Tuesday, November 17, 1998

New crop insurance policy soon
HANUMANGARH, Nov 16 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, promised to implement a new crop insurance policy at the district level throughout the country in the coming year.

Govt threatens legal action against Jaya
Told to withdraw remarks
CHENNAI, Nov 16 — The Tamil Nadu government today threatened to initiate legal action against AIADMK chief Jayalalitha if she failed to withdraw her statement alleging that “administrative degeneration” had “led to hypothecation of the state’s property and assets”.

Clubbing of Romesh pleas questioned
NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The Delhi High Court today questioned the validity of clubbing different prayers in one petition by Romesh Sharma, an alleged accomplice of Dubai-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, including the quashing of four of the 16 FIRs and the release of 14 cars.

Work on 7,000 km expressway to begin on Dec 30
NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — Work on the 7,000-km-long six-lane expressway connecting Kashmir in the North to Kanya Kumari in the South and Silchar in the East to Saurashtra in the West would commence on December 30.

Test-firing of missile over
KOCHI, Nov 16 — The naval version of India’s indigenous short-range quick-reaction surface-to-air missile "Trishul" was today successfully test-fired here for its crucial role as a sea-skimming missile against anti-ship enemy missiles.

One shot at, Rs 3.30 lakh robbed, recovered
NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — Two unidentified persons shot an employee of Rapcon International Service Company this afternoon on Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place and decamped with Rs 3.30 lakh.

Haryana gangster held at ISBT
NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The north district police have arrested a dreaded gangster of Haryana who carried a reward of Rs two lakh on his head.

Cyclone kills 6 in Andhra, crops damaged

HYDERABAD, Nov 16 (PTI, UNI) — Six persons were killed and houses and paddy crops in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts destroyed when a severe cyclonic storm, accompanied by heavy rain and gales, crossed the coast near Yellamanchali in Andhra Pradesh last night, official sources said.

As much as 46,000 acres of paddy crop in Srikakulam, 70,000 acres in East Godavari and large stretches in the Bhogapuram area of Vizianagaram districts were damaged by the cyclone, which also damaged over 63 houses in the region.

As many as 32,000 persons from 81 villages from the affected regions were evacuated from vulnerable areas.

Four persons were killed in the cyclone in Visakhapatnam and two died in East Godavari.

State Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, today visited the cyclone-affected regions of Visakhapatnam district after reviewing relief and restoration measures taken by the officials.

Work for restoration of power supply which was disrupted due to damage to feeders was progressing and out of the 131 feeders damaged, eight had been restored, the sources said.

A woman died in a wall collapse at Vadathimdukula while another was washed away in the overflowing Ravikamata rivulet at Makvanipalem. An old man died due to severe cold at Pakhiri Sabhebpeta and a fisherman was washed away in the sea at Paravad village.

The 60 km-wide "eye" of the cyclone also damaged crops and disrupted communication, train services and uprooted nearly 1,500 huts and several electric poles.

At least 2,000 huts and houses were damaged and a number of roads breached in the four coastal districts.

The cyclone also damaged a number of electrical installations, including 131 feeders in Visakhapatnam and 25 feeders and 9 substations in Vizianagaram. More than 20 minor irrigation tanks were damaged in the Tekkali area in Srikakulam district.

The cyclonic system has weakened and moved towards Raipur in Madhya Pradesh.

Govt to seek basmati patent cancellation

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — The Union Government will soon approach USA for cancellation of the patent awarded to a US company on basmati rice, Attorney General Soli Sorabjee informed the Supreme Court today.

He said the Bio-Diversity Bill, the Geographical Indicators Bill and the Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Protection Bill were being framed to protect age-old Indian agricultural products from being patented by outsiders.

"The Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Protection Bill is in the final stage and would be placed before Parliament during the winter session," the Attorney General submitted before a three-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice A.S. Anand, Justice V.N. Khare and Justice M. Srinivasan.

Sorabjee said: "Best legal brains in the USA and 15 to 20 scientists are involved in the whole exercise to move for the cancellation of the patent on basmati rice."

