Cong to corner govt
on paddy
GURGAON, Nov 3 — Launching an offensive against the HVP-BJP government following the recent visit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Jind and Rohtak districts, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee castigated it for denying relief to the farmers whose crops had been damaged because of rains.

"Food front scenario grim"
HISAR, Nov 3 — Scientists and experts, gathered here at an international conference on "Food Security and Crop Science" today, underlined the need for adopting an integrated approach to meet challenges of food security.

Levy sugar system to continue
CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Haryana Government today affirmed that the system of levy sugar and its distribution through the public distribution system would continue to operate as before.

Implementation of scheme reviewed
ROHTAK, Nov 3 — Mrs Kiran Aggarwal, Secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development, today visited the town to assess the implementation of Swaran Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana the District Urban Development Agency.

Pilgrims throng Kapal Mochan mela
YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 3 — More than 3 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the region arrived for the Kapal Mochan mela at Bilaspur, about 25 km from here, on the second day today to take a holy dip on the eve of Kartik Purnima.

Six absconders arrested
KURUKSHETRA, Nov 3 — The offenders arresting cell of the district police has claimed to have arrested six offenders who had been absconding for the past six in 16 years.

Roadways GM denies charge

Conservation week

Low payment for paddy alleged

Stone crushers to be revived
By Rajmeet Singh

PANCHKULA, Nov 3 — At least 100 stone crushers in Haryana which had to be shut down in the face of stringent pollution control norms will once again become operational thanks to a recent decision taken in this regard by the state government.

The decision to make the stone crushers, located in Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Yamunanagar and Panchkula, operational has been taken at the cost of certain sitting parameters which had been proving to be a hindrance in their revival.

Sources in the Environment Department, Haryana,said the bane of the owners of the stone crushers had been the criteria of minimum distance of a stone crushing unit from a National Highway, state highway and a village abadi. Earlier, the 20 stone crushers at Chandimandir could not be revived due to the minimum 850 metres distance from the abadi of Burk Kotian village.

There are around 600 stone crushers in the state of which at least 95 had been rendered inoperational due to the stringent citing parameters.

The government has through an amendment in the earlier notification, issued on December 18,1997, by the state Environment Department which pertained to the guidelines for stone crusher units has omitted the criteria of minimum distance required from a national highway, state highway and the minimum distance required from major district roads.

The minimum distance from a village abadi in the case of existing stone crushing units had been scaled down from 850 metres to 400 metres. Other pollution control norms had been left unchanged though with minor changes.

Sources say the decision by the government to do away with certain siting parameter apart the State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary in September, 1996, had in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court had stated that the minimum distance from a village abadi was 1000 metres as per a notification dated December 18,1992.

A section of the affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court read: "The primary commitment and concern of the board is to protect the environment and health of the people. It may be submitted that on account of any scientific studies, the requirement of distance may have to be increased and other conditions imposed".

Sources said however the government in another notification dated December 18, 1997, reduced the minimum distance from a village abadi from 1000 metres to 850 metres.

The Administrator of the State Pollution Board, Mr S.N. Yadav, when contacted confirmed that the minimum distance from a village abadi had been reduced from 850 metres to 400 metres. When asked about the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court by the board, he said the distance from village abadi had been reduced on the pattern of a scientific study conducted by the National Productivity Council for Punjab.

Cong to corner govt on paddy
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Nov 3 — Launching an offensive against the HVP-BJP government following the recent visit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Jind and Rohtak districts, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) castigated it for denying relief to the farmers whose crops had been damaged because of rains.

Sources in the HPCC said that the state unit was bidding time to launch a fresh campaign against the state government following a green light from the Central leadership. The campaign was expected to be launched after the elections in four states, slated towards the end of this month.

The Flood Relief Committee set up by the HPCC, headed by the state party chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today submitted a report to the AICC on the extent of the loss suffered by the farming community.

The HPCC demanded payment of remunerative price for the farmers’ paddy crop. Also, it asked for compensation at the rate of Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 per acre to the farmers whose crops had been damaged for one year, two years and three successive years, respectively. It further demanded immediate measures to dewater the fields.

In the report the HPCC charged that the Bansi Lal government had failed in providing relief to the farmers who had been hit by natural calamity. Unseasonal rains, hailstorms and squalls have caused devastation of crops worth about Rs 3,000 crore. This had ruined the economy of the farmers, it added.

