M A I N   N E W S

‘Central agency should construct SYL’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 9 — The Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD Government in Haryana wants that the controversial SYL canal should be constructed by a Central agency “without further loss of time”.

This was stated by the state Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, while addressing the first session of the 10th Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.

Referring to the territorial dispute between Haryana and Punjab, the Governor said his government would like to resolve this issue in a spirit of amity and brotherhood that prevails between the two states and their governments. Though Haryana, he said, had been given a raw deal at the time of its formation by deviating from the recommendations of the Shah Commission.

The Shah Commission had recommended that Kharar tehsil, including the Chandigarh project, should form part of Haryana because 71.3 per cent of the population of Kharar tehsil was found to be Hindi-speaking. The Governor said even the Hindi-speaking areas of Fazilka and Abohar were denied to Haryana. He said whenever this just demand was raised, much heat was generated.

Similarly, he said, Haryana had not received its due in water and power. After years of deliberations and careful examination the Eradi Commission had given its recommendations in the matter. He urged the Union Government to expedite the implementation of the Eradi Commission’s report.

He said a watchdog body for monitoring the implementation of various programmes and policies would be set up in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and the State Planning Board. A frontal attack would be launched on corruption in all its manifestations. Strict vigil would be kept over the movement of files concerning important projects and prompt action would be taken against those responsible for delays and dithering.

Mr Mahabir Prasad said the law and order situation in the State suffered “pervasive deterioration” ever since the earlier government “thoughtlessly” embarked upon the policy of prohibition. It led to the emergence of gangs and resulted in the criminalisation of the youth. During the last seven months there had been a noticeable decrease in heinous crimes. He said the government planned to strengthen and modernise various wings of the police, including intelligence and commando forces.

Describing Haryana as the dream child of Mr Devi Lal, the Governor said his government would like to translate into action Mr Devi Lal’s philosophy of all-round development. He said resources would not be a constraint to rid the State of recurrent menace of floods. The Hisar-Ghaggar drain project had been formulated to provide a permanent solution to the drainage problems of districts of Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

The government would make the State the best destination for entrepreneurs both from within the country and abroad and consciously strive to attract international capital for creating basic infrastructure of international standards. The power sector would be accorded the highest priority. A campaign would be launched against power theft.

The State would be needing about 34 MAF water annually in the next five years to meet irrigation demands of its domestic, industrial and forestry sectors. The present availability from all sources was 18.80 MAF. A target to produce 122.50 lakh tonne of foodgrains had been set for 1999-2000. Farmers were being encouraged to adopt green house technology for production of off-season vegetables and flowers.