tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, September 10, 1998
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Chadayan Govindan dead
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Sept 9 (UNI) — The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kerala unit secretary, Mr Chadayan Govindan, died here early today. He was 69. He is survived by his wife and four sons. Mr Govindan had been under treatment for lung cancer for the past two years. He was admitted to the Regional Cancer Centre here on August 25 following deterioration of his general health. His condition took a turn for the worse at midnight last night and the end came at 2.40 a.m. Though Mr Govindan had been under treatment, he was taking part in all meetings of the party till two weeks ago.

Hazare sentenced
MUMBAI, Sept 9 (UNI) — Eminent social worker Anna Hazare was today sentenced to three months' simple imprisonment in a defamation suit filed by Maharashtra Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap. Additional Metropolitan Magistrate C. Holambe-Patil sentenced Mr Hazare but said being a social worker of eminence, he should get a two-year release bond of Rs 5,000 on condition that he would not make further allegations against the petitioner. Mr Hazare, however, refused the offer. He will be taken into custody this evening.

12 more dropsy cases
JAIPUR, Sept 9 (PTI) — Twelve more dropsy patients were admitted to hospitals, raising the total number of dropsy cases in Rajasthan to 24, official sources said here today. Among the 12 new dropsy cases reported, 10 were from Jaipur district and two from Hanumangarh district, the sources said. All dropsy patients were responding to treatment and were out of danger, the sources said.

Pipeline blown up
GUWAHATI, Sept 9 (PTI) — A part of an ONGC pipeline in upper Assam's Sibsagar district was blown up by the ULFA late last night, the police said here today. An ULFA activist planted a bomb under the pipeline at Matiasiga Kujibala near Sibsagar town which exploded, destroying about a metre of the pipe and crude worth about Rs 50,000, the police told PTI here over telephone from Sibsagar.

Flood toll 306
PATNA, Sept 9 (PTI) — Four more deaths were reported in Bihar taking the toll in current spell of floods to 306 as the overall flood situation in the state continued to remain grim today. State Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources said four more deaths were reported from different flood-hit areas since yesterday. An Army column with eight power boats continued to provide relief material to marooned people in Manihari and Amdabad blocks in Katihar district. Sources said Army power boats reached over 35 villages under the two blocks with more than 60,000 food packets, 20 tonnes of foodgrains and medicines.

Railway projects
NEW DELHI, Sept 9 (PTI) — The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved 10 railway projects involving a total expenditure of Rs 4,700 crore for new lines of 1,343 km and 417 km of gauge conversion. Of these, one project is in the North-East and the construction on this line from Diphu to Karong will meet the long-standing demands of the people of Manipur for a rail line leading to their capital. The other lines include rail links to the pilgrim tourist resorts of Puttaparthi and Sabarimala and also the upgradation of the existing meter gauge links to broad gauge at the pilgrim centres of Sitamarhi and Rameshwaram.

22 pc DA announced for central staff
NEW DELHI, Sept 9 (PTI) — Union Cabinet tonight decided to increase the additional dearness allowance for central government employees to 22 per cent from the existing 16 per cent. The 6 per cent increase in additional DA would entail an additional expenditure of Rs 1,500 crore, an official spokesman said. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to create a new railway zone with Bilaspur as the headquarters. The national zoo policy was also approved by the Cabinet, the spokesman said.