of the association, a meeting of Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners was held in the evening which was addressed by the Chief Minister. There are 19 districts and four divisions in the State. About 70 members attended the meeting.

Those who were opposed to the elections said it would create fissures in the association. However, certain young officers pointed out that the system was doing well in the neighbouring State of Punjab. Most of the officers posted in the field kept a studious silence except for one woman Deputy Commissioner who stoutly opposed the elections. Interestingly, till her posting outside Chandigarh, the woman officer was considered to be a rebel.

For Mr Jain, opposition to the election was a principled stand. When after the retirement of the previous president, Mr H.D. Bansal, it was the turn of Mr Jain to become the association President, he had declined the offer in favour of Mr Varma by saying that he was of firm view that the Chief Secretary should head the association.

But for others like Mr Varma and Mr Tayal, it was a complete reversal of roles. In April, 1996, Mr Varma and Mr Tayal had successfully led a campaign that the next senior-most officer after the Chief Secretary should be the president and not the Chief Secretary. Their argument at that time was that because of the office he occupied, the Chief Secretary at times was unable to voice the grievances of the association members before the political leadership.

Once the majority decided not to have elected office-bearers, the rebels virtually surrendered. Mr P.K. Choudhary, Commissioner, Rohtak Division, suggested that since the association had decided to continue with the old tradition of having the Chief Secretary as its president, the tradition should be followed in toto. The president should be authorised to select his own "cabinet". There was no opposition to the suggestion and the present office-bearers resigned on the spot.

Yesterday's meeting may not be the last round. The rebels are likely to again raise their voice near the end of the tenure of the present government as today's loyalists had done when they were rebels in 1996.

Yesterday's meeting was held as a result of a compromise between the president and the rebels. In the May meeting it was decided that the next meeting would be held on July 31, which was somehow not held. After the rebels requisition a meeting on October 9, a compromise was reached between them and the president who convened the meeting yesterday.

Kapal Mochan beckons pilgrims
From Ashwani Dutta

YAMUNANAGAR: Kapal Mochan, situated about 28 km from Yamunanagar in the ancient forest area near Bilaspur, is an ancient and religious place symbolising the unity and integrity of the people of different classes, castes and religions.

Every year a huge fair takes place here on the occasion of Kartik Purnima in which lakhs of Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from different states, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, come here to have a holy dip in the Kapal Mochan, Rin Mochan and Surajkund sarovars to attain Moksha. This holy Sarovar, which is like the Dooj Chandrama in size, was known as Samsar in Satyuga.

According to the Puranas Kapal Mochan Dham relieves the sins of all the three eras. As per the belief of the people by having the bath in this Sarovar, the sins like Braham Hatya is also washed away. It has been the work place of Maharishi Ved Vyas, the son of Maharishi Prashar, the creator of great Mahabharata. He has created Vedas and Puranas here. Later on his rest place was known as Vyas Ashram. As the time passes this place used to be known as Bilaspur. There are five Tirthas in the different directions in the nearby area of Kapal Mochan. In the north is Tirthraj Kapal Mochan itself and in other sides there are Som Sarovar, Rin Mochan, Surya Kund and Chandar Kund.

According to an old story in Matsya Purana this place used to be the Yajna Sthali of many holy souls. In the beginning of Kaliyuga era a great Yajna was held here by holy souls but at the time of Puran Ahuti due to the differences amongst the Devtas. God Shiva proceeded to the Adhi Badri and a girl took birth from the base of Yajna who was named as Saraswati. The place was named Pap Mochan Somsar.

Kapal Mochan has been designated as Somsar Mochan where Sudhi Devi resides, this place was known as Kapal Mochan later on due to the washing of the Braham Hatya sins of Lord Shiva. The cow and the calf wasted their sin of murder of the cruel Brahmin by having the bath in this Sarovar. The statues of cow and calf are situated on the western bank of Kapal Mochan.

According to the folk story in the area, Bharat had come to set up the idol of Bhagwan Ram here. Ram Ashram Ghat is situated there at present. Pandavas have bath in Rin Mochan Sarovar in order to get rid of the sins of the death of their relatives and Guru Dronacharya. There is Suraj Kund Sarovar in the east of Kapal Mochan. It is believed the childless women get the blessing of a child by bathing in this Sarovar. In the south about 2 and a half km, the Sarovar of Ved Vyas, the creator of Mahabharata, is situated at which the Kutia Ved Vyas was. At the last leg of Mahabharata Duryodhana had hidden himself in this sarovar, it is believed.

As per a folk story prevailing in the area in Tretayuga God Rama came here in a Pushpak plane after killing Ravana on his way to Ayodhya. This Sarovar is known as Surya Kund till then.

In 1687 Guru Gobind Singh had come here to wash his shastras after winning 52 wars. So this Sarovar is known as Shastra Sarovar. A gurdwara is situated on the bank of this Sarovar. Guru Nanak Dev also visited this place in 1584 and recited Rattanmala. A Gurdwara of Nanak Dev is also situated here.

