Key witness shot dead
FARIDABAD, July 31 — Gunmen last night shot dead Raju, alias Rajender of Budena village on the busy Rajiv Gandhi Chowk near the Old Faridabad police post.

Municipal committee devoid of funds
KALKA, July 31 — The development work in the town has virtually come to a standstill, as the local municipal committee is facing a financial crisis. The committee is even finding it difficult to pay salary to the staff for July.

Six arrested for homicide
REWARI, July 31 — The Rewari district police has arrested Anand Yadav and his son Hari Om Yadav, Har Chand Yadav and his son Sadhu Yadav and Om Prakash Yadav and his son Laxmi Narain Yadav in connection with the death of a young Dalit pregnant woman Roshni Devi who was allegedly kicked in the abdomen by them.

Relief for mishap victims
SHAHABAD, July 31— The Deputy Commissioner, Mr T V S N Parsad, has announced a relief of Rs 5000 each for the persons who were seriously injured and Rs 3000 each for those who received injuries when a Haryana Roadways bus fell into a khud near Padlu village on the Shahabad-Brara road yesterday.

HPCC notice to Bhajan
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, July 31 — The leadership of the Haryana Congress has cracked a whip against its detractors in the party after dithering for more than a year by serving notices to its senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal.

The development has the potential to accentuate the bickerings in the party, which is already plagued by factionalism.

According to well placed sources in the Congress, the president of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has asked for an explanation from Mr Bhajan Lal for not attending a meeting of the extended Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) held in Faridabad a few days ago. Among others, the two MLA sons of Mr Bhajan Lal in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha — Mr Chandra Mohan and Mr Kuldip Singh — along with other two party legislators, Mr Jai Singh Rana and Mr Dhillu Ram, have been served with notices for keeping themselves away from the meeting.

Significantly, Mr Jai Singh Rana, who is also the vice-president of the HPCC, and Mr Dhillu Ram, are considered close to Mr Bhajan Lal.

However, Mr Bhajan Lal denied having received any notice regarding his absence in the extended HPCC meeting.

The meeting, which was billed as a significant one in Congress circles, was attended by the general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) and in charge of the Haryana Affairs, Mrs Meira Kumar. Another leader of the AICC involved with Congress affairs in the state, Mr Mukul Wasnik, attended the meeting which was convened on the pattern of the extended Central Working Committee (CWC).

The meeting was a brainstorming session to take stock of the prevailing political situation in the state and to think of ways to strengthen the party. The central leadership of the Congress was said to be also interested in the Faridabad meeting which was in keeping with the party’s efforts to win back its lost ground.

The sources said that although a couple of other party MLAs and some leaders of the party had not attended the meeting, they had informed the state leadership of their inability to attend the meeting for unavoidable reasons. Hence, they had been exempted from the notice.

It is learnt that the "erring" leaders had been asked to explain why they kept themselves absent from a meeting which was addressed by an AICC general secretary.

Significance is being attached to the action against Mr Bhajan Lal and his loyalists on several counts. It is seen as the state leadership calling the bluff of his detractors in the party who were indulging in a whisper campaign on his ability to take action against them. For, this is the first time that the state president had exercised his authority in facing his detractors head-on on issues involving the party affairs.

According to observers, the action of the state leadership of the Congress in seeking an explanation from Mr Bhajan Lal was in the offing. Addressing the extended HPCC meeting, Mrs Meira Kumar had cautioned that the party high command was keenly watching developments in the Haryana Congress. Both Mrs Kumar and Mr Mukul Wasnik had also said that no one was bigger than the party. They had also urged the participants to strengthen the hand of Mr Hooda, as also the party high command would extend full support to him.

However, the detractors of Mr Hooda — members of the factions headed by former president of the HPCC, Mr Birender Singh and Mr Bhajan Lal — made light of the explanations and said it was no indication that he had emerged stronger.

The Hooda lobby, on the other hand, has become vocal in support of its leader. In its list of "achievements" it includes the big turnout from Haryana for the July 28 march led by the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, in Delhi. However, the claim was being opposed by its opponents.

Haryana Assembly budget session:
Opposition exercised restraint
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 31 — The week-long Budget session of the Haryana Assembly, which concluded on July 29, would be described as "peaceful", going by the track record of the past few sessions of the House.