The HPCC had got a survey of the loss of crops due to natural calamity done at the behest of the Central leadership. According to the survey report, cotton crops have been damaged for third successive year. Paddy crop has been damaged to the extent of 70 per cent. Also, large tract of land in several districts, such as Jind, Hisar, Sirsa, Sonepat, Rohtak, Kaithal, Bhiwani was under knee deep waters, rendering it unfit for sowing of next crop.

The report adds that Rabi crop has been badly destroyed and the farmers were unable to sow Kharif due to waterlogging in fields. Effective steps have not been taken for dewatering fields, it was added.

The Congress has taken the stand that government agencies responsible for the procurement of paddy were hand-in-glove with the traders to the detriment of the farmers. As the farmers were not getting remunerative prices, the farmers were compelled to go in for distress sale of their produce.

The report says that the Haryana Government made a claim to the Central government for a compensation of Rs 350 crore, which was raised to Rs 750 crore, as against the loss of Rs 3,000 crore worth of the crop.The crops damaged included the devastation caused to the paddy, cotton, bajra and toria and inability of the farmers to sow next crop due to the water in fields.

Attributing motives to the state government and the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre, the HPCC alleged that the visit of the Central team to assess the crop loss was a stagemanaged show. No prior publicity to the tour programme of the team was made to enable the affected farmers to meet it. Also, the team visited only few places "chosen" by the state government, it was added.

‘Govt should punish erring traders’
from K G Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL: Almost all sections of society have been badly hit by the unprecedented price hike of vegetables and other essential commodities. The housewives particularly are a disturbed lot. Almost all of them, whether in any income group, find it difficult to make both ends meet and to adjust the family budget.

A cross section of women interviewed by this correspondent maintained that while, on one hand, the price of essential commodities had skyrocketed, on the other, the employees' salaries have not shown a commensurate rise.

Even the new grades to employees by the Fifth Pay Commission do not match the price rise. In fact every salaried person had to remain under the debt of shopkeepers, vegetable sellers and milkmen. The story could be repeated from house to house.

The labour class is the worst hit. There has hardly been any increase in their income, with commodities like onions, potatoes and tomatoes registering a phenomenal price increase. As a sequel many of them have to cut their expenditure either on milk or on clothes or other essential items needed for the children's welfare.

Mrs Damyanti Tomar, resident of a modern colony here, who can be considered to belong to the upper middle income group, asserted that the recent price hike had almost broken the back of the consumers. Whether it was owing to a conspiracy by traders of the government's failure of little concern, but she maintained that the basic thing was that they had to cut down their expenditure on other essential items to adjust the family budget within their salary.

Mrs Poonam, another resident of the colony, stated that it was becoming increasingly difficult for housewives to balance their kitchen budget. For instance, a family of five persons in the past needed Rs 200 per month for vegetables but now the vegetables budget alone now had risen to Rs 600. Consequently, she had to cut down on fruits for children. This would naturally affect the health of the children.

She maintained that the price rise was the result of a nexus between the traders and the government. Had it not been so, the government could have taken early steps to contain the price of a cheaper commodity like onions, considered to be the common man’s diet in India. She was particularly sore about the role of the political leadership of the country which forgot about the salaried, the middle and upper middle classes after getting votes.

In view of the price rise in onion and vegetables, other essential items in the market had also become dearer. She maintained that the traders did not lose any opportunity to earn more profit at the cost of consumers.

Mrs Sangeeta Madhok, a non-resident Indian, also felt the pinch of the price rise. She was apprehensive that if the prices continued to rise like this in India, how would the labour and the salaried class make both ends meet. She was particularly concerned about the labour class which had no means to augment income from any other source. She was particularly sore about the role of the politicians who raised slogans and led voters on the garden path by promising big things. But ultimately, the dreams of the voters were shattered. She was of the view that the government should take steps to regulate the prices of essential commodities.

Mrs Rajni Madan was critical of the way the prices of the essential commodities were rising. Every family was finding it more and more difficult to balance the kitchen budget. She asked how onions had disappeared from the market, while before elections it was available in plenty. She pointed out that the government did not have the will to regulate the market and punish traders who were exploiting the consumers. In fact, the traders, firstly in league with the official machinery, created an artificial scarcity in the market, and then looted the public. She stated that she had to cut down on essential items to balance the budget for vegetables and other essential commodities. There had been a massive increase in the prices of ghee, pulses and other items. Taking a cue from the price rise, cloth merchants, milkmen, domestic servants, had also raised their rates. Even rickshaw pullers had started demanding more as they argued that it was difficult for them to bring up their families in the face of the price rise.

