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Thursday,
January 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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PM non-committal on SYL issue Airtel bows to MC
pressure Drought relief not enough:
JD Residents to surrender cable connections Police asked to book 7 for attempt to
murder Jawan cremated with honours |
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3 held for illicit betting Residents block
NH-10 for 3 hrs 
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PM non-committal on SYL issue Chandigarh, January 15 The Haryana case was put up strongly by the former Chief Minister and President of the HVP, Mr Bansi Lal, who even tried to play on the emotions of the Prime Minister by saying that on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Mr Vajpayee should give the “daan” of water to the people of his state. The Prime Minister, however, remained unmoved, the sources say. When the Haryana delegation pointed out that the state was suffering a loss of about Rs 1000 crore per annum due to the non-completion of the SYL, canal, Mr Vajpayee reportedly remarked that this loss had been taking place since long. The Congress was the favourite whipping boy of almost all delegates, who blamed the former ruling party of Punjab as well as Haryana for the SYL canal imbroglio. Mr Bansi Lal, who decision to join the delegation, had gladdened the Chief Minister, however, did not spare even the INLD (or its earlier incarnations). The HVP leader, the sources say, told the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister that whatever construction work that had taken place on the canal was during the time when he was at the helm of the affairs. He accused the INLD Government of not doing anything on the canal issue. Even the Supreme Court judgement of January 15, 2002, under which the apex court had asked Punjab to complete the canal within one year, failing which the Centre should construct the canal, Mr Bansi Lal said, came on the petition filed by the HVP Government. The Haryana BJP President, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, too forcefully pleaded the state case, urging the Prime Minister to intervene on the pattern he did in the Cauvery dispute. The Prime Minister reportedly remarked that he had done so on the directions of the Supreme Court, the sources say. Meanwhile, the two contending states, Punjab and Haryana, are leaving no stone unturned to engage top legal brains of the country to fight their cases in apex court, which alone now seems to be holding the key to the issue. Instead of depending upon their Advocates-General to present their cases in the Supreme Court, Punjab and Haryana have chosen to take the services of top advocates outside the officialdom. Punjab has hired Mr Fali S. Nariman to file a civil suit in the apex court to challenge certain provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, as well as the Inter-State Water Disputes Act. To oppose the Punjab suit, Haryana is likely to hire the services of Mr Harish Salve, a former Solicitor-General, and Mr P.P. Rao, two well-known legal luminaries. Though the exact fees these legal luminaries charge are not known, they are believed to be in the top bracket of their profession. According to one estimate, the two states may end up spending about Rs 50 lakh each on the legal battle in the Supreme Court. Besides the suit filed by the Punjab Government, Haryana has also moved the Supreme Court, urging it to give definite directions to Punjab and the Centre to complete the canal in accordance with its judgement of January 15, 2002. Notices have already been issued to Punjab and the Centre and the hearing is expected in February next. |
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Airtel bows to MC
pressure Fatehabad, January 15 A row had arisen between the municipal authorities and Airtel over the installation of a tower atop a three-storey building situated on the national highway. The municipal authorities had been opposing the move by the mobile company to install the tower on two grounds. First, that the company had not obtained the required permission for the installation of the tower by paying the requisite fee and second, that the installation of the tower atop a building on the busy area was a risk for the safety of passersby and those working in the neighbouring buildings. Airtel had, however, tried to start the construction work without seeking the permission. The move was thwarted on each occasion by the municipal authorities. The authorities went to the extent of confiscating the construction material of the company thrice. The municipal authorities then filed a caveat petition in the court and also wrote to the HVPN authorities not to provide power connection to the company unless it obtained the requisite licence from the municipal authorities. The company, which was to launch its services here about eight months ago, has not been able to do so till now. Ultimately, the company has now decided to fall in line with the stand taken by the municipal authorities. The company has submitted an application with the municipal committee after remitting Rs 80,000 as the security deposit. The company has also deposited the licence fee with the authorities. The municipal authorities have sent the application to the Director Urban Development, Haryana, for approval. The municipal secretary Mr Vijay Sharma, said the company had also got a third-party insurance of Rs 40 lakh for the purpose. The company had also attached a certificate issued by a HUDA officer declaring that the installation of the tower atop the building was safe, he added. |