If the Opposition exercised restraint in defying the Speaker whenever he named any of its members, the Treasury Benches also did not use its majority to bulldoze the opponents out of the House. Even when the entire Opposition moved a motion for the removal of the Speaker, Mr Chhattar Singh Chauhan, who took shelter behind constitutional provisions to avoid a discussion on it, the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, in his capacity as the Leader of the House, generously suggested that it should be taken up immediately for a discussion and voting.

However, Mr Chauhan stuck to his guns that under the Constitution a notice of at least 14 days was required to move such a motion and he would not go beyond the Constitution. His stand was contrary to what he had done in the previous session when such a motion was taken up immediately. His assertiveness this time must have taken even Mr Bansi Lal by surpise.

Though the constitutional position was the same on both occasions, the circumstances were different. During the last session when the motion was taken up by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Faqir Chand Aggarwal, after Mr Chauhan withdrew from the House, the Opposition was not present in strength sufficient to ensure the motion's admission. This time the Opposition took no chance and remained present in the House so that it could not be "cheated" once again.

Observers got an impression as if all sides had drawn a "Lakshman Rekha" around themselves which they avoided crossing. During the debate on the admissibility of the motion against the Speaker, the situation became tense when the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and Mr Chauhan virtually clashed. Barring token support to the Speaker by the Treasury Benches, the latter by and large avoided any provocation. The Leader of the House sat patiently in his seat, without showing any signs of restlessness.

When it seemed the situation would just explode by either side crossing "Laksham Rekha", the Speaker adjourned the House. A solution was found in his chamber. The Opposition was satisfied after the motion was disallowed by the Deputy Speaker.

Similar efforts made on a number of occasions ensured that the proceedings of the House were not disrupted for long. Whenever the Speaker named any of the Opposition member, he withdrew from the House without creating ugly scenes.

It would be good for all concerned if the Leader of the House convenes a meeting of all parties before the next session to ascertain what the Opposition expects from the presiding officer and how the latter should conduct himself in the House. It leaves a bad taste when the Leader of the Opposition openly and repeatedly accuses the Speaker of partisan attitude and the Speaker also repeatedly and openly displays his political affiliations even from the podium of the House. In democracy, conventions may not have legal sanctions but they do make institutions work. It will be helpful if everyone follows healthy conventions.

The restraint exercised by all sides ensured the participation of all parties in the entire session. In the past the Treasury Benches have often complaint that the Opposition always avoids listening to the reply of the government on one pretext or the other. In this session the Opposition did not give any occasion of such a complaint. Even its walkouts were symbolic in nature. On most of the occasions the Opposition returned to the House after staging a walkout.

Making money at cost of human lives
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 31 — In April and May this year, 32 infants in Gurgaon, Alwar and Delhi died due to a mysterious disease. Puzzled health experts from Haryana, the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and from Rajasthan investigated the deaths. There were all kinds of conjectures. But finally a well known drug testing laboratory found that this unknown renal infection was due to the presence of diethyl glycol in the commonly used paracetamol preparation sold by a small pharmaceutical company. The government has taken action, but 32 infants died before they could see the world around.

This was no isolated case. There have been other cases also. Some are reported and some are not. In most cases either a wrong-drug, an excessive drug or a spurious drug had been administered mostly by registered medical practitioners and at times even by well-qualified ones." Excessive medication is the order of the day with many private practitioners," says Dr B.K. Sharma, Director of the PGI and an expert on internal medicine. He strongly believes that many patients suffer due to needless intake of medicines and it has become a fashion to consume all kinds of drugs.

Clearly, a nexus has developed between the manufacturers on one side and the practitioners and chemists on the other. In this game, some make millions by selling spurious drugs or charge heavily. "We have noticed very often that a medicine which should cost just Rs 2 is sold for Rs 20. Even the government is at times the victim," says Dr H.C. Nagpal, Civil Surgeon of Panchkula.

Spurious drugs are available over the counter and in plenty. Mr Krishan Chand Goel, President of the Haryana Pharmacy Council who has been leading a campaign from his hometown of Narwana, asserts that medicines worth millions of rupees are sold over the counter without any valid prescription and many of these are either expired or spurious. "We are playing havoc with the lives of people. And the tragedy is that no one cares," is his painful comment.

