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| Tuesday,
May 22, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Even a drop of water eludes Banswara Water-logging leads to migration BJP stabbing allies in the
back: Cong India,
Kazakhstan discuss CICA Vikas Yadav
granted bail
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Explosion in BSF headquarters BSF to continue fencing Delhi police consults CFSL AIIMS employees take back strike call
Notice by Venkataswami panel today First Vice-Chief of Army Staff cremated IRS trainees get medals Barber teases woman, kills husband
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Even a drop of water eludes Banswara Banswara (Rajasthan), May 21 Power production stopped in January after the two powerhouses with a cumulative generation capacity of 140 MW closed down. This has resulted in a loss of about 20 crore revenue to the state. Not only this, agricultural produce has reduced by 50 to 60 per cent in command areas. Although the maximum capacity of the dam is 60 TMC during a period of good rains, the conservation this year has been only 11.5 TMC. As per the inter-state agreement with Gujarat, the state has to give 40 TMC to Gujarat. This year, 4 TMC has been released to Gujarat. Unlike other districts of Rajasthan which have had rainfall in the week gone by, Banswara district has not had a single drop of rain. The average annual rainfall of the district is 990 mm. Last year, the district received only 450.8 mm rainfall. Although the local unit of the BJP has reported 12 drought related deaths, District Collector Aparana Arora has ruled out starvation deaths. She said three deaths that took place were probed and it was found that while two were due to dehydration, one was due to heart failure. She said if there was any death during drought there was a tendency to link to the drought. Of the 1472 villages in the district, 1455 are affected by drought. According to the District Collector, 1300 villages in the district are completely dependent on hand pumps. Pending rejuvenation of five tubewells, 1168 hand pumps and 441 community wells besides deepening of 2941 private wells under the Tribal Area Development Programme, the villages continue to be deprived of water. Makanpura village, about 490 km from Jaipur, has only one well and six hand pumps for 200 dwellings. Villagers complain this well has no water and only one of the half-a-dozen hand pumps are functional. Since the habitation pattern is scattered, piped water supply schemes have restricted application. The DC said the drought could not be mitigated when people were dependent on rains. She said 80 per cent of the total population of 15 lakh was dependent on agriculture which was mostly rainfed of subsistence variety. Most of them are small and marginal farmers. As a result of the second consecutive drought the productivity and net sown areas had reduced. During 2000, 75 to 100 per cent crop failure was reported in all villages. Banswara is home to tribals who constitute 75 per cent of the total population. The district does not have industrial potential as it does not have a rail head and is not on any national highway. The nearest railway station is 80 km away in Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh). Tribal men here brew mohua and sell the liquor in cycle tubes. A bottle costs anything between Rs 8 and Rs 12. Migration to the neighbouring states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for better labour opportunities is a routine phenomenon. According to the District Collector, pressure on means of livelihood is more severe this time because both the states are facing drought. Mr Abrar Ahmed, Additional Collector (Administration), Banswara, said land holdings were very small in the district (1.6 hectare per family) compared to 2.5 hectare in Chittorgarh and 6 to 7 hectares in eastern Rajasthan. The
district has a sanctioned labour ceiling of 83,000. Of these, 60,000 are working. The administration has sanctioned 2,000 works of Rs 41 crore. According to Mr Ahmed, over 58 per cent of these are women. The administration has identified about 1,70,000 families below the poverty line to offer them alternative source of earning their livelihood. Famine relief work includes desilting, repair and deepening of tanks, desilting and repair of canals in Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project and construction of canals in non-command areas. At Jagpura canal, a famine work relief site near Rawatpura, where work began two months ago, 75 per cent are women. Ninety per cent of the work is expected to be completed by June-end. Mr Maxwell Lonrakar, Assistant Engineer, Irrigation Department, told this correspondent that excavation of the canal would provide irrigation benefits to nearby areas. He said excavation of the canal would complete pending work and ensure development and famine relief at the same time. Mr M.P. Singh, said they were trying to keep the slope and width of the canal according to designed parameters. Under the Food for Work Programme, the labourers work from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Their wages range from Rs 34 to Rs 48, including 75 kg wheat at the end of the fortnight. Although the district has a cattle population of 12.5 lakh, including eight lakh milch cattle, it has no cattle camps. The DC explains there is no trend of cattle camps in the district. The district has 45 fodder depots where fodder is available at a subsidised rate of Rs 200 per quintal. This is, however, high compared to existing rates in Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Dungarpur. The DC says distance adds to the cost of transportation and the price is therefore high in
Banswara. |