The Attorney General refused to elaborate saying, "I do not want to reveal the strategy keeping in mind the resources at the command of the USA."

Sorabjee was submitting during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Economy seeking a direction from the court to the government to challenge the patenting of basmati rice in the name "Texmati" by Rice Tech Corporation of USA early this year.

Attorney General said various steps required for amendment of Patent Act "are also under the active consideration of the Government of India".

"The Government is fully alive to the situation, its gravity and importance and is taking steps to protect the interests of the nation," Sorabjee said.

Counsel for the petitioner, senior advocate Indira Jaising submitted that the Government should bring in legislation which would prohibit and recognise any patent in genetic material in the agricultural field.

Sorabjee said all the legislation drafted in this field has to keep in mind the trade related intellectual property rights (TRIP) agreement and the government was doing its best to keep the nation’s interest intact.

Sorabjee said by the bio-diversity Act, the Government was contemplating prohibition of bio-piracy and through the geographical indicators Act patenting of agricultural products known by place names like Darjeeling Tea would be prohibited from being patented by outsiders.

The court, after recording petitioner’s satisfaction in the action and steps taken by the government in regard to various aspects of bio-piracy, disposed of the petition saying "if there is any shortcoming in the Acts that were being prepared, it can be brought to the notice of the court."

New crop insurance policy soon
From Our Correspondent

HANUMANGARH, Nov 16 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, promised to implement a new crop insurance policy at the district level throughout the country in the coming year.

He said the scheme would come to the rescue of farmers and small industries which were affected a lot due to natural calamities this year. Keeping in view the interests of farmers a chain of cold stores would be set up in the country, the Prime Minister said while, addressing an election rally here this afternoon.

Attacking the performance of the Congress during the past 50 years and defending his government’s record in eight months, he claimed the BJP was working for social and economic development, poverty eradication and said it was committed to providing an honest and stable government. Accusing the Congress of inciting communal riots and blaming it for all prevailing ‘corruption’ in the country, he claimed that no caste-based tension had arisen in the country during the eight-month rule of the BJP.

Seeking a vote for his party, the Prime Minister alleged that almost all Congress leaders were involved in one scam or the other.

Acceding a long-pending demand of the area, he promised that a railway track would be laid between Sardar Sahar and Hanumangarh.

Clarifying his party’s stand on nuclear test, he said the country was facing a potential threat from its neighbours.

The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by Mr Devi Lal of the INLD, was addressing the rally in favour of the BJP candidate , Mr Ram Partap, here.

Agencies add: Elaborating on the proposed insurance scheme, the Prime Minister said the old one was meagre and did not protect the interests of all farmers in every state.

Elaborating the existing insurance scheme, he said the natural calamities, including floods and drought, never spared anyone, including the farmers, and it always had disastrous impact on the farmers.

The new scheme would give priority to farmers and their produce to encourage agro-based industries. The government and the farmers would be asked to contribute equally under the new scheme to cover crop damage and their lives, he said.

He underlined a need to set up a number of ‘storage plants’ to meet the exigencies at the time of acute shortage of vegetables.

He dismissed charges that his government had ‘failed’ to deal with the price situation and reiterated that it were the wrong policies and decisions of the former Congress governments that had brought the country to this situation. He alleged that Congress governments never did anything for farmers.

Referring to the current onion crisis, the Prime Minister said that due to unseasonal rains, the crops were damaged, leading to a shortage, but now onion had been imported and prices had started falling.

Govt threatens legal action against Jaya
Told to withdraw remarks

CHENNAI, Nov 16 (PTI) — The Tamil Nadu government today threatened to initiate legal action against AIADMK chief Jayalalitha if she failed to withdraw her statement alleging that “administrative degeneration” had “led to hypothecation of the state’s property and assets”.

Referring to Jayalalitha’s statement yesterday in which she had charged that property of the state electricity board and transport corporations had been hypothecated for payment of wage arrears and bonus, Mr Karunanidhi said the allegation was a “naked lie”. The government had not pledged any property to anyone, he said.