In Narwana, Jind and Kaithal, this correspondent witnessed this deadly game. An old woman walks to a chemist shop and presents a "parchi" and asks for a cough syrup; the chemist does not even look at the chit and sells some cough syrup. She is old and sputum retention could be harmful for her. "She has paid nearly double the actual price," a doctor who saw this, said later. This was in Jind. The same could be happening anywhere in the state.

"In many areas of Haryana" says Mr Goyal," oxytocin which is prescribed for pregnant women at the time of delivery, is commonly being administered to milch cattle to increase the flow of milk. This causes impotency and harmonal imbalance. But this is being sold openly by most shopkeepers with or without any valid licences." Even small shopkeepers sell this drug.

Haryana's Drug Controller M.L. Garg who claims to have been conducting raids and seizing spurious drugs, admits that the malady is very deep. A peep at his report shows how serious is the problem. Here are some cases detected by his staff.

The Drug Inspector, Rohtak raided the licenced premises of Maiden Lab, Bahadurgarh, and seized large amount of spurious drugs worth lakhs of rupees, which included perinorm tablets manufactured by IPCA, Ralnid tablet manufactured by Ralwin Pharma Delhi, Oxytetracyclin HCL Vet tablets manufactured by Coquin Labs, New Delhi, Tipcin tablets manufactured by Oyster Pharma Ambala, tablet Fenbro manufactured by Ralwin Pharma Delhi, Tablet Cosavil, tablet Depin Retard manufactured by Cadila Health Care, Ahmedabad, along with a large quantity of labels and packing material.

A team of Drug Inspectors of Ambala conducted a raid at a transport company and seized various drugs manufactured by Well Health Pharmaceuticals, Ambala city, which were suspected to be spurious. Five samples of the drugs were drawn for analysis from the transport premises and two samples from the factory premises. Out of these three samples namely contramoxazols I.P tablets, Fonewell plus tablets and Amoxycillin capsules were declared to be of grossly sub-standard quality.

The State Drug Controller, Haryana, raided the drug manufacturing premises of M/s Kylson Lab, Gohana. The firm was found packing and labelling about one crore paracetamol tablets which were actually got manufactured from Malviya Chemical Pvt Ltd Sahibabad. Drug Inspectors visited the premises of M/s Cure-Il Faridabad and seized spurious cotrimaxazole tablets. I.P. allegedly manufactured by Supreme Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, along with some packing material. The sample of this drug, on analysis, contained only 5 per cent of the actual drug.

A licensed factory of Karnal was raided by the Narcotics Control Bureau officials, and 126 kg of prohibited power of Mothakolon, an addictive chemical, was recovered. The Drug Controller raided the premises of M/s Gupta Medical Store, Ambala Cantt, and recovered 5900 tablets of Baralgan containing a banned formula.

But this just a tip of the iceberg and most government doctors admit this. The Drug Controller last year took 1875 samples. 1579 reports were received. 122 samples were of substandard quality, 11 were spurious. It cancelled six licences besides 189 sales licences. Another 302 were suspended during this year alone.

Health Minister Om Parkash Mahajan when contacted conceded that at times spurious medicines were sold over the counter without any prescription. But he defended his department by saying that the Drug Controller took adequate steps and that the government was vigilant.

There are other problems. The number of chemists is on the increase each year as are the number of manufacturers. The country has some 300 large and another 10,000 small units making all kinds of medicines. Some of these violate the norms set by the World Health Organisation. Haryana has a fair share of these. Staff shortage and corruption take their own toll.

Housewife stabbed to death
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, July 31 — Madhubala (30), a housewife of Sector 28, was this afternoon stabbed to death in her house.

The murder was detected by her four-year-old daughter when she found the door of the house open and her mother lying dead in a pool of blood. Her other children and husband were not present at the time of murder. It is believed that the murder was committed by burglars when Madhubala resisted them. Almirahs of the house were open and articles were scattered.

Key witness shot dead
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, July 31 — Gunmen last night shot dead Raju, alias Rajender of Budena village on the busy Rajiv Gandhi Chowk near the Old Faridabad police post.

Raju, who was one of the key witnesses in a murder case, was returning to his village in his car DL-3C-3849 along with Samaipal and Ajay. As the car neared the Mathura Road crossing the gunmen who were in another car started firing from a rifle. Raju, who was hit in the neck and chest, died on the spot.

