H A R Y A N A

Chautala under pressure
GURGAON, March 31 — The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is caught between the contradictory pressures from his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal and the powerful farmers’ lobby and his political opponents at home on the issue of the early completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project.

Recovery of arrears with human touch
CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Faced with a whopping electricity arrears of about Rs 900 crore till the end of December last, the power distribution corporations of Haryana have been left with no alternative but to launch a massive recovery campaign.

Ex-DC denied pre-arrest bail again
CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Former Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, Anil Kumar, who had allegedly misappropriated and misutilised over Rs 11 crore of flood relief in connivance with a former HVP minister, his son and HUDA employees, was again denied anticipatory bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court today.

'Post card meets smart card'
AMBALA, March 31 — "It may well be termed the convergence of post card and smart card. We are looking towards e-commerce," Chief Post Master General of Haryana, Mr T.R. Sharma, said.

Haryana grant for private colleges
CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Haryana Government has released a grant of Rs 64.50 crore to the government-aided private colleges during the current financial year (ending today), an official statement, quoting the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, said.

Haryana team in Hyderabad
CHANDIGARH, March 31 — A high-level delegation of the Haryana Government, led by Mr Ajay Chautala, MP, has reached Hyderabad on a three-day study tour on applications of information technology by the Andhra Pradesh Government regarding E-governance for better government-public relations and steps initiated to strengthen the infrastructure in the area of IT.

HVPN drive against power defaulters
HISAR, March 31 — The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam has decided to adopt a tough posture with regard to recovery of outstanding power bills from consumers, including farmers.

6 killed in mishaps
FARIDABAD, March 31 — Three persons were killed in road accidents and three others allegedly committed suicide in separate incidents in the district during the past two days.

Boy kills sister
SONEPAT, March 31 — Sharmila, a student of class VIII, was allegedly murdered by her brother Naresh, a student of class XII, at Chichhrana village in Gohana subdivision of the district yesterday.

Cars taken away at gunpoint
ROHTAK, March 31 — Four persons took away a car at gunpoint near Madina village in the district yesterday.

• Draft presented to Chautala
  
  
  

SYL issue
Chautala under pressure
From Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, March 31 — The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is caught between the contradictory pressures from his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal and the powerful farmers’ lobby and his political opponents at home on the issue of the early completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project.

According to sources, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of Mr Badal in Punjab is trying to persuade the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana not to press hard on the issue. In the midst of the turmoil in Punjab’s politics, Haryana’s efforts to press the issue by compelling Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to mediate on the SYL issue would further queer the pitch for it.

The SYL agenda has been kicked alive in Haryana following the Governor’s address to the Assembly after the elections in the state and the principal Opposition in the House, the Congress, joining issue with the government on the floor of the House. In reply to the Governor’s Address which, the President of the Congress in Haryana, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, asked for a definite time-frame for the talks between the two sides.

The Congress leadership said people should be told what was the outcome of the negotiation between the government of the two states. The Congress also took the stand that it would give constructive cooperation to it for expediting the construction works in the interest of Haryana.

According to observers, the statement of Mr Chautala, a couple of days ago, that Haryana had sought the Prime Minister’s intervention so that the state could get its share of the Ravi-Beas waters, should be seen within the matrix of the growing pressure on the INLD from diverse sections at home. Mr Chautala’s statement has further given strength to the fresh debate in the state on the issue. Outside the Assembly, the Congress has taken the stand that if the government did not take the initiative on the issue in concrete terms, it would launch an offensive against it.

To add to the woes of the INLD, the issue is said to have stirred the farmers’ lobby afresh. The INLD has always claimed that the farming lobby forms the bulwark of its support base. Apparently, the expectation is now high in this lobby after the INLD formed a government on its own steam.

Also, the fact that its ally, the BJP, has turned down the repeated overtures made by Mr Chautala to join his government is weighing heavily on the INLD. Given the "dagger-and-cloak" relationship between the INLD and the BJP, especially after the Assembly elections in which about a dozen of its nominees lost due to rebels in the party contesting as Independents and the negative stand of its supporters, the ruling party is more than wary if the SYL issue gathers storm.

Moreover, during run-up to the Assembly elections, BJP leaders had also stated that the government must find a way for facilitating the early construction of the SYL. The dominant feeling in the political circles is that the government can hardly be at ease on this emotive issue given the INLD’s thin majority in the Assembly, especially in the face of the fickle nature of the political personalities of the state.

