• 5 of family booked in dowry case
• HVP bid to boost workers' morale
• Call to raise level of literacy
• Status quo on sarpanch
• JE shot at, injured

Govt forms to be made simple
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 15 — The Haryana Government has decided to make government forms simpler to ensure better accountability.

The government has directed all heads of department, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers (civil) to follow the guidelines for the rationalisation and simplification of forms.

They have been asked to make a provision for counter-foil or acknowledgement in the form itself so that the customer is able to establish that he had filed an application before the authority concerned on due date. The forms should contain adequate space to accommodate the extent in information to be filled in so that there is no need to attach extra sheets.

It should be stipulated in the form which documents are required. The form should be examined on the spot and customer advised regarding deficiencies, if any.

The form should have brief choices if possible regarding documents to be submitted.

In respect of services for which a long queue exists, the customer should be informed every year where he stands vis-a-vis other customers. The organisation should use latest information technology for providing information and redressal of public grievances. The organisations should examine their working days and working hours in relation to the needs of customers.

Steps taken to keep environment safe
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 15 — The Haryana Minister for Industries, Mr Shashi Pal Mehta, said here today the state government had taken necessary steps to keep the environment free from pollution in the industry sector.

A common effluent treatment plant costing Rs 79 lakh had been commissioned at the Kundli industrial estate. The Haryana State Pollution Control Board had been able to get effluent treatment plants installed on 912 industrial units so far. A plan outlay of Rs 1.50 crore had been kept for the year 1999-2000 for various environment protection programmes.

The Haryana Government had earmarked a sum of Rs 92.36 crore on development of industries under various Plan and non-Plan schemes for the year 1999-2000.

He said the government had taken necessary steps to keep the environment free from pollution in the industrial sector.

Mr Mehta said in order to accelerate the pace of industrial development, the industrial infrastructure development policy had been revised in 1998-99. A provision had been made to make off-the-shelf allotment of plots for the industrial projects having an investment of Rs 5 crore and above in high and medium potential zones and Rs 3 crore and above in the low potential zone. In order to promote industries in backward areas, the list of blacklisted industries had been pruned.

He said steps had been taken to simplify rules and procedures for allotment and transfer of plots leasing and renting of industrial plots, change of land use, labour laws, sales tax rules and obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board.

The minister said the annual exports from Haryana touched an all time high of Rs 2961 crore during 1997-98. The state had exported goods worth Rs 1748 crore till November 1998 in the current financial year. As many as 45 industrial entrepreneur memoranda had been filed, which would bring in an investment of Rs 294 crore in the current financial year. Five large and medium scale units had come up with an investment of Rs 29.20 crore and 1099 small scale industrial units had been set up. As many as 29 foreign direct investment proposals, involving investment of Rs 59 crore, had also been approved in the current year, he added.

MLA charges CM with town's ills
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Feb 15 — Mr Dev Raj Diwan, an Independent MLA (Sonepat) today accused the Haryana Chief Minister, Bansi Lal of favouring his home constituency in the matter of development and said that the people of Sonepat city and its adjoining villages were fed up with the present HVP-BJP alliance Government and wanted a change.

Talking to reporters here, he criticised the state government in the distribution of water, power and jobs in this area.

He alleged that the government had failed to allocate more funds for early completion of the 220 kv power sub-station at Sonepat. This power sub-station, he said, was due to be commissioned in July last year. He alleged that almost all roads in his constituency had become unserviceable. Patch-up work or repair of damaged roads was only eyewash.

Mr Diwan also alleged that sub-standard material was being used for the repair of the roads and the funds were being wasted on this way. Certain roads repaired or constructed in the city had become unfit for traffic again after the brief spell of the rains, he said.

He also alleged that sewerage in this city had collapsed and the sewage had spread on roads, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. Drinking water supply is irregular and has been inadequate for the past few years. The Central Government had sanctioned Rs 4.75 crore for augmenting drinking water supply and released it eight months ago but the same had not been utilised so far.