Like the previous years, a huge mela is going to be organised here from November 2 to 4 on Kartik Purnima. The District Administration has made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of pilgrims coming to this mela. The cleanliness, the facility of drinking water, shelter, electricity and repairs of the roads filling of fresh water in the holy Sarovars. Transportation arrangement and all other necessary arrangements have been made for safety and convenience of the pilgrims. The whole mela area has been divided in sectors in order to maintain the law and order during the mela time. An information and broadcasting centre is to be set up by the Public Relations Department in mela area to convey the important messages to the pilgrims.

Varsity, MCI row ends
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Oct 31 — With Maharshi Dayanand University bowing to the supremacy of the Medical Council of India (MCI) nearly 600 medical students of the institute have heaved a sigh of relief. The university has agreed not to migrate the students without the approval of MCI. The MCI, in turn, has reportedly decided not to take action with regard to the notice served to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) regarding its disaffiliation.

According to sources, the MCI had served a notice on the university on September 9 and asked the university to cancel the admission of five medical students who were migrated to the institute allegedly "in gross violation of the migration rules framed by the MCI". The notice further stated that the affiliation to the institute might be cancelled if the directions were not followed within a fortnight.

The medical authorities, however, did not pay any attention to the notice and did not cancel the migrations even after the expiry of deadline.

It is learnt that the university authorities had questioned the authority of the MCI to intervene in the functioning of the university. Certain senior officials of the university, on condition of anonymity, said the MCI was authorised to frame the guidelines only. They said the MCI was competent to frame the migration rules but it had no right to intervene in the jurisdiction of university.

Six students — Sandeep, Chaiketan, Sanjay Garg, Mohit Singhal, Suman Malik and Ramandeep were migrated to the PGIMS in 1996-97. The MCI alleged that these migrations had been done in violation of the migration rules. It said old rules allowed such migrations but new rules did not.

The Vice Chancellor, when contacted, said these migration cases pertained to the 1996-97 academic session and the rules came into force from the 1997-98 academic session. He assured that the fresh rules would be adhered to in future.

Accept demands, urge lambardars
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 31 — Mr Hari Singh Khokhar, president of the Lambardars Association, Haryana, has urged the state government to accept the demands of lambardars.

In a press statement issued here yesterday, he regretted that the state government had been adopting delaying tactics on the issue resulting in widespread resentment among lambardars.

The main demands of the association include the fixation of Rs 1,500 as a monthly allowance, Rs 200 per month as an additional allowance for helping officials in distributing old-age pension in the rural areas, increase in the abiana recovery fee from 3 per cent to 10 per cent, payment of bus or rail fare to lambardars in view of their visits to tehsil or district headquarters.

The state working committee of the association, he said, would meet at Faridabad on November 19 to chalk out the future course of action for intensifying the agitation against the state government.

Bansi Lal visits flood-hit villages
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Oct 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today paid a surprise visit to villages affected by untimely rain.

He also visited new Anaz Mandi here and talked to the farmers and local traders.

The farmers complained that they were not being paid remunerative price for paddy and the lifting of paddy was slow. The Chief Minister directed the district administration to expedite the lifting of paddy and pay remunerative price to the farmers.

The Chief Minister visited Kharak Pandva, Balu Kasan, Matour, Badsikri and Songri Guliana villages and talked to the affected farmers. The farmers demanded compensation for the damaged crops and dewatering of their fields to enable them to sow the next crop.

15 hurt in clash
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Oct 31 — More than 15 persons, eight of them seriously, were injured in a violent clash between two communities, Jats and Harijans in Pangorh village, about 50 km from here, yesterday. Both the parties filed FIRs with the police. Accusing each other for an armed attack and using all types of arms.

The situation is very tense there and more violent incidents are not ruled out if strict vigil is not kept on the movements of anti-social elements.

No arrest has been made so far. All the suspects have gone underground. The trouble started over a piece of land.

CM to confer with varsity experts
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Oct 31 — Chief Minister Bansi Lal will visit Hisar to confer with experts of CCS Haryana Agricultural University on solving the problem of water logging and floods.

The experts have reportedly prepared a comprehensive plan for tackling the problem of water logging in Haryana.

Meanwhile, Mr Satbir Sisai, president of the Gherai unit of the Indian National Lok Dal, has alleged that activists of the ruling Haryana Vikas Party are trying to put pressure on special girdawri officials to "manipulate figures in their favour". This may lead to denial of relief to the "real victims", he has said.

Gujjar Chetna Manch formed
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Oct 31 — The Gujjar Chetna Manch was formed yesterday to organise the Gujjar community living all over India.

Mr Kartar Bhadana, an HVP MLA, and organiser of the manch, said that more than 5,000 delegates from all over India would participate in the sammelan.

Mr Bhadana said this was an apolitical manch and his main aim was to organise the six crore Gujjar community and give them proper representation.

Held on bribery charge
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Oct 31 — Mrs Kamlesh Joshi, in charge of the Faridabad-based short-stay home has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the Magistrate.

Mrs Joshi was arrested on Thursday while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Tilak Raj, who has been charged with raping and molesting his daughter, Alka, who has been staying in the Home. Alka is currently pregnant.

According to the police, Mrs Joshi struck a deal with the rapist, father of the girl, that if Rs 1 lakh is paid to her, she will not report the matter to the police.

The father of the girl agreed with the deal but reported the matter to the police. The police swung into action and arrested Mrs Joshi while accepting the first instalment of Rs 20,000.