The other occupants of the car were also fired upon but they were unhurt. The assailants escaped in their car.

Both Raju and Samaipal were eyewitnesses to the murder of Satbir, an uncle of Samaipal a few months ago.

No arrest has been made nor the getaway car has been found.

Municipal committee devoid of funds
From Our Correspondent

KALKA, July 31 — The development work in the town has virtually come to a standstill, as the local municipal committee is facing a financial crisis. The committee is even finding it difficult to pay salary to the staff for July.

The president of the committee, Mrs Mohini Nanda, said there was an income of Rs 1.25 lakh per month on account of stamp duties and development charges levied on registration of lands, but since the registration had been stopped the committee had been deprived of this income.

The president of the committee said no grant was being provided by the state government to the committee. Even the payment to contractors was also not being made. A grant of Rs 6 lakh received a few days ago, was earmarked only for slum areas.

Municipal Commissioner, Sangat Singh Nanda, demanded that the government should provide some special grant which could be spent for providing relief to calamity-hit victim. He said, a number of houses, in Khatik basti were damaged due to rise in stream water during the rains but the municipal committee could do nothing for the affected residents.

Six arrested for homicide
From Our Correspondent

REWARI, July 31 — The Rewari district police has arrested Anand Yadav and his son Hari Om Yadav, Har Chand Yadav and his son Sadhu Yadav and Om Prakash Yadav and his son Laxmi Narain Yadav in connection with the death of a young Dalit pregnant woman Roshni Devi who was allegedly kicked in the abdomen by them. The assailants had also allegedly injured with lathis her father-in-law Dharam Singh and brother-in-law Sat Pal at Pahlawas village, 22 km from here, on May 29, 1998.

A local court has remanded all six accused persons to judicial custody.

The arrests were made following the receipt of the death report given by the medical officer of the Safdarjang Hospital, Delhi, where Roshni Devi was hospitalised in a critical condition and died on June 4.

On June 10, the police had registered a case of culpable homicide (not amounting to murder) and of causing hurt to the aggrieved persons, against the above assailants who had allegedly violently attacked Dharam Singh and other members of his family when their buffalo had reportedly strayed into the assailants' green fields on May 29.

Relief for mishap victims
From Our Correspondent

SHAHABAD, July 31— The Deputy Commissioner, Mr T V S N Parsad, has announced a relief of Rs 5000 each for the persons who were seriously injured and Rs 3000 each for those who received injuries when a Haryana Roadways bus fell into a khud near Padlu village on the Shahabad-Brara road yesterday.

The deceased included Mr Anjali, a lecturer of Labana Khalsa Girl College, Brara, Mr Dev Kaur of Nanankpur village and Jasbir Singh of Kurukshetra.

Nine of the injured have been admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Parkash Narain hospital, Kurukshetra, while others were admitted to Civil Hospital, here.

Kerosene sold on 'black market'
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 31 — The Rural Committee of the Consumer Welfare Association yesterday alleged that a large quantity of kerosene oil supplied to fair price shops was being sold on the black market.

In a press note, it said the authorities of the Food and Supplies Department had issued instructions to the owners of the fair price shops in the villages to distribute 6.5 litres of kerosene oil on each ration card instead of 5 litres being distributed at present. This step, the association alleged, had encouraged owners of fair price shops to sell the oil in the black market.

The bulk quantity of the kerosene is sold by wholesale dealers or owners of the fair price shops in the black market.

The association further alleged that there was a the nexus between unscrupulous ration shop owners and corrupt officials of the department. It urged the state government to order a probe into the matter and punish the officials found guilty.

Plea to probe crime against women
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 31 — The president of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, yesterday expressed his concern over the increasing incidences of crimes against women and Dalits in the state and condemned the callous attitude of the administration in not taking steps to check this.

In a press statement, Mr Vidrohi alleged that since the taking over of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, there was a "jungle raj" in the state and cases of murders, robbery and rape were on the rise.

The people had lost confidence in the HVP-BJP alliance government which had failed on all the fronts, he alleged.

Mr Vidrohi urged the Chief Minister to issue a white paper on the crimes against women and Dalits during the past two years and set up commission to probe all such cases where the police had been responsible for criminal negligence.