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Water-logging leads to migration Badopal (Hanumangarh), May 21 Even as the farmers have been crying hoarse for compensation of the allotment of land, elsewhere in the state, they are livid that the vast acres inundated under saline water are being referred to as lakes by the authorities. They say the issue was exploited as an election blank but has failed to evoke any response from the government. A 12-km dusty ride from Suratgarh brings one to the “lakes” which are now the temporary abode of some migratory birds beside locally reared ducks and fauna. Mr Ram
Sarup, a farmer, offers to take a The Tribune team around the area and informs that he too has lost 25 bighas of land”. It started about 15 years ago but within few years thousands of acres of land was under two to seven feet of water. The worst affected villages include Chak Rati Ram, Salagram, 18 SPD, Chaks 19-20 where the entire land has been inundated forcing the villagers to migrate to other villages or towns to eke out their livelihood. “ The worst part is that they cannot even sell their land. Scores of families had to just give one wistful look, pile their belongings on a cart and migrate elsewhere. Most are now doing odd jobs in the towns,” he added. Mr Ami Chand, a village elder, nostalgically recalls that “once prosperous farmers are now virtual paupers. This land was very fertile since it was located at the fag end of the
Ghaggar. Those were the days when the very name of villages in this area evoked visions of lush fields and well to do families. Land was at a premium. But all that has changed now. Most of the villages are akin to ghost villages where some families, whose few acres have been spared, carry on cultivation. But their days too are numbered,” he added. Another farmer, Mota Ram
Jalib, points out to the vast expense of water stretching to the horizon and says that somewhere there are his 20
bighas. “It is my ancestral land and every time I see it under several feet of water, I feel like crying. I am now working as a share cropper in another village but cannot resist the impulse to see my village once in a while. “ Mr Jawahar Lal, farmer, says he has shifted to Mantheri village after his 25 bighas was water logged. He is now a camel cart driver and part time share cropper and earns his livelihood on the fields of others, ruing his fate. But the very fact that he farms for others still rankles even after a decade. The villagers are unanimous that the government of the day did not heed their warning and only took cosmetic measures to contain water-logging. Although some big water pumps were installed to drain out the water but is was a half hearted step which proved to be a case of too little too late. What the villagers survive on is guar which is sown prior to the rainy season. Other crops are not possible to grow although the water from the Ghaggar is still available. “ What are we going to cultivate and irrigate and where, “ reasoned a farmer. The third consecutive drought in Rajasthan has focused the need for water management in the state which has seen scores of droughts since Independence. But for a vast network of canals, the economy of the state would have been a complete shambles. However, little has been done to study the effects of water-logging in canal fed areas and the example at Badopal proves that something has to be done and soon. Officials were tight lipped on the matter which they claim is under consideration of the state government for quite some time now. Lack of funds are a problem and in view of the ongoing drought, welfare measures take priority, informed an official. |
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BJP stabbing allies in the back:
Cong New Delhi, May 21 Party spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the BJP MLAs had toppled the Radhabinod Kojam Government in Manipur. Asked about its impact on the Centre, he said the “minor earthquake will have its aftershocks.” He said after the Tehelka expose the NDA was a leaking boat. “Yet, we are not interested even in rocking the leaking boat. If the boat capsizes without a trace on its own, we are not to blame,” the Mr Reddy maintained. Mr Reddy said the party was watching the situation. Referring to the challenge of BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy to the Congress in UP, the Congress spokesman said the BJP had formed governments in UP by engineering defections. “To sustain the government, they had to
expel a Chief Minister,” Mr Reddy said. He said the third CM of the present BJP-led government in the state had begun his career by losing the Shahjahanpur byelection. Dismissing the talk of challenge as “meaningless,” Mr Reddy said since the BJP had lost in five states, it was hoping to do well in UP. |
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India, Kazakhstan
discuss CICA New Delhi, May 21 Mr Abuseitov, who also brought an invitation letter for summit participation, discussed a draft document with Indian officials including Adviser to the Ministry of External Affairs K.V. Rajan and Joint Secretary (Disarmament) Sheel Kant Sharma. The two sides also discussed issues of common concern which included terrorism, the spokesperson said adding that India had always been supportive of the CICA idea which was mooted in 1992 by President of Kazakhstan Nur Sultan Nazarbayev. India would be attending the next official level meeting scheduled to be held in Almaty next month, the spokesman said adding that New Delhi would be attending the summit which would be attended by either head of states or head of
governments. |
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Vikas Yadav
granted bail New Delhi, May 21 Additional Sessions Judge H.R. Malhotra granted bail to Vikas on furnishing a bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety of the like amount. Mr Malhotra granted bail to the accused till the end of the trial on condition that Vikas will not leave the country without prior permission of the court. In his order, the judge said the accused could not be kept in the custody because of mere suspicion. The prosecution had not so far moved an application about any threat to any of the witness in the case, the order said. Vikas was taken into custody on Thursday for defying a court order.
