Sunday, July 18, 1999
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2 Army aspirants killed in Bihar PATNA, July 17 — At least two persons were killed and 18 others, including three Army men and a police Sub-Inspector, injured in police firing and subsequent stampede when a large number of youths assembled for recruitment in the Army. President must intervene: INLD NEW DELHI, July 17 — The 22-member strong Indian National Lok Dal today sought the President’s immediate intervention for the dismissal of "minority" Bansi Lal government in Haryana. JD split imminent NEW DELHI, July 17 — A split appeared imminent in the Janata Dal today with its Political Affairs Committee failing to reach a consensus over moves to align with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. |
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 Janata Dal President Sharad Yadav flanked by two former Prime Ministers, Mr I.K. Gujral and Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, at the Janata Dal meeting in the Capital on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph
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Defence spending no panacea:
Amartya
UP Cong convention on July 19 Chandra Shekhar’s poser
No let-up in Bihar flood situation Poisoning Yamuna, Delhi style
AIDS awareness plan Sonia intervenes in Salman case |
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2 Army aspirants killed in Bihar PATNA, July 17 (PTI) — At least two persons were killed and 18 others, including three Army men and a police Sub-Inspector, injured in police firing and subsequent stampede when a large number of youths assembled at Darbhanga and Chapra for recruitment in the Army. State DGP, K.A. Jacob, told PTI that a huge crowd of youths reached Darbhanga Army airbase from Samastipur, Madhubani and Begusarai districts for undergoing physical tests for recruitment. Mr Jacob said since today’s exercise was for the aspirant of Darbhanga alone, the police stopped candidates from other districts trying to force their way inside the airbase. A desperate youth snatched the service pistol of a police Sub-Inspector and pumped bullet into his chest leading to the stampede, he said adding the police fired at the crowd as the situation became ‘’uncontrollable.’’ One person was declared brought dead at Darbhanga Medical College Hospital (DMCH) while other two, who suffered injuries in the firing, were being operated upon there. Three Army men, including Col S.K. Joshi, five policemen, including Sub-Inspector, sadar police station, were among ten persons who suffered injuries in the stampede and stone-throwing by the job-seekers. They were being treated at DMCH and RB Memorial Hospital at Darbhanga. Several persons are reported to have suffered minor injuries in the stampede and stone-throwing. One person was killed and eight others were injured when the police fired 10 rounds to disperse a rampaging crowd of youths at Rajendra ground in Chapra. The injured were being
treated at different hospitals at Chapra, the DGP added. |
President must intervene: INLD NEW DELHI, July 17 — The 22-member strong Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today sought President, K. R. Narayanan’s immediate intervention for the dismissal of "minority" Bansi Lal government in Haryana. "Mr Bansi Lal has lost the confidence of the majority of the House following Congress’ withdrawal of support. I have requested the President to direct the Governor, Mr Mahavir Prasad to dismiss the state government immediately," party’s working president O.P. Chautala, told reporters after a 20-minute meeting with Mr Narayanan at Rashtrapati Bhavan here. "The Congress decision has plunged Haryana into a constitutional crisis and the minority government continues to indulge in gross looting of the state exchequer," he said. Asked to comment on dissident HVP MLA, Rao Narbir Singh’s claim that the Chief Minister of the alternative dispensation would be from the breakaway group of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), he said: "I have always said I will favour anybody except Mr Bansi Lal as the Chief Minister". To a question whether the 10-member strong BJP would agree to support such a government, Mr Chautala said "you better ask the BJP on this". To another question whether he would favour simultaneous elections to the state Assembly along with the Lok Sabha poll with Mr Bansi Lal as caretaker Chief Minister, he said: "Allowing Mr Bansi Lal as caretaker seemed impossible yet we are prepared for all eventualities". Criticising the Congress for its volte-face within a fortnight and suddenly calling for fresh poll, Mr Chautala said: "This is the state of affairs with the Congress. It always realise things late." "It took as long as 20 days for Mrs Sonia Gandhi to realise that Mr Bansi Lal was not obliging her," he said, adding that "in the first place they should not have supported the government". He said: "Even now I am not convinced about the Congress’ genuineness in its thinking. Tomorrow, who knows, it may again bail