Mining engineer suspended
GURGAON, Dec 25 — The Haryana Government today suspended an Assistant Mining Engineer, Faridabad, Mr J.P. Malhotra in connection with alleged illegal mining operations.

Encroachments cause losses to HUDA
PANIPAT, Dec 25 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority is reportedly suffering heavy losses due to encroachments on its land and mushroom growth of shopping complexes and mini markets in its residential colonies.

• Seminar on fuel conservation

• Dacoit, cop killed in encounter

Durbars become election meetings
From Hitender Rao
Tribune News Service

PANIPAT, Dec 25 — The much-publicised "sarkar aap ke dwar" programmes of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala are being taken by the masses with a pinch of salt. What Mr Chautala really had in mind was evident on the day he embarked upon his grievance redressal mission as their were clear signals that he was preparing to dissolve the Vidhan Sabha. Thus it was no secret that the durbars were virtually election meetings with even ticket aspirants making a beeline to stake their claims.

The Chief Minister held four durbars at Samalkha, Panipat, Israna and Madlauda in the Panipat district on December 21and 22, which became virtual on a promise announcement making sprees. Even when he could not promise anything he assured the people he would do his best. But will his best be enough? It is a question that is haunting voters.

Observers say that while the open durbars, may have given fresh hope to the masses, there is also scepticism. The opposition Congress, meanwhile has used the issue as a platform to the Chief Minister, demanding the tabling of a white paper on his announcements and their financial implications.

Talking to the TNS, the Pradesh Congress chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that Mr Chautala was fooling the people through false promises. "But the people of Haryana were wise enough not to be swayed by such things," he said.

Mr Chautala did not fulfil the promises he had made when he was Leader of the Opposition — resolving the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal dispute, promises on free power and water to the farmers, implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission etc.

But if the Congress is crying sour grapes, party workers of Mr Chautala are excited about the announcements. An INLD ticket aspirant from Samalkha, Raghbir Singh of Rajakeri village admits that after being abused all these years by various regimes the people have become suspicious and may ignore the brighter side of Mr Chautala’s efforts, but adds "He like his father, Devi Lal has never made any false promises, and will honour whatever he has committed". He said Mr Chautala had accepted demands of villagers which had been pending for more than two decades.

Chautala opens park named after PM
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Dec 25 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, inaugurated three projects here today.

He opened a town park which has been named after Prime Minister Vajpayee on his birthday today. "Atal Park" built over an area of 55 acres in Sector 8 and 9 of the city, has a lake spread over four acres. It has been provided with waterfalls, lilly pool, concrete paths, arrangements for illumination, etc. An amount of Rs 1.8 crore has been spent on the park, so far.

Mr Chautala also inaugurated a Jat dharmshala here built by the Karnal branch of the All-India Jat Mahasabha in the HUDA estate. He sanctioned Rs 5 lakh from his discretionary fund for the expansion of the dharmshala. He sanctioned a one-acre plot, adjoining the dharamshala, for the construction of a home for the aged, a vayamshala and an "adhyatmik kendra" by the Jat Sabha. The land given by the Chief Minister costs over Rs 1 crore.

Mr Chautala clarified that he did not believe in encouraging defections. He said he had formed the present government by cobbling up a majority in deference to the wishes of the people. The Chief Minister said he had come to the people to seek their mandate for state's all-round development.

He Chautala said he would carry out development works in full speed after March 7, when the new Assembly will be formed. He also inaugurated the HUDA office complex here.

Later he presided over a state-level conference of the Civil Dental Surgeons' Association.

Chautala denies rumours of rift
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Dec 25 — Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana said that the INLD and BJP would contest the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections together. He was speaking to the mediapersons before ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ programme in Pehowa town on Friday evening, 30 km from here.

He said there was complete harmony between both parties and they would decide candidates keeping in view their winning capabilities irrespective of their party. He himself would contest from both Rori and Narwana.

He appealed to voters to support the party candidate, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu former MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary. In a reply to question, regarding the status of Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu he said that the government had sought opinion from the Legal Remembrance Department and would act according to his advice.

Clarifying on electricity surcharge waivers he said the surcharge of tubewells alone had been waived. He appealed to farmers to pay their electricity bills by January 10 to avail of this facility.

He complimented the people for supporting Mrs Kailasho Saini in the recent Lok Sabha elections and said the NDA would ensure progress and prosperity for the state.

Later, presiding over the ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’programme, he sanctioned a sum of Rs 15 lakh for the overall development of Pehowa town. He also announced upgradation of various primary schools to middle, middle to high and high to senior secondary school and construction of retaining walls in Dunia Majra, Surmi, Hansala, Shergarh, Dhulgarh, Kalheri, Kheri, Salpanikhurd, Hingakheri Udarsi, Sudhpur, Gumthala, Dhanirampura etc. He also sanctioned veterinary dispensaries for Bhatmajra, Adhoya, Dudha-Dhudhi, Jakhwala, Khairi, Shergarh, Sudhpur villages and roads from Lukhi to Santokhpura, Bodha to Gumthalagarhu, Syonsar to Gumthala, Dabkheri to Bachgaon, Asmanpur to Sandhola, Palwal to Meghamajra, Gari Singha to Kurukshetra, Rattangarh to Kakrali, Karahsahib to Sadhakpur, Gogpur to Ajrana, Madanpur to Gumthala, Jhiwarheri to Bhorsaidan, Helwa to Mangna Monanpur to Sonanpur, Lukhi to Pipli Majra, Salpani to Bagthala, Chiba to Hansala, Samspur to Bagthala, Ruan to Nanakpura and Chellon to Takoran villages.