Mrs Anju, a labour class woman, was in tears when she started talking about the rise in prices. A migrant from Bihar, she stated that earlier they used to use onions mixed with green chillies as staple vegetable food for the family. But now as the onions had touched Rs 60 per kg and as chillies were priced high in the market, they have to take chappatis with salt. They could not afford milk except for preparing some cups of tea.

A number of pulses had gone out of reach for them. Fruits were a luxury. She maintained that even though four members of her family are earning, yet it was difficult for them to run their kitchen as labour charges have not risen commensurately. Buying new clothes had gone out of their reach.

She laments that when the family members, who are labourers, were not hired they had to sleep even without taking food. In such a situation, the labour class, she says, had no sympathy with the powers-that-be. In fact the price structure has completely upset their mode of living.

Murder of Excise official
Chautala demands CM's resignation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The President of the Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya), Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has demanded the resignation of the Bansi Lal Government in the wake of the murder of an Excise and Taxation official, Mr Lachhman Ram, in his office on November 1 and abduction of an Inspector, Mr Japan Singh Pannu.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Chautala said that the incident proved that criminal elements in the State were not afraid of authority. He said the officials of the Excise and Taxation Department had checked vehicles of a transport company which had been evading taxes for a long time. After the officials detected the tax evasion, they detained a number of vehicles belonging to the transport company. Soon after the vehicles were detained, the gruesome murder took place. The criminals also injured a driver and a chowkidar.

Mr Chautala said the incident had created panic in the area. The culprits should be immediately arrested. He also urged the Centre to tighten the law and order situation in the state, otherwise Haryana would lose its reputation as a peaceful State.

The Lok Dal leader alleged that wrong policies of the Bansi Lal Government had ruined farmers of the State. On one hand the farmers' crops had suffered extensive damage due to the unseasonal rains, on the other they were not getting the necessary agricultural inputs. The fields were still under water as a result of which rabi sowing was not possible.

Mr Chautala also criticised the State Government for demanding financial assistance of Rs 739 crore from the Centre. He regretted that the Chief Minister was not aware of the exact loss suffered by the farmers of the State. Earlier, the State Government had asked for only Rs 350 crore but later when the Lok Dal demanded a minimum assistance of Rs 1000 crore from the Centre, the Chief Minister also increased his demand.

Accusing the State Government of adopting anti-farmer policies right from its inception, Mr Chautala said it had never compensated the farmers for loss caused by natural calamities. Its claims about flood measures had also been exposed.

Mr Chautala demanded that the rain water should be drained out immediately and Rs 10,000 per acre should be paid as compensation to the farmers besides subsidy on certified seeds and fertilisers.

"Food front scenario grim"
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Nov 3 — Scientists and experts, gathered here at an international conference on "Food Security and Crop Science" today, underlined the need for adopting an integrated approach to meet challenges of food security.

The conference which began in CCS Haryana Agricultural University here today, is being organised jointly by the CCSHAU, the Society for Sustainable Agricultural and Resource Management in collaboration with the Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi and the Department of Science and Technology Government of India.

Inaugurating the conference Dr Mangla Rai, the Deputy Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said food production would have to be necessarily and substantially accelerated in the next three decades to meet growing demands of the rapidly increasing population. This, he pointed out, has to be done along with generating productive employment for the poor, access to food and nutritional security for all.

Dr Rai observed that despite favourable trends in agriculture, both poverty and malnutrition still remained serious problems. He disclosed that one out of every five persons still did not have enough means to buy two square meals a day and about 100 million children below five years of age were protein energy malnutritioned. Besides, he added, 40 per cent of population consumed less than 80 per cent of the total energy requirements.

He observed that growth of population was a matter of global concern, adding that all efforts on food front often get nullified due to increasing population pressure. Referring to Indian conditions he cautioned that in the year 2050 when the global population is expected to be about 11 billion, the Indian population would cross 1.5 billion and India would be the most populous country surpassing China. For this, he revealed that India needed to produce additional five million tonnes of foodgrain annually besides bringing substantial increase in marine and livestock production.

Dr Rai suggested that more attention should be paid to breaking the crop yield barriers and maximise the productivity in rain-fed areas which constituted 68 per cent of the total cultivable land. Besides more financial support needed to be granted as only those nations would be able to meet future challenges successfully which would fund agriculture research well.