out Mr Bansi Lal if there is a trial of strength". The beleaguered Bansi Lal ministry is faced with major onslaught both from outside and within the party with dissident legislator Rao Narbir Singh, demanding its dismissal while the Congress had already pressed the Governor for the dissolution of the state Assembly. Rao Narbir Singh claimed here last night that efforts were on to cobble an alternative arrangement by a splinter group of the HVP with the support of the INLD and the possibly with the support of either the Congress or the BJP. Meanwhile, the Congress today clarified that there was no difference of opinion between the party’s Haryana unit and the Congress. Briefing newspersons, party spokesperson Ajit Jogi said the Haryana unit of the party had only given a letter to the Governor stating the factual position after the party declared that it had "nothing to do" with the Bansi Lal government. "Since we had not given a letter of our support, there is no question of giving a written communication of withdrawing support. The letter submitted by the state unit only placed the fact after the party declared its stand, after the Haryana Chief Minister failed to fulfil his promise to Mrs Gandhi," the spokesperson said. The Congress President
had asked Mr Bansi Lal to dissolve the Assembly and face
the poll. "No precondition was made by the Congress
for its support to the confidence motion except that in
the best democratic traditions, Mr Bansi Lal should
dissolve the House and seek a fresh mandate," the
party had stated. |
Rs 16.5 cr more for Kargil fund NEW DELHI, July 17 (UNI, PTI) — The wave of patriotic fervour continued to find expression through contributions for national defence fund (NDF), as people in large numbers turned up today to make donations worth Rs 16.5 crore to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for the purpose. Minister of Railways and Surface Transport Nitish Kumar presented cheques for Rs 15 crore for the NDF on behalf of the Ministry of Surface Transport. In a moving gesture of support to jawans in Kargil, cheques worth Rs 55,000 were presented to the Prime Minister, on behalf of children of “devadasis” and artistes from Karnataka. The cheques were presented by Vimochana, an organisation working for the emancipation of the “devadasis.’’ Contributions by school children continued to flow in, with the DPS society shelling out Rs 36 lakh on behalf of various branches of the school, while New Green Fields Public School presented a total amount of Rs 1,40,000 for the NDF to Mr Vajpayee. Other major contributors were: Bank of Maharashtra, Rs 51 lakh, Rajnigandha Group, Rs 25 lakh; Association of Wholesale Readymade Garments Dealers, Ashok Bazaar, Rs 15 lakh, Malliwara Jewellers Association, Chandni Chowk, Rs 5,01,000, Bentex House, Rs 3,74,000, Gandhi Nagar Residents, Rs 3,38,351; Share Brokers, Rs 2,50,400; Vijay Vyapar Mandal, Muzaffarnagar, Mayur Vihar, Rs 1,07,555; Villagers from Dhool Siras, Rs 1,07,172; Gulmohar Park residents, Rs 37,951; Kumbhkar Mahasabha, Rs 31,000; Gulshan Sugars, Rs 29,201; Stationery and Papers Traders Forum, Rs 23,358; and the Mahila Kirtan Mandali, Shad Nagar, Palam, Rs 21,000. The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd contributed Rs 5 crore to the NDF. The amount was handed over to the Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar presented Rs 2 lakh on behalf of the Bharat Yatra Trust to Defence Minister George Fernandes. Mr Fernandes was handed over another cheque for Rs 8,81,535 on behalf of the Bharat Dynamic Ltd. Adjutant General, Lt-Gen Grewal, was presented a cheque for Rs 5.5 lakh by the Nirula’s. The Dharampal Satyapal Group of Companies handed over a cheque for Rs 25 lakh to the Prime Minister. The Delhi Sports Journalists Association announced its decision to contribute Rs 1.5 lakh to the army central welfare fund. The public sector Cochin Shipyard Ltd contributed Rs 6.59 lakh pooling a day’s wages of its employees. In Bangalore, Mr H S Manjunath, a head constable, offered to donate Rs 100 from his salary throughout his service and pension to the jawan’s relief fund. Church of South India presented a cheque for Rs 25 lakh to the Prime Minister. Ramakrishna Mission donated Rs 10 lakh to the NDF, while the Loka Shikashana Trust contributed Rs 50 lakh, according to an official press release. MYSORE: The Lok Shakthi has decided not to put up posters in Mysore and Bangalore city for the elections to the Lok Sabha and the Karnataka Assembly and instead contribute the amount earmarked for the purpose, to the Kargil fund. Lok Shakthi National
Secretary and campaign committee chairman M Raghupathi
disclosed this while addressing party workers here. |