He called upon all Opposition parties to launch struggle for the ouster of Mr Bansi Lal.

He said the Central Government had failed to check the price rise and blackmarketeering by hoarders.

Power crisis leads to angry protests
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 31 — The severe power crisis in the district has affected the law and order situation following repeated protests and instances of mob violence.

In the city, a large number of angry women held up traffic on the Sonepat-Murthal road near the Amrit Palace cinema house recently. Armed with lathis they beat scooterists and motorists who tried to pass by.

According to another report, a mob stormed into the power sub-station in the Kumahran Gate area and damaged the furniture and walls of the power sub-station a few days ago. The employees on duty ran away to save themselves from the wrath of the people.

Traffic was also held up for more than five hours on the G.T. Road near Kurar Ibrahimpur village by a large number of residents who were protesting against the non-supply of power to their villages.

Large number of vehicles, including buses and trucks were lined up on both sides of the road and thousands of people remained stranded for hours.

Reports of similar protests have also been received from Kami, Khewra, Nai Basodi, Basodi, Nahri and Tharu villages.

Resentment over lack of facilities
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 31 — Resentment prevails among residents over the lack of basic amenities.

Though the town has a population of over two lakh but it only has about seven tubewells for supplying drinking water which cover only 50 per cent of the population. Moreover, most of the water supplied is not fit for drinking. There is no proper open or underground drainage system.

In most of the areas, the storm water is disposed of through underground sanitary sewers, which often get choked with silt and dirt. Covers of manholes at most places are missing and in the absence of proper street-lighting, these become death traps.

Besides area earmarked for the development of parks in Sector 14 and 15, residential colonies of HUDA and Haryana Housing Board, have become a dumping ground for garbage.

Nearly 50 unauthorised colonies have come up within the municipal limits which are fast growing into slims.

Moreover, embankments of drain no. 6 passing through the city have been illegally occupied by the squatters and residential houses had been constructed on either sides of the embankments of the drain.

Reopen college, say teachers, students
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, July 31 — Resentment prevails among the students and teachers of Government Evening College, Faridabad, which has been closed on the orders of the Director of Higher Education, Haryana.

More than 100 working persons have already got themselves admitted to the evening college.

A delegation of teachers and students of the college led by Dr P.D. Sharma, a former president of the Haryana Government College Teachers Association, today met Mr Krishna Pal and Mr Harsh Kumar, ministers, to seek their intervention in reopening the college.

The ministers told the delegation that Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, Education Minister, had informed them that the college would not be allowed to be closed. But so far, no orders have been received from the government, Dr P.D. Sharma said.

Drive to remove parthenium
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, July 31 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anuraj Rastogi, has launched a drive to eliminate parthenium. He called upon voluntary and social organisations to adopt municipal wards for carrying out the task.

He said plant could be uprooted and later burnt. It could also be sprayed with chemicals.

Mr Rastogi exhorted all heads of government educational institutions to launch the drive immediately to remove the plant from their premises. He directed the HUDA authorities to start removing parthenium from the urban estate and housing board colonies.

The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to them to grow more trees. One lakh saplings would be planted in the district this year, he added.

Panchayat byelection schedule
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 31 — The State Election Commission, Haryana, today issued a notification for the third phase of the panchayat byelections in Kaithal, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Hisar and Panchkula districts.

The State Election Commissioner, Mr J.K. Duggal, today said that the nomination papers would be presented from August 1 to 3 between 10 a.m. .and 3 p.m. and their scrutiny would be done on August 4 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Candidature can be withdrawn on August 6 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The polling if required, would be held on August 10 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The counting of ballot papers would be taken up immediately after the close of polling on the same day at the same polling booth.

HSEB to impose power cuts
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, July 31 — In view of the unprecedented dry spell in Haryana and sudden increase in the demand of power for the paddy crop, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, has appealed to the people of the state to conserve energy and to bear with the temporary shortage of power so as to save the paddy crop.

The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB), which achieved an all time record power supply of 450.37 lakh units yesterday, finds it hard to meet the power requirement of 3.80 lakh tubewells.

The HSEB has decided to impose power cuts on urban and mixed urban feeders from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Zone-I comprising Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Narnaul, Rewari and Jind districts and from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. in Zone-II comprising Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Ambala, Panchkula, Karnal, Panipat, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonepat and Yamunanagar districts. The timings of the power cuts will be rotated in the two zones on weekly basis.