Earlier in his presidential address the Vice-Chancellor of the CCS HAU, Prof B Chowdhury said that the problems of food security, poverty, equity and sustainability was a cause of common concern. He pointed out, despite green revolution and growth in food production problem of hunger and poverty still loomed large. If the green revolution is to yield sustained benefits, it has to become evergreen, he remarked.

Prof Chowdhury said that by the year 2050 the food needs would increase by at least 50 per cent. This increase had to be ensured despite declining cultivable land. Because, he pointed out, in most of the countries in Asia the cultivated area was declining due to increase in population, urbanisation and industrialisation.

The Vice-Chancellor said, to feed the world in next century more multi-disciplinary and multipronged efforts needed to be adopted as there might be scarcity of water due to increasing industrial base and population as well as drop in the use of agro chemicals which are known to cause problems to soil and human health and environment.

Addressing the conference Dr Tillman Waldraff, Director Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi underlined the need to adopt a common approach at the international level to meet challenges to food security at global level.

Dr SR Poonia executive chairman of the conference, Dr RP Aggarwal, Dr BPS Lather and Dr DP Singh also spoke on the occasion. Four books authored by Drs RK Bahal, GP Lodhi, AP Gupta, Neeru Narula, Bangarwa, N Elbassan and Prochonov were also released on the occasion.

Levy sugar system to continue
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Haryana Government today affirmed that the system of levy sugar and its distribution through the public distribution system would continue to operate as before.

Mr Ganeshi Lal Food and Supplies Minister, Haryana, today said that in a communication from the Directorate of Sugar in the Department of Sugar and Edible Oils, the Government of India had made it clear that it would continue to make allotment of levy sugar under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Delicensing of the sugar industry would not affect distribution of levy sugar under PDS to the consumers on ration cards as per fixed norms and prices fixed by the Union Government.

He said that the Central Government had delicensed the sugar industry and had deleted sugar industry from the list of industries requiring compulsory licensing under the provision of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. Apprehensions had been raised in some quarters that with the delicensing of sugar industry, the system of levy sugar distribution under PDS was being discontinued, he added.

Implementation of scheme reviewed
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 3 — Mrs Kiran Aggarwal, Secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development, today visited the town to assess the implementation of Swaran Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) the District Urban Development Agency.

The scheme was launched by the Centre on December 1 last year. It is based on community structure and various components of this scheme are urban self employment programme and wage employment programme.

Mrs Aggarwal discussed the formation of community structure under this programme with the non-government organisations. Thereafter, she visited beautician training centre being run under the Yojana at VT Centre, Red Cross Society, Rohtak. She also laid the foundation stone of a community centre to be constructed under the urban wage employment programme of the yojana in slum colony Kachhi Garhi mohalla and visited DWCUA groups in the activity of tailor and candle making being run by the agency in slum areas.

Later she interacted with neighbourhood groups and resident community volunteers of ward No. 1 to 8 constituted by the Haryana Nav Yuvak Kala Sangam and handed — over pass books of thrift and credit societies to group members.

Mrs Kiran Aggarwal appreciated the efforts and progress made by the urban agency and said Rohtak district was the first in the state which had implemented the yojana.

Pilgrims throng Kapal Mochan mela
From Ashwani Dutta

YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 3 — More than 3 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the region arrived for the Kapal Mochan mela at Bilaspur, about 25 km from here, on the second day today to take a holy dip on the eve of Kartik Purnima.

Three lakh more devotees are expected to reach by tonight. The pilgrims will take a holy dip in the three holy sarovars — Kapal Mochan, Rain Mochan and Suraj Kund — in the early hours tomorrow.

The mela has attracted few devotees this year because of the extensive damage caused by unseasonal rain. The mela has religious significance for both Hindus and Sikhs. A majority of the coming here are from the Malwa and Doaba regions of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

When this correspondent visited the site today, he was informed by the Mela Administrator, Mr Narinder Singh, SDM, Jagadhri, that the fair had been declared a state festival and the Haryana Government had provided Rs 5 lakh for it.

Boats had been kept ready to avoid any eventuality. To create awareness among the people about social welfare schemes and development projects, an exhibition has been arranged. Cultural programmes have also been organised.

Baker Singh an ex-serviceman from Rajayana village in Moga district, stated that he had been coming to the mela for the past 30 years and though there was a lot of improvement in the arrangements, there was a shortage of kerosene this time.

Some of the naga sadhus, who have reached the mela site for the holy dip tomorrow morning complained that there were no proper toilet facilities.

