Save-GJU body calls off dharna
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Oct 2 — The 65-day-long dharna by the Guru Jambheshwar University Bachao Sangarsh Samiti was today called off following the assurance by the Home Minister, Mr Mani Ram Godara, that the government will reconsider its decision on the status of the GJU.

The dharna was staged to protest against the controversial order of the Haryana Government making Guru Jambeshwar University a residential university. All the colleges, affiliated to the GJU, by virtue of this order were either affiliated to Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, or Kurukshetra University.

The coordinator of the GJU Bachao Sangarsh Samiti, Dr Inderjeet, said the protest had only been postponed in view of the assurances by Mr Godara. The decision (to withdraw the dharna) was taken after two hours of deliberations between the samiti members and the minister.

Dr Inderjeet told TNS that the minister had assured them, the government was likely to reconsider its decision after new Vice-Chancellor is appointed to the university. The present Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.L. Johar, completes his term on October 20.

Contrary to the claims of the members of the samiti, there was a general impression among people here that the dharna was called off on the instance of Mr Godara. They termed the assurances by the Home Minister as mere a "face saving" for the sangharsh samiti, which was finding it difficult to carry on the protest.

Guru Jambeshwar University was set up in 1995 by the Bhajan Lal Government. It is the only technical university in the state. The university managed to come up very well and was last year described as 'role model' university by the University Grants Commission.

After Mr Bhajan Lal lost power and Mr Bansi Lal took over, things changed for the university. The university had been facing difficult times since then. Despite that the university managed to carry on. In July, the Haryana Government issued a controversial order lowering the status of the university. This was also followed by a blanket ban on the recruitment in the GJU, KU and MDU. However, the main target of the ban order appeared to be the GJU only. As only a day before the said order, the GJU executive council had approved the appointment of 22 lecturers.

The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, is visiting Hisar on Sunday. Last time when the CM visited Hisar he had expressed displeasure over the dharna. However, this time his Home Minister managed to make the protestors to lift the dharna well in advance.

CM opens sewage treatment plant
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Oct 2 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today inaugurated the first phase of the Rs 72 crore sewage treatment plant at Mirzapur village set up under the Yamuna action plan.

The second plant at Badshahpur would be commissioned by the end of this month and the third at Gonchi in December.

The Yamuna action plant was launched in 1993 in Haryana, Delhi and UP to check pollution in the Yamuna and to ensure that no untreated effluents are allowed to be discharged into the river.

The Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan has provided funds for the project.

The treatment plants are based on the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket process in which the organic matter is digested, absorbed and metabolised into bacterial cell mass and biogas which would be used for generating power and the dried solid waste would be utilised as manure.

The treated sewage water would be used for irrigation purposes.

Four improved wood-based crematoria have also been set up in Faridabad under the Yamuna action plan. These would consume 45 per cent less wood in the cremation of bodies.

Officials of the Japanese Embassy were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister also visited Mujeri to review the progress of the gas-based power project being set up by the National Thermal Power Corporation.

14 Red jungle fowl fly to freedom
By Rajmeet Singh

MORNI (Panchkula), Oct 2 — A five-year-old breeding programme of Red jungle fowl carried out in captivity by the Haryana Wildlife department today passed an acid test when 14 of the birds were successfully released into the wild at nearby Berwala.

The birds took to air the moment their cages were opened allaying fears in the mind of the wildlife officials about the acceptance of the new surroundings by the birds brought up in captivity.

The population of the Indian Red Jungle Fowl ( gallus gallus) which is widely seen in the plains of North India and in foothills has been fast depleting due to its large-scale hunting for meat and as a sporting activity.

The bird was once found in abundance in the Shivalik Hills of Morni. The breeding programme of the bird, only of its kind in the state, was started at the Pheasant Breeding Centre— housed in an old fort of a Nawab of Morni — in 1993 by the Wildlife department.

The Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana, Mr R.D. Jakati, who along with other senior officials of the Forest and Wildlife department were present to witness the release of the birds, said that the captive population of the bird at the reserve was nine in 1995 which swelled to 27 in 1997 and to 59 this year. Seven chickens had died this year soon after birth.

Of these 59 birds, the 14 which were brought in two cages at the scene of release, all adults were hatched in May last.

The Deputy Chief Wildlife Warden, Mr Jagdish Chander, who was involved in the breeding programme, said the pheasant was widely accepted as the ancestor of all breeds of domestic chicken.

Propelled by the success, Mr Jakati said Chir Pheasant and Kaleej Pheasant, both endangered species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, which are also being bred at the centre would also be released into the wild within one year.

The breeding of the endangered birds which also started along with that of the Indian Red Jungle Fowl was faced with problems — the main being their high mortality rate. The number of Chir Pheasant which was four in 1995 had increased by just one by the end of April this year. On the other hand the number of Kaleej Pheasants had increased from four in 1995 to 13 this year.

The department has purchased an incubator to hatch the eggs of the birds at the breeding centre.

Probe appointments by VC : teachers
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Oct 2 — The Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers Association (MDUTA) has urged the Governor and Chancellor of the university to order an inquiry into irregularities, misuse of power, admissions and appointments made by the Vice-Chancellor.