On her allegation that the government had hypothecated the electricity board’s assets to secure loans from the IMF, he said the IMF did not sanction loans to state governments directly.

Only in exceptional cases, the IMF demanded collateral security for loans sanctioned to the governments, he said, adding that even the Indian government had to pledge some property in 1991-92 to secure loans to tide over the balance of payments crisis.

Mr Karunanidhi also denied her allegation that a state transport corporation’s depot in the city had been pledged to pay bonus for transport corporation workers. The government had given Rs 70 crore to transport corporations for the payment of bonus, he said.

However, it was the AIADMK government which had granted permission in 1994 to transport corporations to change the type of security for credit facility from buses to land and buildings, he said.

UNI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi termed as “fictitious” Ms Jayalalitha’s charge that the state electricity board (TNEB) had mortgaged some of its assets with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to pay bonus to workers and clear Rs 15,000 to each of them by way of wage arrears.

He also denied Ms Jayalalitha’s allegation that there was a delay of 18 months in negotiating pay hike for the TNEB workers. In fact, the pay hike became effective within three months of the hike in salaries of state government employees, he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said Ms Jayalalitha, as a former Chief Minister, was aware that the IMF could not grant direct loans to the states. “But she is resorting to making baseless charges with a view to preventing flow of private sector investment in the power sector and lower the credibility of the TNEB. This amounts to nothing but “defamation”, he charged.

Mr Karunanidhi pointed out that the Centre alone could avail of loans from the IMF, that too during times of foreign exchange crises as in 1991-92.

He also termed as “false”, her allegation that the Alandur depot and some other depots of the state transport corporations had been pledged to public sector undertakings for obtaining loans to pay bonus to the transport employees.

He said during the previous AIADMK regime, the state government had allowed hypothecation of land and buildings with banks. He also circulated copies of the order to this effect issued on September 23, 1994.

Dinner issue rocks Andhra House

HYDERABAD, Nov 16 (PTI) — The controversial dinner hosted by a Telugu Desam activist in which endangered animals’ meat was allegedly served rocked the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on the opening day of its winter session today leading to adjournment of the House for the day.

The main opposition, the Congress, stalled the proceedings for 45 minutes demanding that the House immediately discuss the “Venison dinner” hosted on October 13 in Khammam district, setting aside the question hour.

Speaker Y. Ramakrishnudu disallowed adjournment motions on the issue, saying that the convention was to have only question hour on the first day as the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) would have to meet and decide the agenda for the rest of the session.

Sharply reacting to the Speaker’s ruling, agitated Congress members led by floor leader P. Janardhana Reddy, constantly interrupted question hour, arguing that there were precedents for taking up discussion on important issues after cancelling question hour.

Five ministers who had attended the dinner were present in the House when the issue was sought to be raised.

After his repeated pleas went unheeded, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day without taking up a single question.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu left five minutes after the House assembled evoking strong protests from Mr Reddy.

Though the Speaker clarified that the Chief Minister was leaving for Visakhapatnam to visit cyclone-affected areas, the Congress members raised slogans, terming Mr Naidu and his Cabinet colleagues as “irresponsible”.

The five ministers who attended the controversial dinner did not react while the Congress members repeatedly sought to vent their ire on them saying, “These people were enjoying the meat of endangered species while the State was slipping into darkness with the Srisailam powerhouse being inundated on the same day.”

The Speaker, however, refused to deviate from the agenda, mentioning, “On earlier occasions, question hour was set aside to take up a discussion on important issues when there was unanimity among the Opposition members. But in this case, only the Congress and NTR-TDP had given adjournment notices on the issue,” he said.

The efforts of Higher Education Minister K. Prathibha Bharathi to reply to the first question proved in vain in the din raised by Congress members.

Earlier, the entire Opposition members, barring the BJP, rose to their feet when Speaker disallowed the five adjournment motions sought to be moved by the Congress, CPI, CPM, NTR-TDP and Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

While the Congress and NTR-TDP sought a discussion on the controversial “Venison dinner”, CPI and CPM gave notices on the alleged failure of State and Central Governments to check the price rise of essential commodities.