About 95 construction works on the SYL canal project have been completed. The remaining portion to be completed falls in Punjab. Work had to be stopped during heydays of militancy in that state, especially after the killing of a Chief Engineer and some labourers. All political parties in that state, including Mr Badal, have often stated that they will not allow the construction of the SYL project.

Recovery of arrears with human touch
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Faced with a whopping electricity arrears of about Rs 900 crore till the end of December last, the power distribution corporations of Haryana have been left with no alternative but to launch a massive recovery campaign.

The first phase of the campaign was launched before the Assembly elections in November and December when the power supply to the premises of about one lakh defaulters was disconnected. The second phase was launched from March 7 last.

That the power utilities have political patronage in their endeavour was clear from the fact that the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, directed the Deputy Commissioners and the Superintendents of Police about 10 days ago to cooperate with the power utilities in the recovery campaign.

Officers of the power utilities say care has been taken to give the recovery campaign a humane touch so that the process should be made as less painful as possible. During the month-long campaign the stress would be more on dialogue with the defaulters than on the use of the stick.

The officers say the arrears started mounting from 1992. Successive Governments did not adopt a positive approach to pull out the power sector from this ever-escalating deficit. The last dates of recovery were extended several times. Even the present Government introduced a scheme to recover the arrears in a phased manner under which the interest and surcharge to the tune of about Rs 40 crore were exempted for those paying arrears within the stipulated period. Despite the wide publicity, the scheme failed to evoke any appreciable response.

As a new experiment the Chief Minister has given a free hand to the DCs and the SPs to "motivate" consumers in problem villages by fixing easy instalments. Besides, they will have the power to ;exempt the interest or surcharge in those cases where they deem fit.

Almost all sectors are guilty of withholding the power bills. Contrary to the general impression, the farm sector owes about Rs 260 crore to the power utilities. The Government departments too owe about Rs 250 crore. The domestic, commercial and industrial sectors owe the remaining amount.

According to reports reaching here, the DCs and the SPs have already started touring villages to "motivate" the erring consumers. The power utilities have introduced mobile vans which accompany the recovery teams so that an interested consumer can clear his dues on the spot. In the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) about Rs 10 crore were collected through mobile vans in the first phase of the campaign.

While in the first phase the thrust was primarily in the urban areas, the second phase will cover all areas of the State. Initially the authorities will concentrate on less problematic villages, leaving the severe problematic villages to be tackled later. They hope that by tackling the less problematic villages first, consumers in the other category of villages would get the right message.

As part of its humane touch the power department has also decided not to disconnect the supply from transformer itself even in the severe problematic villages. Earlier, the power utilities used to disconnect the entire power line if the defaulters were more than 50 per cent of the consumers served by that line. Now the power supply of only the defaulters would be disconnected. The authorities have identified the electricity circles of Sonepat, Rohtak, Jind, Faridabad, Narnaul and Bhiwani where the arrears are exceptionally high.

For quick redressal of grievances of the consumers the power utilities have organised "Bijli Sabhas" at district headquarters. Now they have decided to organise Lok Adalats which will be presided over by judicial officers to settle cases pending in courts with mutual consent. Detailed instructions have gone out to the field staff how much they are to yeild in particular type of cases coming before the Lok Adalat so that the element of discretion is eliminated.

In the second phase the UHBVN has already disconnected about 20,000 power connections and has realised about Rs 4 crore.

'Post card meets smart card'
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, March 31 — "It may well be termed the convergence of post card and smart card. We are looking towards e-commerce," Chief Post Master General of Haryana, Mr T.R. Sharma, said.

Talking to The Tribune, Mr Sharma said electronic commerce was fast emerging as an important entity and the Department of Posts planned to make a headway in that direction. He said for this, it would take advantage of the latest technology and its manpower."

Mr Sharma said the department had access to everywhere. "We have our personnel in every part of the country, besides an effective reach abroad and there is a well-laid-out system for communication purposes," he said. "Our network has tremendous reach and we are looking at being strategically poised to move into the field of e-commerce," he added.

Mr Sharma said the middle class in rural areas was emerging as a major buyer. "They watch various advertisements in different media and are keen to buy the products on offer. One can order for a product, but, it may have to reach a consumer in interior areas. That is where we step in, as we can ensure that the product actually reaches the consumer," he said.