Govt to probe Kargil intrusion: Mishra NEW DELHI, July 17 (UNI) — National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra has said the government will soon institute an inquiry to find out how Pakistani troops intruded into the Kargil sector. Asked whether there was any intelligence failure as the intrusion remained undetected for some time, Mr Mishra said during a programme on Star TV that it would come out only after the inquiry was over. “The government is considering the level at which the inquiry will be conducted,’’ he said. Mr Mishra said as per the present assessment the intrusion started sometime during the second week of April. “It could be that the intrusion took place earlier.’’ He dismissed reports that Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan would meet in August. He said nothing had been decided so far and there has been no pressure on India from any quarter. Mr Mishra, who is also the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, described as “ridiculous’’ the charge by the Congress that Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Arvind Dave was appointed Lt-Governor of Arunachal Pradesh to buy his silence on the “intelligence failure’’ in Kargil. “Actually Mr Dave’s term was to end on July 31 and the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister had sought a Lt-Governor for the state. That’s why Mr Dave was appointed,’’ he explained. He said Mr Atal Behari
Vajpayee’s Lahore visit and the Lahore Declaration
tilted the scales in India’s favour in the
diplomatic arena. “It was not only a violation of
the Line of Control (LoC), but also violation of the
Lahore Declaration. Secondly, India came out as a
responsible nation, when it decided to drive out the
intruders, but not cross the LoC,’’ he said. |
Defence spending no panacea: Amartya CALCUTTA, July 17 (PTI) — Increased defence spending alone cannot guarantee the security of a country unless it also strengthened its economy by spending adequately on the social sector, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen said today. Stating that defence spending was a major problem in strengthening India’s social sector, the advocate of social choice told a press conference here that many nations smaller than India had spent more on defence without achieving the desired results as their economies were not strong enough. Citing the example of China, he said it received international attention not because of its military might but for its strong economy. “Nothing makes a country more secure than its economic strength.” Referring to the Kargil conflict, he said it was bound to have a negative effect on a poor country like India and it must not take any consolation from the fact that the impact would be greater on Pakistan. Asked about his views on the Line of Control, he said freezing the LoC was just one solution and its stability would depend on a rational approach of the two countries. “The international community is viewing this as a quarrel of twins,” he said. On the issue of India signing the CTBT, Mr Sen said while possession of a nuclear bomb is perceived by some quarters as putting the country at par with nuclear powers, it was not an advantage in realpolitik. Asked about the recent
buoyancy of the economy and the stock markets, he said
the upbeat stock market would attract investment, but it
would benefit only a few. Basic weaknesses in the economy
were present in high measure in the areas of primary
education and healthcare, he said. |
Cong leader Bajpai dead ALLAHABAD, July 17 (UNI) — Veteran Congress leader and former Lt Governor of Pondicherry Rajendra Kumari Bajpai died here this morning after prolonged illness she was 76. Dr Bajpai, a former Union Minister was suffering from kidney trouble and was recently brought here from Delhi. Her condition deteriorated subsequently. The veteran freedom fighter and former UPCC chief, Dr Bajpai had been Welfare Minister in the ministry headed by Indira Gandhi. Dr Bajpai had represented the Sitapur Lok Sabha constituency in UP from 1985 to 1990. Her son, Ashok Bajpai, is president of the District Congress Committee and her daughter-in-law Dr Ranjana Bajpai is president of the UP Mahila Congress. A large number of party workers, including UPCC President Salman Khurshid and social workers reached her residence and paid tributes to the departed leader. Expressing grief at the
passing away of Ms Bajpai, President K.R. Narayanan said:
“She served the nation well in her capacity as a
minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government, as a
parliamentarian, as Union Minister of State and as Lt
Governor of Pondicherry, and will be remembered for her
wide-ranging contributions. |
UP Cong convention on July