The MIM had given notice for a discussion on the inundation of the Srisailam powerhouse and the financial loss to State following closure of the unit.

Clubbing of Romesh pleas questioned

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today questioned the validity of clubbing different prayers in one petition by Romesh Sharma, an alleged accomplice of Dubai-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, including the quashing of four of the 16 FIRs and the release of 14 cars.

Not satisfied with the prayers for remedy under different acts in the same petition, a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Devinder Gupta and Mr Justice N.G. Nandi deferred the matter to November 24 after Sharma’s counsel H.R. Suhail Khan said he would produce some case laws on the question on the next date.

The Bench said, the petitioner had to “prima facie” satisfy the court whether pleas under different acts could be made in the same petition when the relief sought was different.

Sharma had sought quashing of FIR (801) under the Wildlife Protection Act in connection with the alleged seizure of one leopard and two tiger skins from his house, FIR (802) under the Excise Act pertaining to the seizure of costly foreign liquor, FIR (803) under the Arms Act for the recovery of 14 live “.32 bore revolver cartridges” and FIR (807) in connection with the alleged grabbing of three properties.

Besides, Sharma sought the release of 14 cars including two Mercedes Benz, claiming that none of them was connected with the alleged case. There was no mention of the cars in any of the 16 FIRs, Mr Khan claimed.

All FIRs sought to be quashed were registered with Hauz Khas police station here.

Romesh Sharma’s counsel claimed that the police had no power to register a case under the Wildlife Protection Act as this authority rested only with the Wildlife Department. Moreover, the leopard and tiger skins recovered by the police from Sharma’s residence were about two centuries old, Mr Khan said.

He said the liquor seized from his residence two days after Divali by the police and the Excise Department was gifted to him by some of his friends. The seizure was made when Sharma was in the Hauz Khas police station, Mr Khan claimed.

Regarding the recovery of 14 live cartridges, he said Sharma had a licensed revolver, which was deposited with the court at Allahabad for the renewal of licence. The licence had clear entry regarding purchase of the cartridges, he said.

Mr Khan said a complaint regarding the alleged grabbing of a portion of Regal building and properties at Palam Vihar and Anand Niketan was registered by Sanjay Sabharwal, while a similar complaint was lodged with Connought Place police station by a broker T.R. Anand in June, 1996. The matter had earlier reached the high court, Mr Khan said.

Justifying the clubbing of all matters in one petition Mr Khan said since the petitioner in the cases was the same, he could under law club all matters in a single plea.

But the court was not satisfied with his contention and said different acts were applicable in each of the cases.

At the most the petitioner could request for hearing all the matters by the same Bench, but there should be separate petition in each case, the court said.

Work on 7,000 km expressway to begin
on Dec 30
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — Work on the 7,000-km-long six-lane expressway connecting Kashmir in the North to Kanya Kumari in the South and Silchar in the East to Saurashtra in the West would commence on December 30.

The foundation stone of the project would be laid by the Prime Minister on December 30 in Bangalore and work would be started at 20 centres simultaneously, the Union Surface Transport Minister, Dr M Thambi Durai told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on roads organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) here today.

Inviting tendering for the project would commence soon , he said adding that prior to the commencement of the project a high-level meeting would be held between the Finance Minister, other Cabinet Ministers and leading financial institutions for sorting out the issue of financing of the mega project.The issue of allowing 100 per cent equity in the roads sector would also be considered at the meeting , the Minister said.

Regarding the financing the project, Mr Thambi Durai said that three options are being looked into at present-budgetary allocation, private sector participation and loan from banks and financial institutions.

"We are working out the details and would be taking up the matter with the FIs at the December 14 meeting", he said. Floating of new financial instruments to fund the project on an ongoing basis may also be considered, he added.

Ealier, a seminar on "Indian Roads: New Directions" Mr Durai clarified that the government would not take part in toll collection.

Urging the industry to supplement the government’s effort in building expressways, the Minister said that since expressways were to be developed on purely commercial basis, the industry should come forward to invest.