He said the proposal which was still in a nascent stage, would indeed be commercially viable as the department had infrastructure along with manpower and reach. "There is a thrust on technology and we are utilising it to supplement our traditional services. It is like taking technology to the doorsteps of every person. Once new technologies are in place, then based on it, new services can easily be introduced," Mr Sharma said.

He said the department used the Very Small Aperture Technology (VSAT) for the transfer of money orders at the press of a button, using dedicated lines.

Mr Sharma said the effectiveness of the services offered by the department were apparent from the popularity of Speed Post. "While Speed Post grew by 60 per cent, the courier market grew by only 25 per cent. It proves that people still rely on the services offered by us," he said. "The service in Haryana was voted the best among 19 circles after achieving 106 per cent growth in the year 1998-1990. The circle realised business to the tune of Rs 2.86 crore against Rs 92 lakh in the year 1998-99," he said.

He said in 1999, Haryana was the best in delevering the traditional mail service, according to the mail efficiency index.

"We are laying stress on computerisation. While the head post offices of Ambala Cantonment and Ambala are fully computerised, two more at Karnal and Panipat will also be computerised this year. Computerisation of 40 post offices in Haryana will take place and the Postal Life Insurance operations have been fully computerised," Mr Sharma said.

For the faster processing of public complaints, computers have been installed in the offices of the SSPOs at Ambala and Karnal. Computers have also been procured for similar work at Faridabad and Rohtak stations.

"A computerised registration processing centre has been set up at the Ambala RMS which is providing fast and accurate disposal of the registered mail," he said.

"A computer training centre has been established in the office of the Chief Post Master General of the Haryana circle. Here, training is being given on the softwares used in post offices."

In addition to the new sub-office at Command Hospital in Chandi Mandir, post offices have been opened at Muradgarh, Jodhakalan, Jatheri, Sersa, Bageshwari, Obra, Banipur, Lohara, Kotkurd and Sulikhera. Basic postal facilities have been provided in villages by opening Panchayat Sewa Kendras at Phulwari, Pehlwan, Barthal, Kharainti, Hassan, Khara Mahajan, Rajpura, Devpal and Dhamkora.

He said post offices in Faridabad, Mohindergarh, Ismailabad (Kurukshetra), Hisar, Karnal and Rohtak had also been modernised.

Ex-DC denied pre-arrest bail again

CHANDIGARH, March 31 (PTI) — Former Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, Anil Kumar, who had allegedly misappropriated and misutilised over Rs 11 crore of flood relief in connivance with a former HVP minister, his son and HUDA employees, was again denied anticipatory bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court today.

Dismissing his application, Mr Justice R.L. Anand gave this direction to the investigation officer that the petitioner should not be taken in custody for eight days from today so that the petitioner may be able to approach the Supreme Court.

The bail application of the petitioner was declined by the same court on February 11.

Anil kumar has filed the bail application again with an additional plea that the list of roads which was demanded from him (Anil Kumar) was already in the custody of investigator and the petitioner’s case was not properly represented to the court when earlier bail application was argued by the counsel along with the bail application of former Minister Krishan Dass and his son.

The case was registered under Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC, and Section 13(I) of Prevention of Corruption Act by the state Vigilance Bureau on December 31, 1999, for misappropriating the flood relief fund.

Haryana grant for private colleges
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Haryana Government has released a grant of Rs 64.50 crore to the government-aided private colleges during the current financial year (ending today), an official statement, quoting the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, said.

The Finance Minister’s statement said that the grant would enable the colleges to clear the backlog of five months’ pay arrear of their staff which the previous government could not pay. The statement said that arrears up to January 31 had been cleared with the release of this money. The arrears for February would also be released soon, the statement added.

The Finance Minister also pointed out that the previous government had decreased the budget for private colleges. While a grant of Rs 41.85 crore was released to thses colleges in 1997-98, it was subsequently reduced to Rs 40.20 crore during 1998-99.

Also, a grant of Rs 16.46 crore was released by the Haryana government for government-aided private schools during the current financial year, the statement added.

Haryana team in Hyderabad
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 31 — A high-level delegation of the Haryana Government, led by Mr Ajay Chautala, MP, has reached Hyderabad on a three-day study tour on applications of information technology by the Andhra Pradesh Government regarding E-governance for better government-public relations and steps initiated to strengthen the infrastructure in the area of IT.