Villagers threaten road blockade
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

KANWARI (Hisar), Dec 25 — Amidst euphoria generated by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala's populist measures, there is a voice of dissent.

Residents of this and 17 other villages converged here on the day, the Chief Minister was holding his durbar at Hisar, only about 20 km from here, to attend the mahapanchayat. About 1000-odd farmers participated. Unanimous decision was taken to register protest by way of first blocking the Tosham-Hisar road. If the problem was not solved the mahapanchayat threatened to boycott the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Dhoop Singh, the village sarpanch, said they have had enough of promises, but no action. So many Chief Ministers had come and gone, but all had forgotten their plight within days of the elections. As a result hundreds of acres of fertile land has been turned barren.

Mining engineer suspended
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Dec 25 — The Haryana Government today suspended an Assistant Mining Engineer, Faridabad, Mr J.P. Malhotra in connection with alleged illegal mining operations.The Assistant Mining Engineer, Gurgaon, Mr N.M. Monga, has been given the additional charge of Faridabad.

Also, the government today issued a notification constituting committees, each for Gurgaon and Faridabad to ensure that no irregularities take place in the mining operations and that the Supreme Court’s directives are strictly adhered to. The committee will consist of the concerned Deputy Commissioners, the district police chiefs, the Research Officers, Haryana State Pollution Board and Mining Officers and Assistant Mining Engineers.

According to the notification, the Deputy Commissioners concerned will be held responsible for any possible irregularities in their areas of jurisdiction in future. The committees have been directed to hold a meeting once, at least every fortnight.

The action has been taken against the assistant mining engineer following recent reports of illegal mining operations in Gurgaon and Faridabad in The Tribune. The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had ordered an inquiry and found substance in the reports.

Encroachments cause losses to HUDA
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Dec 25 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is reportedly suffering heavy losses due to encroachments on its land and mushroom growth of shopping complexes and mini markets in its residential colonies.

According to reliable sources, after acquiring the land, maps for residential and shopping areas are prepared in which some portion of the acquired land is left out and in HUDA's terminology, it is called pocket land. Hundreds of yards of pocket land has been left out in different colonies and in 1991 some persons tried to encroah upon the pocket land located in the New Housing Board Colony (Phase-II) of HUDA's Sector 11 and 12. But due to the opposition from colony residents, the encroachers did not succeed and the matter went to the court where the HUDA authorities confessed that the disputed land was HUDA's pocket land of about 2,000 square yards.

The sources said the information about the location and area of the pocket land was available only with HUDA officials and they were allegedly passing on this information to encroachers after accepting "nazrana". The encroachment was not confined to pocket land alone but other vacant land of HUDA was also being encroached.

Vacant land measuring 800 square feet around a petrol pump on the National Highway No. 1 in Sector 25 (Phase-I), worth Rs 15 lakh, has been illegally occupied but the authorities appear to be silent.

Residential colonies of HUDA and the Housing Board are fast being converted into residential-cum-shopping areas in violation of rules and regualtions. Due to the opening of shops in residential areas, shops in three main markets of Sector 11 and 12 are reportedly lying unoccupied resulting in a loss to HUDA.

The Assistant Estate Officer, Mr J.N. Bajaj, said the shops were unauthorised and the owners had been issued notices under the instructions of the high court and action would be taken in case of non-compliance of instructions.

Seminar on fuel conservation
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Dec 25 — Several experts from the Petroleum Conservation Research Association, the Indian Oil Institute of Petroleum Management, Oil Industrial Deveopment Board and from various industry related organisations from Haryana today stressed the need for conservation of fuel by industry which consumed a major chunk of petroleum products.

They underlined the need for collective measures on use of latest monitoring instruments, modern maintenance technique and creation of energy cells to optimise energy conservation.

They were participating in the "fuel oil consumers’ meet" on energy conservation organised by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) to provide a platform to industries to interact on energy conservation, technologies and requirements.

India is at the lowest rung of the ladder with regard to efficiency in the use of fuel. Japan heads the table.

Mr P.K. Jain of the Gurgaon Chambers of Commerce and Industry urged the government to make provisions for soft loans to industry to introduce new technologies to save oil.

Dacoit, cop killed in encounter
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Dec 25 — A dacoit and a constable were killed and another policeman injured in a fierce encounter between them near Lakadpur village last night.

The dead policeman has been identified as Laskar Singh and the dacoit as Satta. Sepoy Ramesh Kumar was injured in the exchange of fire.

A police spokesman said here today that Sunil, Vinod, both brothers, and Pappu, Bhilu and Hemu, the other dacoits escaped under the cover of darkness. The dacoits were wanted in number of cases of murders, dacoities in Faridabad, Gurgaon, Delhi and UP.

Mr Anand Mohan Saran, Deputy Commissioner, announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the family of the dead policeman and Rs 50,000 for the treatment of the injured from the Red Cross.

Mr Ranbir Singh Sharma, Superintendent of Police, said the police staff of the district had decided to donate one-day's salary amounting to Rs 5 lakh to the family of the killed policeman.