Mass marriage of 11 girls was performed by the District Red Cross Society at Kapal Mochan on the occasion. Ornaments were provided to the brides by the Lions Club, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri.

Mr Narinder Singh, who has been camping at the mela site for the past three days, said 7 quintals of alum had been used to wash all three tanks. As many as 100 safai karamcharis had been deployed to ensure proper civic amenities to the devotees and arrangement for 250 temporary toilets/urinals had been made. Four generators had also been provided at the site in case of an emergency.

According to legend, the Pandavas washed their weapons at the site to purify themselves after killing Guru Dronacharya in the Mahabharata. Guru Gobind Singhji too stayed at Kapal Mochan for 52 days in 1637.

Mr Om Parkash Kadiyan, DSP, Jagadhri, informed that 450 Home Guards, 540 policemen, 400 women police personnel and 100 volunteers had been deputed under three DSPs and eight Inspectors to look after the law and order. Dr D.R. Chug, Civil Surgeon, is also camping at the site.

Six absconders arrested
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Nov 3 — The offenders arresting cell of the district police has claimed to have arrested six offenders who had been absconding for the past six in 16 years.

District police chief Y.P. Singhal said Sucha Singh, a resident of Dera Fateh Singh, under Thana Pehowa in the district, had been arrested under four separate cases of liquor smuggling in 1982. But after he was released on bail, he absconded and started living at a temple in Ferumaan village under thana Byas in Punjab as a priest.

Similarly, Ram Chander, a resident of Kanthala village, near here, was also arrested in a liquor smuggling case. He had been arrested after a gap of 11 years. After his release on bail 11 years ago, he shifted to Uttar Pradesh and settled in Allahabad as a fish trader.

Another offender Sewa Singh, a resident of Sataura village in the district, was arrested 15 years ago. But after his release on bail, he went to Salempur town in Punjab and became a rickshaw puller. He had also been nabbed by the police after a gap of 15 years.

Other absconders arrested are Baldev Singh, a resident of Shaikhan Mohalla, Thanesar, Tek Chand, a resident of Ramgarh village in Panchkula district and Pawan Kumar, alias Kala alias Rup Chand, a resident of Shaikhan Mohalla, Thanesar.

BKU dharna against power cut
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 3 — The Bharatiya Kisan Union and the Kiloi Barha Panchayat staged a dharna at the mini-secretariat complex here today in protest against disruption of power supply to Kiloi village.

The village with a population of nearly 20,000 is without power for the past two months following the damage of transformers at Kiloi. The Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam (HVPN) has declined to replace the damaged transformers as nearly 95 per cent of the consumers in the village had not paid electricity bills for the past three years. The Superintending Engineer, HVPN, said power consumers of Kiloi owe approximately Rs 144 lakh to the nigam.

Former minister Krishan Murti Hooda, alleged that the Administration was discriminating against Kiloi assembly segment. He said crops of farmers in the constituency had been damaged and fields were still submerged.

Mr Hooda further alleged that the Administration had not taken any step to drain out flood water from Chiri, Gharothi, Dhamar, Makrauli Khurd, Makrauli Kalan, Rorki, Polangi, Kiloi, Bhalaut, Humayun Pur, Garhi Bohar and Mungan villages.

Mr Dharamvir Hooda, district president, Bharatiya Kisan Union, warned the Administration to restore power supply to Kiloi village, failing which farmers would intensify their agitation. The BKU also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

Haryana postings, transfers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Haryana Government today ordered another reshuffle of IAS/HCS officers in the state.

Mr Vijayendra Kumar, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Hansi, has been posted as such at Hathin vice Mr Suraj Bhan-II.

Mr D. Suresh, SDO (C), Jind, goes as such to Nuh in place of Mr B.B. Kaushik.

Mr S.P. Gupta, HCS, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Sonepat, becomes General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Rewari, vice Mr B.S. Yadav.

Mr H.S. Malik, Additional Director (Administration), Pt B.D. Sharma PGI M.S. Rohtak, has been appointed General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Rohtak.

Mr Phateh Singh SDO (C)-cum-Additional Collector, Panipat, goes are Secretary, R.T.A. Rewari, vice Mr Dalbir Singh.

Mr Subhash Chander, (awaiting orders) has been posted as SDO (C)-cum-Additional Collector, Gohana, vice Mr Hardeep Singh.