The association, in a statement, has supported the ban imposed by the government on new appointments and charged the Vice-Chancellor with politicising the issue by issuing misleading statements. It said that a perusal of the manpower audit committee report would confirm that certain departments have surplus teachers and the university no longer needs fresh recruitment.

The association president, Mr Wazir Singh Nehra, described the Autumn break announced by the university, from October 1 to 5, as a joke.

He said the association had in writing requested the Vice-Chancellor to cancel these holidays so that the teachers could take extra classes during these days to make up for the loss suffered by the students due to teachers strike.

The association also demanded an inquiry into the first and second positions secured by the daughter and daughter-in-law of Vice-Chancellor, respectively, in the recent held M.Ed examinations. They have secured 95 and 90 per cent marks, respectively, and the association has asked the university to publish a white paper on this issue.

The association criticised the university for non-payment of wages to the teachers for the month of August and threatened to launch an agitation against this decision of the university.

Meanwhile, the annual elections to the MDUTA would be held on October 14. The MDUTA has 278 members, including 86 teachers working the university college and 14 at the Regional Centre, Rewari. Prof Jhal Singh of the Physics Department has been appointed returning officer.

Prabhat pheris mark Gandhi Jayanti
From Tribune Reporters

SIRSA, Oct 2 — Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated here today. A prabhat pheri was also organised.

Speaking at a function, Mr Jiwan Ram Chaperwal, senior leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, said politicians should follow the path of Gandhi and should implement schemes for the uplift of the downtrodden in society.

Tributes were also paid to Gandhi at functions organised at Dabwali, Ellenabad, Rania and Kalanwali in this district.

SONEPAT: A large number of Congressmen participated in a prabhat pheri taken out here in connection with the birth anniversary celebrations of Gandhi on Friday.

All government schools and offices remained closed.

In some other schools competitions like folk songs painting and debates were held.

PANIPAT: A programme was organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Gandhi at the local Qila ground in which members of the District Congress Committee participated.

A cleanliness drive campaign was launched in several areas and colonies of the district by Mr Om Parkash Jain, local MLA, and city Magistrate.

Permanent lok adalats set up
From Satish Seth

KAITHAL: Permanent district lok adalats recently started functioning in this district. Mr C.

R. Goel, Additional District and Sessions Judge (I), and Mr Harinder Singh, Additional District and Sessions Judge (II), have been appointed judges for session's triable cases and Mr Inderjeet Mehta (Civil Judge, Sr Div) and Mr Satish Ahalawat, C.J.M., Kaithal, have been appointed judges of this lok adalat for other cases.

In the 26th lok adalat held here recently under the chairmanship of Mr Goel who is also Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, 32 MACT cases were settled and compensation to the tune of Rs 18,75,500 was disbursed among claimants. About 255 other cases were also decided and a fine of Rs 64,650 realised.

Senior officers of insurance companies and General Managers of Haryana Roadways of three districts and a large number of litigants participated.

* * *

The orders issued by the District, Administration to ban the sale of cut and overripe fruits is being flouted by shopkeepers and rehriwalas. Similarly, the administration issued instructions to ice factory owners to get the water used for manufacturing of ice tested from the laboratories. In spite of these orders many ice factories are supplying poor quality ice to the consumers. In some ice slabs dust particles and other foreign material are clearly visible, but the health authorities and the administration have taken no steps to save poor consumers from the exploitation by the factory owners.

* * *

A voluntary organisation, Sewa Sangh, celebrated its 18th annual function here in which 100 members of the Blood Donors Society were honoured by the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jaiwanti Sheokand. She appreciated various welfare schemes launched by the Sewa Sangh to provide relief to the suffering humanity.

Mr Shiv Shanker Pahwa, secretary of the Sewa Sangh, highlighted various welfare projects undertaken by this organisation during the past 18 years.

* * *

The Bharat Vikas Parishad, Kaithal, organised a free medical check-up camp here recently which was inaugurated by the Finance Minister, Mr Charan Dass Shorewala. As many as 167 patients were examined and free tests for sugar, including ECG, were conducted free of cost. The patients were given free medicines. The minister announced grant of Rs 21,000 to the parishad to carry out public welfare activities.

* * *

Four lakh saplings were planted in 360 hectares during the current monsoon season, according to Deputy Commissioner Jaiwanti Sheokand. Out of these two lakh saplings were distributed among various organisations and members of families living below the poverty line. The DC disclosed that various educational institutions in the district had done a commendable job by participating in this campaign. During this campaign quiz competition, debates, paintings and slogan writing competitions were organised by various educational and other institutions to create awakening among the people about the benefits of neat and clean environment by planting more and more saplings.

* * *

The Indian Medical Association organised a function here which was attended by a large number of doctors from various parts of the state Dr Sushil Indora, Member of the Lok Sabha, was felicitated. The local Lions Club, Eagles Club, the Manav Kalyan Trust, the Saturday Club and the Bharat Vikas Parishad honoured Dr Ramesh Bansal, Dr Rajiv Sood, Dr Vijay Aggarwal and Dr Ashok Garg for their services.