Mr Diwan said that the present government was responsible for the mess and the Chief Minister had failed to meet even a single pre-poll promise. He also charged the Chief Minister with betraying the people of the state in general and Sonepat district in particular.

Expressing concern over the criminalisation of politics, Mr Diwan decried the HVP-BJP alliance government for its failure to check crime. Cases of murder, dacoity and kidnapping have increased and liquor mafia has become stronger. Atrocities against the poor and women were on the rise.

Mr Diwan announced that he would continue his struggle against the present HVP-BJP coalition government till it was ousted from power.

He appealed to all the political parties to unite on this issue and work for its ouster as it was anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-trader.

Mr Diwan alleged that democratic functioning of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha had disappeared and the Budget was moved in the absence of the Opposition.

He also criticised hike in power tariff and said that it was very difficult for consumers pay bills on time.

He demanded withdrawal of all taxes imposed at the time of enforcing prohibition. He also urged the government to withdraw hike in power tariff.

Officers' bravery averted mishap
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Feb 15 — The daredevilry by two Army officers averted a major train accident on February 7 at Shahbad. Two packets of explosives said to be containing RDX and PETN along with detonators and a time device were found near a rail track on the Shahbad-Markanda river that day.

Col Dasaka, Commanding Officer, 65 Engineer Bridge Regiment, and Capt Tyagi, also from the same Regiment, told the media that they cordoned the area to prevent the possibility of remote activation and made a detailed examination of the bombs wrapped in polythene tightly wound by an insulation tape and inter-connected with wires. One of the packets contained a time device in the form of a wristwatch kept upside down.

The bombs could not be neutralised on the site as these could cause damage to the bridge. The possibility of release an anti-disturbance mechanism was also explored.

Since there was no time to wait for a bomb disposal team, the officers claimed on the pier and put a fulcrum arrangement with a rope to pull down the charge, risking the possibility of an accidental detonation.

Col Dasaka said at 8.40 p.m. the officers were able to pull down the charge to the ground near the bottom of the pier. Later, they physically pulled the two charges about 6 metres away from the bottom of the pier to make the area safe.

After sometime, the time device, power source and the three detonators were disconnected from the charge with bare hands. The two charges were then lifted and placed into two deep pits, about 50 metres from she bridge.

Plea to exempt tax on allowances
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Feb 15 — The Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh, affiliated to the Sarva Karamchari Sangh, has demanded that various allowances payable to class III and IV employees in the state should be exempted from income tax.

At a meeting of the state unit of the sangh held here on Saturday under the presidentship of Ms Nirmal Rathi, it was resolved that the dearness allowance being paid to the employees should not be counted as income and the same should be the case with the house rent allowance, medical allowance, and city compensatory allowance. The sangh also demanded the raising of the limit of the income exempted from income tax from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

The sangh also sought the rolling back of the hike in the prices of rice, wheat, sugar and the LPG. It condemned the forced selling of the Red Cross, lucky draw and magic show tickets in the schools. The sangh criticised State Education Board officials for deputing women teachers at far off places for the board examinations.

The sangh has expressed resentment at the alleged negative attitude of the state government towards its long-pending demands. Mr C.N. Bharti, general secretary, and Mr Satyapal Siwach, press secretary of the state unit of the sangh, said on a call given by the co-ordination committee of the school teachers associations, the sangh had chalked out a programme of launching a signature drive from February 15 to April 15 throughout the state.

The sangh has prepared a 11-point charter of its demands which will be given to the state Education Minister in May after obtaining the signature of the teachers. The main demands of the teachers, include regularisation of their services, removal of pay anomalies, bonus for all, time-bound promotions and a set policy of transfers.

Roll back price hike: INLD
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Feb 15 — Former Haryana Minister and the INLD legislator from Fatehabad, Mr Sampat Singh, has taken exception to the reported statement of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, in which Mr Advani, had said that even allies with three or four MPs were bullying the central government, causing damage the image of the BJP government at the Centre.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Sampat Singh said he wanted to make it clear to Mr Advani that the stand of the INLD taken at Panipat was not merely a threat, but the party was serious about taking back its support to the BJP-led government in case it failed to roll back the price hike by February 21. The INLD leader said that this decision was taken by the party after a lot of consultations.