Mr M.S. Sehrawat, Deputy Secretary, Agriculture, becomes Managing Director, Cooperative Sugar Mills, Palwal, vice Mr Aurbind Sharma. Mr M.K. Mahajan, City Magistrate, Kurukshetra, goes as General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Sirsa, vice Mr M.S. Ahlawat. Mr L.P.S. Tomar, Deputy State Election Commissioner, Haryana, (designate) become City Magistrate, Panipat, vice Mr J.D. Arora.

Mr B.B. Kaushik has been appointed General Manager, Haryana Minerals Ltd, Gurgaon.

Mr R.C. Verma, City Magistrate, Kaithal, goes as SDO (C)-cum-Additional Collector, Hansi, vice Mr Vijayendra Kumar.

Mr K.K. Gupta, SDO (C)-cum-Additional Collector, Bahadurgarh succeeds Mr M.S. Sehrawat.

Mr N.K. Singla, HCS, Estate Officers, Urban Estates, Panchkula, becomes SDO (C)-cum-Additional Collector, Kosli, vice Mr B.R. Beri, HCS.

Mr R.S. Chahal (awaiting orders) becomes City Magistrate, Kurukshetra, vice Mr M.K. Mahajan.

Mr Vivek Atray, City Magistrate, Mahendragarh, comes as such to Ambala, in place of Ms Renu S. Phulia.

Mr Hardeep Singh goes as SDO (C), Jind, vice Mr D. Suresh. Mrs Indra Goyal, City Magistrate, Rohtak, succeeds Mr H.S. Malik. Mr J.D. Arora, goes as City Magistrate, Mahendragarh.

Mr Suraj Bhan-II, SDO (C), Hodal, goes as such to Bahadurgarh. Mr P.K. Sharma, Joint Director (Admn), Public Relations, succeeds Mr Phateh Singh. Mr Inder Singh-I, DDPO, Mahendragarh, becomes General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Sonepat.

Mr Shiv Dayal Thareja goes as City Magistrate, Kaithal.

Mr Dalbir Singh, Secretary, R.T.A., Rewari, becomes General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Delhi, Mr Jaibir Singh Arya, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Delhi, becomes Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Panchkula.

Mr Aurbind Sharma goes as General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Yamunanagar. Mr S.K. Katyal becomes City Magistrate, Rohtak.

Mr A.C. Kapil, (awaiting orders of posting) will be Flying Squad Officer, Transport Department, Haryana, Chandigarh.

Mr Devender Singh Surjewala, DDPO, Faridabad, goes as such to Mehendragarh.

Roadways GM denies charge
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 3 — The Traffic Manager-cum-officiating General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Mr Kuldip Singh Ahlawat, has denied that water was found in a tank of the petrol station owned by the roadways here.

He said the allegation of a Union Leader, Mr Jal Karan Balhara, that water was found in supply of diesel on October 25 were 'baseless' and 'mischievous'. He also denied the allegation that roadways buses stopped along route due to use of adulterated diesel. The depot had received diesel supply from the Indian Oil Corporation on August 24 and October 29 only and not on the dates alleged by Mr Balhara.

However, the Haryana Roadways Bhrashtachar Virodhi Karamchari Sangathan, in a separate statement, alleged that on many occasions rain water and the water from sewers accumulated in bus stands and this water seeped into the diesel tank of the petrol station. Owing to this, the statement alleged, several buses had breakdowns along the routes.

Low payment for paddy alleged
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Nov 3 — Senior Congress leader and former Irrigation and Power Minister, Virender Singh has alleged that traders and commission agents are exploiting farmers by paying less rates for paddy than fixed by the government.

In a statement here today, Mr Singh alleged that against the fixed procurement rate of Rs 470 per quintal, farmers at several places were being forced to sell paddy for Rs 350 only. He said this was being done under the patronage of the government.

Mr Singh said that due to the indifference of government agencies towards paddy procurement, farmers were forced to sell it to commission agents and traders at a lower price.

He sought relaxation in standards for procurement as farmers has suffered heavy damages this year.

Conservation week
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — National Land Resources Conservation Week will be celebrated from November 14 throughout Haryana to focus the attention of the people towards the problems relating to the degradation of land resources and making them aware of the significance of conservation of land resources. The theme of the week is 'conserve soil for sustainable production.'

The Haryana Government has asked the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Industries, Panchayats, Town and Country Planning, Forests, Wildlife Preservation, Public Works (B&R), Public Health and Irrigation to lay special thrust on specific problem areas having land degradation due to alkalinity, salinity, water-logging, wind and water erosion and undertake activities for making the people aware of management of land resources.