Phone fault hinders kidnap probe
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Oct 2 — The Jhajjar police has failed to trace the petrol station owner, Mr Sant Lal, who was kidnapped on Thursday morning from near a temple on the Jhajjar-Salhawas road.

The kidnappers reportedly telephoned the petrol station at noon yesterday, seeking ransom. Since the telephone was attended by a servant, they did not disclose the amount of ransom.

The family members of Mr Sant Lal anxiously waited for the whole day for another telephone call from the abductors but it did not come. Thereafter, the telephone exchange at Jhajjar developed some snags late in the evening and the town has been cut off from the rest of the country.

The fault in the telephone exchange could not be repaired even today and this has hampered the investigation of the case.

Prominent citizens of the town today met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, to convey that the incident had generated a feeling of insecurity among them. The Deputy Commissioner assured them that the police was pursuing the case and it had found some clues about the alleged kidnappers.

The Deputy Commissioner regretted that though some persons were eyewitness to the kidnapping, none of them was volunteering information. He appealed to the people to pass on any information about the incident to help the police trace Mr Sant Lal.

Governor launches cleanliness drive
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Oct 2 — The Governor of Haryana, Mr Mahabir Prasad, launched a state-level cleanliness drive on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti at a Harijan basti at Kalka, near here, today.

The Governor said the Father of the Nation led a life based on principles. He called upon the people to overcome hatred and discrimination on the lines of caste and religion. He urged the participants to lay stress on cleanliness.

Meanwhile, the city Congress (I) committee celebrated Gandhi Jayanti by organising ‘prabhat pehri’ which passed through different sectors before culminating at Sector 12.

The local MLA, Mr Chander Mohan, led the ‘prabhat pehri.

Rain destroys paddy crop
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Oct 2 — The unseasonal rain and winds today proved disastrous for the paddy crop spread over thousands of acres of land in the district which had already been inundated for the past several days.

According to information received here, nearly three dozen villages of the district have been affected.

The district administration has said the excess water will be drained out within 15 days to enable farmers to sow rabi crop in time. The Irrigation Department has installed nearly 199 pumps in various villages to drain out the water.

Meanwhile, the winds uprooted telephone cables in Jhajjar district.

Drive to arrest bail jumpers
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Oct 2 — The Bhiwani police has launched a drive to arrest bail jumpers and proclaimed offenders. As many as 28 of the 200 accused have been arrested under the move, said Superintendent of Police S.S. Deswal while addressing a press conference here today.

Insecurity prevailed among residents due to the spurt in the crime in the city during past one year. Increasing cases of chain snatching, dacoity, murder and theft were directly damaging the position of the Chief Minister who belongs to Bhiwani. Moreover, it was being observed that the police is adopting an indifferent attitude towards crimes being committed of late.

Mr Deswal said that no drive or more could be successfully achieved without the cooperation of common man. To prevent rise in crime, sensitive points were being identified and special police force would be deployed thereon.

2 girls rescued
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Oct 2 — The police has rescued two minor girls and arrested their abductors in two separate cases in this district.

According to the SP, Mr Rajbir Deswal, Jit Singh, a resident of Rattia town in this district, in a complaint with the police had stated his daughter Sukhwinder Kaur was abducted by Sukha, a resident of the same town.

According to the complaint, Jit Singh used to live in a rented house of Rattia. Pariwari, a widow, was another tenant. Sukha was a frequent visitor to Pariwari, who introduced Sukha to Sukhwinder Kaur. Sukha enticed Sukhwinder on August 27 and abducted her. The police registered a case and arrested Pariwari on August 31 for conspiring in the abduction. The police arrested Sukha yesterday and has rescued the girl.

In another case the police has recovered a girl who was abducted from Dashmesh Nagar village in this district. According to the SP, the girl Patwant Kaur was abducted by Lila Singh, a resident of the same village. The police rescued the girl and arrested the accused. The girl has been restored to her parents.

Roadways to have 450 more buses
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 2 — The Haryana Government has decided to add 450 more buses in the fleet of the Haryana Roadways during the current financial year.

This was stated by Mr Rajiv Jain, political press adviser to the Chief Minister, while flagging off a Mudrika bus here yesterday.

He said the state government was contemplating to authorise cooperative societies for monitoring the plying of buses up to distance of 150 km. This scheme, if implemented, would not only improve the bus services but also check the loss of revenue.

Mr SP Gupta, General Manager of the local depot of the Haryana Roadways, said there were 237 buses this year against 261 last year. He said the depot had earned a revenue of Rs 174.64 lakh in August as compared to Rs 164.47 lakh earned during the corresponding period last year.

Panchkula to have institute for disabled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 2 — The National Handicapped Welfare Council, Haryana is setting up a national institute for the disabled at Panchkula.

Giving this information, Mr S.S. Shukla, secretary of the council, said it would be constructed at a cost of over Rs 48 lakh. Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, Education Minister, would lay the foundation stone of the institute on October 4.

Mrs Kanta Devi, Minister of State for Ayurveda, will preside.

The institute will have a training centre for rehabilitation, placement and vocational educational training and research for disabled persons.