Mr Sampat Singh said Mr Advani must not forget that the mandate of the people was not for a BJP government in the last parliamentary election. The people, he said, had voted for a coalition government and the party in power must take care of sentiments of its allies in case it wanted to maintain a long association.

The INLD, he said, had only asked the government to roll back the recent hike in the prices of PDS items and urea because this would hit the poor.

The INLD leader charged the central government with totally ignoring the interests of Haryana. He hit out against the HVP-BJP government and said it had proved to be an anti-people government.

Kranti rally ‘has divided Cong’
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Feb 15 — A former Haryana minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, said here today that the kranti rally of the Congress, led by the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, held at Jind recently, had divided the party in the state.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said instead of projecting an image of a united and strong in Haryana, the rally had proved otherwise with the surfacing of various party factions. The boycott of the rally by eight of the 12 Congress MLAs and four out of the six Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs showed that the elected Congressmen were against the leadership of Mr Bhupinder Singh. He added that Mr Bhupinder Singh had organised this rally only to safeguard his position as well as save the already shaken Bansi Lal government.

He maintained that the Congress had got a boost in Haryana after Mrs Sonia Gandhi took over as the President of the party, but it had suffered a setback as the HPCC President had ignored a former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, a former HPCC President, Mr Birender Singh, and a former minister, Mr S.S. Surjewala. The absence of senior party leaders, including Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Mukul Wasnik, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr P.A. Sangma, Mrs Meira Kumar, Mr Digvijay Singh and Mr Ashok Gehlot, besides, several former ministers, former MPs and former MLAs also indicated the bickerings in the party on account of the autocratic functioning of the HPCC President.

Mr Krishan Murti feared that if the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, did not intervene at this juncture and failed to remove the HPCC President from the post, the Congress in Haryana would receive a further jolt and the leaders of the groups headed by Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Birender Singh would quit the party.

24 craftspersons given awards
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 15 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, gave away Kala Mani, Kala Nidhi and Kala Sri awards to 24 craftspersons at the prestigious 13th Surajkund Crafts Mela which concluded at Surajkund today.

Out of these, nine craftspersons got Kala Mani award. Kala Nidhi award was also given to nine craftspersons and six craftspersons received the Kala Sri award. Kala Mani awardees were Mr Bhramarbar Nayak (Orissa), Mr Balkrishan (Delhi), Mr Dayandi Meher (Orissa), Mr Jekya Wadha (Gujarat), Mr Jagbandhu Samrath (Orissa), Mrs Ibrahim Bibi (Tamil Nadu), Mr Budhiam (Haryana), Mr M Chandraiah (Andhra Pradesh), Mr Onkar Dhawan (Delhi).

The Kala Nidhi awards were given to Mr Chandermani (Orissa), Mr R B Soni (Madhya Pradesh), Mr Devi Shaya Chippa (Rajasthan), Mr Ratnakar Moharana (Orissa), Mr Meghaben Lakshmikant Shah (Gujarat), Mr Shanti Ku Sahoo (Orissa), Mr Mahesh Chand Sharma (Delhi), Mr Imamuddin (Delhi) and Mr B Lakshmana Chandra Rao (Andhra Pradesh). While Kala Shri awards were conferred on Mr Pandurang Ganpati Powar (Maharashtra), Mrs Nichanswaru Rabha (Assam), Mr Sagar Judupatia (Bihar), Mr K Veeraghawan (Tamil Nadu), Mr Daud Jusab Khatri (Gujarat) and Mr Ashik Miyan (Uttar Pradesh). These awards have been instituted by the Surajkund Mela Authority for promotion and development of the handicrafts and handlooms in the country.

Over 4.50 lakh tourists, including 22,000 foreigners, visited the mela. Andhra Pradesh was declared the state of the mela.