19 NEW DELHI, July 17 — The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, will hold a convention of party leaders at Lucknow on July 19, to discuss the party’s prospects in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. “This will be like a mini-AICC session as more than 8000 delegates are likely to attend the session being held for the first time since 1991,” party spokesperson, Mr Anil Shastri, told newspersons here today. Mr Shastri said all AICC members from Uttar Pradesh, PCC members, former MPs, MLAs and office-bearers of the party at the district level would attend the one-day session. Mr Shastri said the session would be a great morale booster for district-level leaders and party workers as Mrs Sonia Gandhi would be interacting with them on a one-to-one basis. The party spokesperson said the session would also discuss poll alliances in the state and the issue of seat-sharing. Meanwhile, the Congress has written a letter to the Election Commission stating that the government was violating the model code of conduct by attempting to fill the vacancy of chairman of the University Grants Commission by promoting the current vice-chairman to that post. The letter, circulated to the media stated “this appointment should be stalled until the new government comes to power after the Lok Sabha elections. The party also raised objections to the demolition of some jhuggi/jhompri settlements in the Capital by the Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, both controlled by the union government. Party spokesperson Ajit
Jogi, said the people residing in these settlements had
traditionally been supporters of the Congress and the BJP
government by resettling them in far off places was
“depriving them of the basic constitutional right
— to cast their vote.” |
Chandra Shekhar’s poser NEW DELHI, July 17 (UNI) — Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar today said it was time to pin down the responsibility on those who failed to detect the Kargil intrusion and pushed the nation into a critical situation. In a statement here, Mr Chandra Shekhar said though guns were now falling silent in the Kargil sector, lot of disturbing questions were being raised from various quarters which did not come to the forefront while the country’s brave soldiers were engaged in driving out the infiltrators from the area. “The tragedy of Kargil calls for immediate answers to some of the obvious failures for which no excuse can be valid...now is the time when the people are taken into confidence about the criminal failure of the intelligence system on this front,” he said. Criticising the proposal for setting up a commission of inquiry in this regard, Mr Shekhar said the government had as such failed to discharge its elementary duty. “Why a commission is being considered? Should one take that the government is still in dark about this suicidal failure of such a serious magnitude,” he said. Asserting that it was an invasion — and not mere intrusion — by the enemy who established their fortification 7 km deep into across an area of 140 km of Indian territory, the former Prime Minister said: “Our brave jawans and officers sacrificed their lives to defend the honour of the land...the people will surely like to know how such a situation was allowed to develop and how the government could remain ignorant of the ground situation.” Calling Kargil a “national tragedy”, Mr Shekhar said it would be too much to “expect from the power seekers not to make it an electoral controversy”. It did not develop into a major catastrophe beacuse of the valour, courage and sacrifice made by brave soldiers of the Indian armed forces, he said. Questioning the handling
of the Kargil problem, he said, “in the beginning,
the Defence Minister talked about considering the idea to
give safe passage to the intruders. It was ridiculed and
rejected. Now the same is being implemented. Whatever may
be the claim, in reality it is a ceasefire and safe
passage.” |
Capt’s body brought to Capital NEW DELHI, July 17 — The mortal remains of Capt K. Bhattacharya of the 8th battalion, Sikh Regiment, was brought to the Capital today. Capt Bhattacharya had volunteered for the perilous mission of probing the defences of Tiger Hill and cutting the means of sustenance of the enemy from the rear. On May 21, he along with his platoon, set out from his base and traversing the inhospitable terrain managed to interpose himself between the enemy and the enemy’s base. Having been detected, this patrol was the target of intense fire from artillery and mortars. Despite this, the patrol continued traversing. It was at this juncture during darkness that they were targeted by a group of enemy from a close range. Capt Bhattacharya and his men charged at the enemy at close quarter and eliminated them. In the process, Capt Bhattacharya was severely injured. At this juncture, the enemy opened fire from another position close by. Undeterred of his severe injuries, Capt Bhattacharya led another assault on enemy position, when the brave officer fell to the enemy bullet. The mortal remains of
Capt Bhattacharya has been recovered from the enemy
position in the west of Tiger Hill. |