While stating this, an official press note said that the visit by the Haryana delegation, which includes senior officers and IT experts, to Andhra Pradesh assumed significance in the light of the State Government’s recent announcement that it would soon come out with an IT policy.

The delegation will meet the Chief Minister, Mr Chandrababu Naidu, and also interact with members of the IT industry in Andhra Pradesh.

It serves the handicapped
From Sushil Manav

FATEHABAD: The local Bharat Vikas Parishad unit here has been doing great service to the handicapped by providing them with artificial limbs and walking aids.

The BVP organised a function at the local Shri Ram Sewa Samiti dharamshala recently to distribute artificial limbs to the handicapped. The local INLD legislator Mr Leela Krishan, was the chief guest. Noted philanthropist Seth Ram Niwas Goyal presided over the function. Dr Ghansham Sharma, a scientist at the NDRI, Karnal, and the state head of the Haryana Bharat Vikas Parishad were special guests.

According to Mr Pawan Rukhaya, BVP Secretary a camp for the identification of those eligible for artificial limbs was held on December 26, 1999. Out of the 400 persons that turned up for the camp as many as 125 were selected and measurement of their limbs taken.

In most cases, either the hands of the victims had been chopped off in fodder machines or their legs had become ineffective due to polio in their childhood.

The parishad procured artificial limbs and calipers for these persons. Noted orthosurgeon, Dr Manmohan Pahwa, and Dr A.L. Bajaj supervised the movement of the limbs to the victims. The handicapped had been offered artificial arms demonstrated how to write with an artificial arm while ‘those who were offered artificial legs and calipers drove cycles with the help of the artificial limb. The parishad president, Prof A.K. Ummat, said the parishad had been organising such functions from time to time.

HVPN drive against power defaulters
Tribune News Service

HISAR, March 31 — The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam has decided to adopt a tough posture with regard to recovery of outstanding power bills from consumers, including farmers.

A spokesman of the nigam said a massive campaign was being launched from the revovery of electricity arrears in all the six operational districts of the nigam — Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Narnaul, Gurgaon and Faridabad. Under the campaign the nigam would disconnect power supply to those consumers who did not pay their bills by the due date.

If the disconnection orders are not executed immediately disciplinary action may be initiated against the employees responsible.

In case consumers do not pay arrears even after disconnection of power the recovery would be effected under the Land Revenue Act after issuing due notices. The spokesman said the nigam had already identified villages where more than 50 per cent of consumers were defaulters.

To check unauthorised drawal of power by consumers whose supply has been withdrawn, executive engineers and the sub-divisional officers have been asked to conduct raids during the evening hours.

6 killed in mishaps
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, March 31 — Three persons were killed in road accidents and three others allegedly committed suicide in separate incidents in the district during the past two days.

According to reports, Subhash of Thakurwada and Chander of NH-3 are stated to have ended their life by consuming poison and Ram Kumar of NH-2 allegedly burnt himself to death.

Titu, a 10 year-old boy, was crushed to death by a tractor at Asawati village, and two persons were killed and four others were injured when their truck collided with another vehicle near Prithla on the national highway.

Boy kills sister
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, March 31 — Sharmila, a student of class VIII, was allegedly murdered by her brother Naresh, a student of class XII, at Chichhrana village in Gohana subdivision of the district yesterday.

According to a report reaching here, the reason behind the murder seems to be some illicit relations of the girl with a youth of the same village.

After the murder, the alleged culprit arrived in the city, went to the police post on the Sonepat-Gohana road and confessed his crime saying his sister had become pregnant. Naresh could not tolerate the humiliation of the family and he killed his sister with an axe when she was alone in the house. The police arrested the culprit and recovered the axe from his possession.

The Baroda police has registered a case of murder and further investigations are in progress.

Cars taken away at gunpoint
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, March 31 — Four persons took away a car at gunpoint near Madina village in the district yesterday.

The car owner, Mr Naresh Kumar, in an FIR said he was going in his car from Delhi to Meham to drop his aunt there. He said four car-borne youths intercepted them and forcibly took away the car and also robbed his aunt of her chain and purse.

In another incident, two persons took away a car at gunpoint near Silani village in Jhajjar district.

Naresh of Rewari district stated that two persons had hired his taxi for Jhajjar but later forcibly took away the car.

Draft presented to Chautala
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was presented with a draft of Rs 1.20 lakh by well-known magician SamarAt Shankar today for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Mr Chautala thanked Mr Shankar for his noble gesture.