As many as 312 craftspersons displayed their objects. These included 62 national award winners, 37 state award winners and 17 merit certificate holders. Black pottery from Bihar, lacquerware from Gujarat and suri bowl from West Bengal were highly appreciated by visitors.

The Chief Minister went round the huts of craftspersons. Several Haryana ministers and Mr M P Bezbaruah, Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism, were among those present at the ceremony today.

A colourful cultural programme was presented by the artistes from Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.

Goyal Award given to scientists
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, Feb 15 — Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), stated here today that India could become the "Intellectual capital" of the world in the 21st century if it could link traditional knowledge with modern technological advancement.

He suggested that the country should utilise 1999 as "the year of debate". Dr Mashelkar, who was speaking to a galaxy of top scientists, intellectuals and members of faculty of Kurukshetra University after presenting the Goyal Foundation awards, maintained that the 21st century belonged to Asia. He asked the scientists not to worry over the sanctions against India. He said the treasure of the Indian traditional knowledge should be preserved. Not only that, it should be "documented" and even "digitalised".

Dr Mashelkar said India needed a national intellectual policy. He said there was a misinformation campaign against "patent laws".

Dr Mashelkar said the country should create knowledge and communication networks. He lamented that India did not have a full technological policy.

Dr Mashelkar further stated that India needed fundamental changes in its policy framework and creative planning. The country today needed real "venture capital" which did not exist.

Dr Mashelkar stated that in future, all industry policies would have to become knowledge-based. In this context, information technology and knowledge industry were going to prove great integrators and levellers of the future, he said.

Dr Mashelkar, while presenting awards to scientists termed them as "representatives of very best in Indian science, technology and engineering".

Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, called for deriving the very best out of ancient Indian texts in the field of science and technology.

He praised the efforts of Mr Ram Swaroop Goyal for instituting these awards.

Mr Ram Swaroop Goyal, who has instituted these awards, stated that he was of the firm conviction that progress in the field of science was "a must if the country wanted to progress."

The Goyal Awards for the year 1997-98 were given to Dr K. Kasturirangan, Dr Harjit Singh, Dr D. Balasubramanian, Dr D.D. Bhawalkar, Dr J.B. Joshi, Dr G. Govil, Dr P. Balaram and Dr Narendra Kumar.

The Rajib Goyal Prizes for Young Scientists were given to Dr A.R. Podile, Dr Girish Gupta and Dr A.K. Sinha.

The citations in honour of each one stated that "they were internationally known figures in their field.

Dr S.K. Gupta, an NRI, announced an award of Rs 1 lakh for the promotion of science in Kurukshetra University.

Call to raise level of literacy
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Feb 15 — Illiteracy is the root cause of ills prevailing in society. This was stated by Deputy Commissioner, Jaiwant Sheokand here today while addressing elected women panches and sarpanches of the district at a gathering organised by the District Administration for creating awareness about health, importance of literacy and cleanliness in the rural areas.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed concern over the low literacy level in Kaithal district, especially among females. She said Kaithal was one of the 25 districts in the state where literacy rate was as low as 3 per cent in some blocks.

She called upon women panches and sarpanches to take special measures to raise the level of literacy in villages. She said in the coming academic session, panchayats should ensure 100 per cent enrolment of children in the age group of 6 to 14 in schools.

She appealed to elected representatives to create conducive environment for holding literacy classes for adults under the total literacy programme, run in the district by the National Literacy Mission.

Status quo on sarpanch
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 15 — A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice H.S. Brar and Mr Justice V.M. Jain ordered that the functioning of Mr Niranjan Singh, sarpanch of Dharampura of village Sirsa district should not be disturbed till further orders. The Bank also issued notice of motion to the respondents for April 22.

The petitioner challenged the order of the Single Judge on January 12 directing the petitioner to hand over charge of the post to the respondent, Mr Ram Singh, who was elected sarpanch on December 13, 1995. However, the Civil Judge, Sirsa, allowed the election petition of the petitioner on the ground that Mr Ram Singh was in unauthorised possession of gram panchayat land, judgement of which has been upset b the High Court.