UNI |
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Homage paid to Rajiv Gandhi New Delhi, May 21 President K.R. Narayanan and Vice-President Krishan Kant led the nation in paying tributes to the former Prime Minister who was killed by a human bomb on this day in 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Congress President and widow of the late leader Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra were among the early visitors to Veer Bhumi, An all-religion prayer meeting was also organised to observe the day which was attended by representatives from nine religions. Several Congress Chief Ministers, including Ms Sheila Dikshit, Mr S.M. Krishna, Mr A.K. Antony, Mr Digvijay Singh and Mr Ashok Gehlot, besides senior party leaders Mr Shivraj Patil, Mr Manmohan Singh, Mr R.K. Dhawan and Mr Vincent George, aide to Mrs Gandhi were also present. At the AICC office, a blood donation camp was held which was followed by a seva dal programme where sewing machines and tri-cycles were distributed. The Mahila Congress held a meeting to pay their tributes. Hundreds of youth, led by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Randeep Singh Surjewala, undertook a ‘padyatra’ from the IYC headquarters at the Raisina Road to Veer Bhumi. Several senior party leaders took part in the `padyatra.’ The IYC also organised a seminar ‘Rajiv Gandhi - Harbinger of Technology and Scientific Revolution in India’ in the evening. An anti-terrorism pledge was administered to employees in various
government offices and private institutions asking them to oppose all forms of terrorism and violence. The Union Home Ministry had asked the state governments to organise programmes to educate and wean away people, especially youth, from terrorism and violence. |
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Explosion in BSF headquarters New Delhi, May 21 No injuries have, however, been reported from the explosion in the Central Government Offices (CGO) complex which also houses the offices of many government departments including the CBI, RAW, ITBP, CISF, SSC etc. The police has not ruled out the involvement of Pakistan based militants in the explosion which took place at 8.45 p.m. The explosion took place on the terrace of the first floor of the BSF headquarters building where a flag off function of a BSF mountaineering expedition was to be held today. The explosion occurred on the “shamiana” erected on the terrace. Investigation of the case delayed the function for an hour. The police suspects that the explosive was lobbed from outside the building. |
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BSF to continue fencing New Delhi, May 21 “These things won’t deter us. We will continue our fencing work,” BSF Director General Gurbachan Jagat told newspersons after flagging off a BSF mountaineering expedition here. Pakistani Rangers had blew up 40 iron pillars used for the fence being constructed about 500 yards away from the international border, BSF sources said. Terming Pakistan’s attempt as a “small incident”, the BSF chief said Pakistan had been indulging in such things earlier too. In this context, he pointed out that Pakistan had earlier resorted to firing in the Poonch sector to disrupt the fencing work. Pakistani Rangers had, during the bi-annual meeting with the Border Security Force between May 9 May and 12, tried to refer to Jammu as ‘working boundary’ which was strongly objected to by the Indian side. The Indian delegation reiterated their point of view and stated that the area in question was part and parcel of India and fencing within the Indian territory would continue as it was well within our boundary and an essential requirement against infiltration. Of the total 198 km international border in Jammu and Kashmir, fencing had been completed in 5.4 km. The fencing and flood lighting operation was resumed from January 14, 2000, after the work was taken up by the BSF. In the first phase, work in 16 km had been taken up by the Indian paramilitary force, which was expected to complete another 60 km of fencing and flood lighting during the current financial year. |
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Delhi police consults CFSL New Delhi, May 21 The Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range), Mr Suresh Roy, said, “Though the incidents of attack have reduced we are yet not sure about the creature who has injured several persons in the Capital”. He said the police took help of the CFSL, psychologists and doctors to investigate the attacks in the Capital. The police has also requested the CBI and the National Institute of Behaviour and Allied Sciences to find out the cause of the injuries the victims sustained. A total of 17 calls were received by the police last night. Of them, nine were found bogus calls. Seven persons were arrested in North-East Delhi while one in East Delhi for making fake calls to the police. The persons who
received injuries could not give correct description of the creature which had injured them, Mr Roy said. |
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AIIMS employees take back strike call New Delhi, May 21 Mr SP Kalia, leader of the employees union, told UNI today that the agitation has been called off following the
hospital authorities accepting the demand regarding reinstatement of a Class IV employee, Gulshan, who was suspended on May 16. He said the issue was resolved following negotiations held by AIIMS Director PK Dave with both the employees union and the Resident Doctors Association. “We have taken back our strike call from today as the dispute has been amicably resolved. It was created following a
one-sided decision to punish the employee while not taking any action against the guilty doctor.’’ Meanwhile, an official spokesman for the hospital said that the situation was normal but refused to confirm the reinstatement of the suspended employee. He just said, “there is no strike. Everything is normal.’’