Test-firing of missile over

KOCHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — The naval version of India’s indigenous short-range quick-reaction surface-to-air missile "Trishul" was today successfully test-fired here for its crucial role as a sea-skimming missile against anti-ship enemy missiles.

This brings to an end the current series of tests of the sophisticated weapon.

The all-important test-firing took place at 1750 hrs from the special launch pad on INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy’s offshore establishment at Fort Cochin.

Immediately after the successful test-firing, project director A.K. Kapoor told PTI that the missile was fully guided and travelled at supersonic speed throughout its flight against a floating target.

One shot at, Rs 3.30 lakh robbed,
recovered
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — Two unidentified persons shot an employee of Rapcon International Service Company this afternoon on Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place and decamped with Rs 3.30 lakh.

The police later recovered the money.

The incident occurred at a one km distance from the office of the Rapcon International when the victim, Prashant Nayak, (32) was going to deposit the money in a bank. He was a peon in the company, Deputy Commissioner of Police, T.N. Mohan said.

The assailants were in a white Maruti Van, along with three other accomplices and parked the vehicle in front of the Tolstoy House, few metres from the office of Rapcon International.

As the victim reached near the house, the assailants came out of the car, fired at him and ran away with the money kept in the bag.

The victim received injury on his thigh. He is under medication in the Ram Manohar Hospital and is stated to be out of danger, the DCP said.

He said that there were different registration numbers on the front side and the rear side of the car. On the front side it was DNJ 204 while on the rear side it was DNJ 2104.

The DCP said that a red alert was sounded in the area. The police at Teen Murti noticed the white Maruti Van and followed it. Near Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri the assailants left the Maruti Car and went into residential area nearby. The money was also kept inside the van.

The traffic personnel followed them in the area but they fired a few rounds in air and ran away. The police recovered the van as well as money, the DCP said.

Haryana gangster held at ISBT
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The north district police have arrested a dreaded gangster of Haryana who carried a reward of Rs two lakh on his head.

The arrest of Basant, alias Basanta and his accomplice, Joginder, alias Kala has enabled the police to solve a case of murder of a Bhiwani-based child-specialist.

Basant and his accomplice, Joginder were arrested from the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) on Sunday.

Police have seized a .305 bore country-made pistol and two live cartridges from Basant and a country-made pistol from his accomplice.

Mr S.N. Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North District said that Basant was involved in 36 cases of murder, kidnapping, extortion, dacoity, robbery and theft in Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, and was declared a proclaimed offender in 13 cases.

"Start governing" is Cong message to BJP
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The Congress today said Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s ultimatum yesterday to the BJP government at the Centre was an "invitation to start governing’’ and that it was not interested in toppling the Vajpayee government.

The party spokesman, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, said Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s advice to the BJP Government at a public rally here to either perform or quit should not be interpreted beyond an "invitation to (BJP) start governing’’.

Reacting to BJP’s statement that warming of ties between the Congress and the CPM was to derail the BJP-led coalition, he said the attack was to "distract attention from withering away of its own (BJP-led) coalition’’.

Commenting on the BJP which issued a six-page document providing details of the Congress-CPM ties, the party sought to remind that it was the BJP which joined hands with the CPM in forming non-Congress governments in 1977 and 1989 at the Centre.

‘’The BJP is engaging in trying to distract attention from the withering away of its own coalition, by pretending that opposition parties were getting together to topple the government,’’ he said adding: "when suicide is on there is no cause for mercy killing’’.

To a question on TMC leader, Mamata Banerjee’s charge that Congress and the CPM had entered into a joint venture to gain power at the Centre, he said an invitation from the President of Nehru Society (Mrs Sonia Gandhi), to the West Bengal Chief Minister (Mr Jyoti Basu) did not mean it was an invitation from the Congress President to a political colleague for a political purpose.

The party’s other spokesperson, Mrs Ambika Soni, said the statements by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister criticising the coming together of the Congress and the CPM only reflected the level of confidence the BJP had in itself.

She also said the BJP in its manifesto claimed it could not fulfil its promises because of non-BJP government at the Centre was not a proper comparison. She said during the last eight months the BJP had been in power, it could not control the prices of essential commodities, or prevent atrocities on women.