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Drought relief not enough:
JD Faridabad, January 15 Stating this, the president of the state unit of the Janata Dal, Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, has alleged that a paltry sum of Rs 61 crore had been released as compensation for the crops damaged due to drought last year. He said the amount was inadequate and there had been discrimination in its distribution. He said about half of the total amount released had been given to the Bhiwani parliamentary constituency alone while the rest had been allocated to the remaining districts. He said farmers of six districts had not been given any relief although a large-scale damage had been caused to standing crops due to scanty rainfall. |
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Residents to surrender cable connections Ambala, January 15 The federation has decided that in case there is further hike “the residents of these 20 colonies shall install their own dish antennas to get rid of frequent increase in rates by cable operators.” The general body meeting of the federation was held in Arya Nagar under the presidentship of Mr Shiv Dayal Gupta. “The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, is requested to call for meeting of representatives of cable operators and welfare societies to sort out the issue and regulate monthly rental as requested earlier,” a resolution of the federation stated. Mr N.D. Arora, secretary general of the federation, said the federation shall approach Haryana Government to exempt senior citizens from the payment of house tax on the pattern of Delhi Government. “ Federation shall take up the issue of payment of electricity charges with chairperson. Haryana power utilities, as voluntary deposit scheme on the lines being adopted in UP, Uttaranchal, Karnataka and Maharashtra,” he
said. The federation has observed that Deputy Commissioner, Ambala should fix maximum rate of Rs 501 in case of marriage or birth in rhe family to be paid to eunuchs.
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Police asked to book 7 for attempt to
murder Fatehabad, January 15 The complainant had alleged that the suspects — Suresh, Ramji Lal, Rajender Kumar, Lal Chand, Ashish, Naresh and Kanshi — tried to kill him by running him over with a tractor due to a property dispute on January 10. The complainant saved his life by running towards his house but the suspects followed him to his house and beat him up. The suspects told him that they would teach him a lesson hiding a suit against them. The complainant said he was saved by his mother and two brothers. The complainant went to the Baropal police post for the registration of an FIR but the police refused to do so. The court has now directed the police to register the FIR and investigate. |
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Jawan cremated with honours Yamunanagar, January 15 Balwinder Singh (25) was posted at 43-Rashtriya Rifles in Rajouri. He joined the Army in July 1997. Balwinder Singh was killed on January 12 in a crossfire between the Army and terrorists at Dharal village in Rajouri sector. More than 1,000 persons attended the cremation. Those who attended his cremation include Mr Vijayendra Kumar Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajinder Singh Gahlot, Superintendent of Police, Mr Blwant Singh MLA Sadhaura, Ms Renu Phulia, SDM, Mr Mahaveer Parshad, City Magistrate, Mr Vijender Singh, DSP and Mr Amilal Chairman Zila Parishad. Mr Vijayendra Kumar, laid a wreath on behalf of the Chief Minister, Ms Renu Phulia on behalf of the district administration, Mr Rajinder Singh on behalf of the district police, and Capt Sukhwant Singh from Ambala Headquarters on behalf of the Chief of Army staff, Subedar
Ramphal, who accompanied the martyr’s body laid a wreath on behalf of 43 Rashtriya Rifles. |
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3 held for illicit betting Fatehabad, January 15 According to report, the police party from Bhattu Kalan police station in this district went to raid the house of Rajinder at Thuian village. The police had received a tip-off that illicit “satta” was being operated from that house. When the police party led by ASI Prithvi Singh, raided the place some villagers sitting there allegedly attacked the police party. When the police retaliated, the eight of the 11 suspects managed to escape. The police arrested Santosh, Azad and Hardayal and registered cases against Santosh’s husband Rajinder and seven others. They have been booked. |
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Residents block
NH-10 for 3 hrs Sirsa, January 15 The police also reached the spot. The Superintending Engineer of the Public Health Department asked for five days’ time to redress their grievance. Women also staged a demonstration and raised slogans in front of the house of municipal councillor Harish Bala. She claimed that she had pointed out these problems to the Chief Minister a number of times. |
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