UNI |
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Notice by Venkataswami panel today Justice Venkataswami Commission, looking into the charges of corruption in the defence deals made by news portal Tehelka, will come out with a public notice tomorrow for its preliminary hearing on June 6. “The commission will come out with a public notice tomorrow whereby anyone can appear before it on June 6,” the commission sources said. The preliminary hearing would set the stage for the public and individual hearings, the sources said, adding that the commission had also decided to go for only two adjournments during the hearings to save time. The commission had made it clear earlier that all its hearings would be “public” except when some sensitive matter pertaining to national security might come up, which would be done in-camera.
PTI |
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First Vice-Chief of Army Staff cremated New Delhi, May 21 Born on November 30, 1908, Lt Gen Wadalia (retd) got his education at Royal Indian Military College, Dehra Doon. He was commissioned into 16 Cavalry from Indian Military College, St Hurst, in 1928. He was a services squash player, a horseman and a polo player. He retired as Chief of General Staff (equivalent to Vice-Chief of Army Staff today) at Army headquarters. He commanded 1 Armoured Division in Jhansi and 15 Corps headquarters at Udhampur. Lt Gen Wadalia (retd) was also the Colonel of 16 Cav and the Deccan Horse. He is survived by his wife and daughter. |
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IRS trainees get medals New Delhi, May 21 The awards are given to meritorious officers in three categories — to the best officer trainee of the batch, to the officer trainee securing the highest marks in the department examinations and to the best lady officer trainee. The awardees include Mr Parag C Borkar, Mr Jaipeep P., Mr Ankur Agarwal, Ms Sudha Koka, Dr Ambika S. Kaur, Mr Samir Bajaj, Mr Amitesh, Ms Limatula, Mr Gaurav Masaldan and Ms Vaishali
Naik. |
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Barber teases woman, kills husband Sriganganagar, May 21 According to sources, Pawan Kumar was coming home on a rickshaw with his wife last night. On the way, he stopped the rickshaw and went to a shop in Dalmia Bhavan street to buy something. Meanwhile, Krishan, a barber working at one of the adjoining shops, allegedly teased his wife. The woman did not bring the incident to the notice of her husband since she did not want to aggravate the matter. Taking this as an invitation, Krishan reportedly followed the couple on a motorcycle. The woman later apprised her husband of the matter. The husband, Pawan Kumar, went to the barber’s shop at around 7.30 a.m., accosted the suspect and asked him to tender an apology. The latter refused to do so and this resulted in an altercation, following which Krishan allegedly stabbed Pawan Kumar with a pair of scissors. Pawan, bleeding profusely, managed to reach home but succumbed to his injuries later on. A case has been registered and the police has launched a manhunt for apprehending the suspect. |
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GOGOI GIVES PORTFOLIOS TIME BOMB FOUND NEAR VHP OFFICE 6 GIRL STUDENTS COMMIT SUICIDE HEARING IN JAYA CASE ADJOURNED ACTION AGAINST CUSTOMS OFFICIALS 8 KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENTS 367 LION-TAILED MACAQUE SPOTTED CPI LP LEADER ELECTED AIADMK PRESIDIUM CHAIRMAN RESIGNS BSF DIG DIES OF CARDIAC ARREST ‘CYBER THIEF’ ARRESTED |
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