Autorickshaw strike ends
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, July 31 — Following an agreement between the Autorickshaw Kalyan Sangh and the district administration, the six-day-old strike by the autorickshaw drivers in the town was called off today.

The district administration had launched a campaign against the autorickshaw drivers who failed to fulfil the requisite provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and had impounded nearly 500 three-wheelers on charges of various violations. Besides, heavy penalties were imposed on the defaulters. The strict action by the administration panicked the autorickshaw drivers who went on an indefinite strike.

As per the agreement, reached with the intervention of the Commissioner, Rohtak division, the autorickshaw drivers would acquire proper documents along with a certificate by the Pollution Control Board. The administration, it is learnt, would cancel the challans and release the impounded vehicles if their owners produced such documents. The penalty on late payment of road tax has also been reportedly lowered from Rs 25 to Rs 5 per quarter.

Cylinder burst creates panic
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, July 31 — A panic-like situation was created after a gas cylinder exploded at an ice factory at Meham town, about 30 km from here, today. However, no one was injured in the incident.

According to information, the explosion brought down the ceiling of the factory located near the main bus stand. Workers rushed for safety. It is learnt that the pipeline of the ammonia gas was also damaged in the incident. Senior officials rushed to the spot and the factory premises were sealed.

Jain sangh plea to Haryana Government
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, July 31 — The Jain Shravak Sangh, Haryana, has urged the Haryana Government not to serve liquor and meat at official functions hosted by it.

A delegation of the sangh met the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, and the Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, in this regard on Wednesday and made a request to them. The secretary of the sangh said here yesterday that the Chief Minister assured the delegation that the demand would be considered sympathetically by the government.

He said that the request had been made after the Delhi Government had made an announcement in this regard recently.

Roads No 1 problem of Gurgaon
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON: Gurgaon is slipping as a centre for major industries as the basic infrastructure like roads is extremely poor.

What has irked the people here is politicking by municipal councillors on the one hand and brinkmanship between officials of the Municipal Council and its elected members on the other.

Except for a few and that too only partially, most roads are said to be in bad shape. The PWD and the local Municipal Council claim to have spent a huge amount on the repair and development of roads but their condition tells a different tale.

While pedestrians and the vehicular traffic face problems on account of bad road conditions, the situation is made worse on account of encroachments on them. A majority of the roads, especially the Old and New Railway Roads, and all roads falling in Sadar Bazaar— the main market of Gurgaon— are badly affected by encroachments. The district administration allegedly appears to be taking remedial measures against the encroachers in fits and starts.

The roads in poor shape include Basai Road, Old and New Railway Roads, Stadium Road, Alwar Road, Arya Samaj Road and a part of Sheetla Mata Road starting from Mahavir Chowk. The importance of these roads is that they form the artery of the town’s road network.

Use of substandard material at the time of metalling of roads, coupled with their poor upkeep are attributed to their present condition. Besides, the main roads do not have any outlet for drainage of rain water. Consequently, large chunks of roads are water-logged during the rainy season. Even a mild shower causes pools of water to collect on the roads. Its cumulative effect is wearing of their top surface. The water-logging even affects the life of a large section of the people as several colonies are located on the sides of these roads.

The roads are also dotted with potholes. These are a nightmare for commuters, particularly at night. Reports have it that there had been a number of road accidents due to jerks caused to vehicles.

The public’s cup of woe appears to be full with reportedly irresponsible behaviour of the elected members of the Municipal Council. They were apparently busy settling political scores with their opponents. The residents are further confused with the leaders of the Opposition parties and the municipal authorities trading charges with each other instead of meliorating the lot of the masses. The Opposition leaders allege that the state government was partial in its approach to the Gurgaon as the local MLA, Mr Dharamvir Gabba, belonged to the Congress. The authorities allege that the elected members of the Municipal Council were colluding to thwart collection of the house taxes resulting in loss of revenue.

There are several instances of apathy on the part of the PWD authorities which is responsible for the town roads.

Consequently, a number of cases of demonstrations and protests against the authorities by residents of various colonies over the poor condition of the roads are reported to have taken place. In one instance the consumer court here intervened for construction of a road. The roads in the rural areas of the district are worse off, if not equal.