The petitioner was handed over charge and claimed to be still holding charge of the post.

The main ground taken by the petitioner was the nomination papers of the respondent, Mr Ram Singh, were were illegally accepted.

5 of family booked in dowry case
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Feb 15 — Four unidentified assailants opened fire and injured two residents of Atail village near Sampla town 30 km from here last night.

According to the complaint lodged with the police these youths who came around midnight knocked at the door of the house of Jai Bhagwan and when he opened, they allegedly fired from a revolver at him. The bullet reportedly hit him near his chest. When the victim shouted for help, his cousin Satyawan who lives in his neighbourhood rushed to enquire. But then he was also shot at by the culprits when he asked them about the matter. Both injured were later taken to PGIMS hospital here for treatment. Although Jai Bhagwan tried to catch hold one of the culprits but all of them escaped from there within few minutes. The police has registered a case in this regard. Enmity is reported to be the cause of attack.

Meanwhile in another case the police has registered a case against five members of a family on charges of threatening to kill and for harassment for more dowry. The complainant has been identified as Pinky Kaur who had married to Balwinder Singh of Bathinda district in Punjab. The complainant, a resident of J.P. Nagar here alleged that she had been harassed for the past some months and her in-laws even threatened to kill her if she failed to meet their demand. The police has booked a case under Sections 458, 406, 506, and 109 of the IPC against Balwinder, Prem Singh, Preet Kaur, Pushpa and Harpal.

In third incident at least six students of an engineering college here have been booked for having fake bus passes. According to the complaint lodged by Roadways authorities fraud was detected during a checking by department officials recently. It has also been alleged that college authorities had helped them to get such passes.

JE shot at, injured
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Feb 15 — Four unidentified youths reportedly shot at a junior engineer of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam and fled in the victim's Maruti car here today. Residents of Krishna Nagar colony and shopkeepers of the area observed an undeclared ‘bandh’ in protest against the incident.

The victim's children told The Tribune that their father Mr S.C. Sardana, had gone to have their mother at work at about 8.30 a.m. when in his absence the four youths armed with a country pistol entered the house. The children said they were beaten up, tied with a rope and shut in the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Mr Sardana returned and was nabbed by the miscreants. One of them shot at him. Another hit with a sharp knife on the neck. The children raised the alarm. One of the miscreants snatched the car key from Mr Sardana and fled in his car.

Mr Sardana was admitted to the local civil hospital. The DSP and SHO, city police station, have registered a case.

The BJP leader and secretary of the city unit, Mr Murlidhar Mehta, has condemned the incident and the deteriorating law and order situation. The residents of the area have demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

It is learnt that Mr Sardana was suspended by the Nigam on reports of special vigilance of the HVPN in connection with raids conducted on plastic units recently.

HVP bid to boost workers' morale
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Feb 15 — The HVP general secretary and MP, Mr Surender Singh, addressed HVP workers' meetings at Pehowa, Thanesar and Shahabad to boost their morale. A large number of workers attended the meetings.

Mr Surender Singh assured the activists that the farmers of the state would get 24-hour electricity supply after June 20, as the government had put all its resources and energies to achieve the target. He also assured the workers that the repair, reconstruction of roads in the state would be started after March. He instructed the workers to launch a campaign in favour of the Bansi Lal government and make people aware of the various development schemes initiated by it.

He said the state government would spend about Rs 32 crore on various developmental works in Kurukshetra district, including the electricity and irrigation projects.

Former minister Nirmal Singh of Naggal; HVP general secretary Jatinder Singh Kaka; Hafed chairman Narender Sharma; former MLA and district HVP president Sahib Singh Saini; former MLA Ishwar Singh of Guhla Cheeka; district HVP vice-president Murari Lal Saini and district youth HVP president Baljit Singh, also addressed the workers in the meetings.