M A I N   N E W S

Cong promises regular power
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, Feb 13 — The Congress has promised round-the-clock electricity to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers, judicious and equitable distribution of canal water, and improving the standard of living of the poor in its election manifesto released here today.

This is the first time in the history of the party that its election manifesto has been released from a district headquarter.

Releasing the manifesto, PCC chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Chairman, Pradesh Congress Campaign Committiee blamed the INLD, BJP and other opposition parties for non-completion of the SYL canal.

They said if voted to power they would strive for bringing the Ravi-Beas waters to Haryana besides harnessing the waters of seasonal rivultets like the Ghaggar, Markanda and Sarswati etc.

Delinking the river water issue from territorial issues, the party stressed construction of a separate capital and High Court for Haryana and merger of the Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab with Haryana. The cost of the new Capital and High Court should be borne by the Centre, it said.

It also assured the employees that if voted to power, it would regularise the services of ad hoc and contract employees.

Mr Surjewala said that the main issue in the current elections was restoration of law and order in the state and assuring the citizens that they were safe and there was no danger to their lives and property. He alleged that while the police was feeling demoralised, the incidents of looting, rape and other heinous crimes were on the increase.

Mr Hooda said the party would accord priority to the construction of the Yamunanager thermal power plant and hydel plants in co-operation with the Himachal government.

The party has further assured to streamline the power distribution system, setting up transformer banks at district level and rectification of the inflated power bills. It promised to constitute district level standing committees to look into the inflated bills issued by the HVPN.

The party assured the agriculture sector that it would get at least 10 hours of electricity as per a pre-determined schedule. Efforts would be made to provide this power during the day.

The Congress also said it would set up a bank in the co-operative sector for rural women only to be managed by women.

Similarly, the party has promised to set up a corporation for providing necessary assistance, financial, technical and export facilities, to the craftsmen. The government would stand guarantee for these craftsmen for entering into export agreements.

The party has also proposed to set up another corporation for imparting technical training to educated unemployed youth and preparing them for clerical jobs. The recruitment in government jobs would be made from among them on merit.