The party spokesperson also advised the BJP to act as a responsible political party and not "misguide’’ the people or use "unparliamentary language’’.

New Delhi constituency
Congress banks on BJP's "failures"
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — Delhi’s, perhaps the country’s most prestigious Assembly constituencies fall under the New Delhi Parliamentary seat because of the voter profile.

The President, the Prime Minister, most of Cabinet Ministers, senior bureaucrats and the dwellers of some slum clusters are inhabitants of this VIP constituency in the heart of the Capital.

Sarojini Nagar, Gole Market, Minto Road, Kasturba Nagar and Jangpura are the five Assembly constituencies falling in this area.

A veritable mini-India, this area has some of the finest architectural jewels from the days of the Raj, the diplomatic area and six five star hotels as well as government employees' quarters and slum clusters.

During the last Assembly polls in 1993, the BJP candidates from Gole Market, Sarojini Nagar and Kasturba Nagar had won while the Congress nominees from Minto Road and Jangpura were elected to the Delhi Assembly.

The stakes are high for the Congress in the Gole Market constituency where the Delhi Pradesh Congress president, Ms Sheila Dikshit, is contesting against the sitting MLA and former international cricketer Mr Kirti Azad.

The BJP candidate, Mr Kirti Azad, securing 46.79 per cent of the total votes polled had defeated the Congress candidate, Mr Brij Mohan Bhama. Mr Bhama had secured 37.39 per cent votes.

The Congress has fielded Ms Sheila Dikshit for this constituency considering it to be a safe seat for her after she lost the Lok Sabha polls contesting from the East Delhi parliamentary constituency. Large proportion of the electorate has migrated from Uttar Pradesh, the home state of the Congress nominee.

Ms Sheila Dikshit, who had been the former Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, is said to be close to the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi. Daughter-in-law of noted freedom fighter and former Governor Mr Uma Shankar Dikshit, Mrs Sheila Dikshit was born and brought up in the Capital.

On the other hand, cricketer Kirti Azad, is the youngest son of former Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr Bhagwat Jha "Azad". Plunging into political fray in 1993, Kirti Azad had been the resident of this Assembly segment for nearly four decades.

Contesting the Assembly polls in the Capital for the first time, Ms Sheila Dikshit has the responsibility of not only securing her victory but also her party’s in the polls.

With anti-incumbency factor working in her favour, Ms Dikshit is attacking the BJP for its failure to deliver its goods during its five year rule.

"Mismanagement and bad governance" has brought this mess upon the people of the Capital, the DPCC chief said, adding that "spiralling prices of onion, deterioration of law and order, adulteration of mustard oil, poor civic amenities are some of the highlights of the BJP rule."

This time, however, the sitting MLA is likely to face an uphill task as the DPCC chief is contesting from this seat. With the Congress rebel, Mr Romesh Sabherwal, stepping out of the electoral fray, the Congress would have a direct fight with the BJP.

Admitting that the prices of certain essential commodities have increased, the BJP candidate, Kirti Azad, claims that "I have worked here and the people would judge by my performance."

Highlighting the number of development works undertaken by him during his tenure, he said "through `pratibha ki khoj’ programme a large number of talented children living in slum clusters have been identified and their skills have been promoted."

Mr Kirti Azad categorically states that "the electorate of my constituency have not heard of long power cuts". However, the Congress candidate is trying to make this issue during her tours of the area wherein she would also attack the BJP for its slip-ups on the civic front.

The Congress in the New Delhi area is concentrating on local issues including the spiralling prices of essential commodities specially of onion,deteriorating law and order situation, water crisis and drainage problems.

In the Jangpura constituency, residents of posh areas complained that slum clusters around their areas were polluting. Either these should be shifted out to some other place or they should be kept clean.

Residents of jhuggis, on the other hand, complained that they do not have access to proper drinking water facility and for lack of authorised electricity connection they have to resort to "illegal connections".

Another complaint that has been pointed out by the residents of almost all five constituencies is that of a poor law and order situation.