JD split imminent NEW DELHI, July 17 — A split appeared imminent in the Janata Dal today with its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) failing to reach a consensus over moves to align with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the first round of discussions of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which saw heated exchanges between senior leaders, some of them including former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and S. Jaipal Reddy stoutly opposed any alignment with the NDA as mooted by Karnataka Chief Minister J.H. Patel. However some other members specially those from Bihar, favoured the move. The party appeared to be heading for a virtual split despite Party President Sharad Yadav expressing hope that the Dal would remain intact. There is little hope of the PAC to reaching a consensus as both Mr Gowda and Mr Reddy, supported by former party president S.R. Bommai are totally opposed to the proposal. After a three-hour first round of talks at his residence, Mr Yadav told reporters “discussions are on and we will meet again.” The PAC was scheduled to meet again for a second round of talks late in the evening. “There is no question of split in the party,” Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav said when asked whether the Dal was on the verge of a split. In a related development, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had a telephonic conversation with Mr J.H. Patel before the commencement of the PAC meeting. Lok Shakti leader R.K. Hegde also held discussions with Mr Patel. To a specific question on whether problems faced by Dal units in various states figured at the meeting, Mr Yadav said no state was discussed separately. Asked to comment on Mr Jaipal Reddy’s demand for action against Mr Patel for his move to align with the NDA, Mr Yadav said “individual opinions don’t matter.” Mr Patel, however, evaded questions regarding the inconclusive discussions. About Bihar, senior leader Ram Bilas Paswan said his party was of the view that all non-Congress parties should make joint efforts to defeat the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the state. “I am anti-Congress, anti-Laloo and anti-corruption,” he said. Others who attended the meeting included two former Prime Ministers, H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral and former party chief S.R. Bommai. Sources said that in the meeting, Mr Patel put forward an offer made by Mr Ramakrishna Hegde and the Samata Party president Mr George Fernandes to merge their parties with the Janata Dal under its banner and flag and even accept the presidentship of Mr Sharad Yadav. Mr Deve Gowda however
expressed strong reservation against the proposal and
said that a merger could be possible only after the
parties got out of the BJP-led alliance. |
Synthetic milk flooding UP LUCKNOW, July 17 (UNI) — The UP Government today admitted that the sale of synthetic milk in the state had assumed alarming proportions, and nine persons had been arrested for adulteration under the National Security Act. More than 30 per cent of the 2491 milk samples collected by the state government agencies between January 1 and June 30 to contained synthetic milk, Health Minister Ramapati Shastri told reporters here. He said of the nine persons booked under the Act., seven were from Agra and two from Saharanpur. A massive checking drive had been launched all over the state. Mr Shastri said a total of 61 persons had been arrested during the past six months for their involvement in the sale of synthetic milk, of them nine were booked under the NSA. The state government had also prohibited the storage and sale of even sub-standard milk and order to this effect were issued by the Agriculture Production Commissi-oner in April. Mr Shastri said the government had identified the problem as “very serious” and ordered all District Magistrates and district police chiefs to ban the sale of such milk immediately. Food Inspectors had already been given the powers to initiate action in this regard, he added. A special raiding party at the state headquarters and 10 parties at divisional headquarters had been constituted to check the quality of milk. Besides, a milk monitoring committee had been set up in which the assistance of journalists and voluntary organisations was being sought, the Health Minister said. Synthetic milk contains
chemicals like soda bi carbonate, urea starch, detergent
power, palmolin and pastel colours, all of them injurious
to health. |
No let-up in Bihar flood situation PATNA, July 17 (PTI) — The overall flood situation in Bihar remained unchanged with major rivers rising menacingly and exerting pressure on their embankments even as the toll in the current spell of floods rose to 96. Official sources said two fresh deaths were reported from Barh in Patna district taking the figure of those feared killed in the flood fury to 96. Fresh areas were inundated in Sheghar and east Champaran districts as the swollen Lalbakia river breached its right embankment due to heavy erosion, the sources said. According to a Central Water Commission report, major rivers like the Bagmati, the Burhi Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda were still rising and flowing above the danger level at several places along their course. The Bagmati engulfed fresh areas in Darbhanga with the river flowing 188 cm and 63 cm above the danger mark at Hayaghat and Benibad, respectively. The Adhwara group of rivers flowed 138 cm and 81 cm above the red mark at Ekmighat and Kamtaul. The water level of the turbulent Kosi, too, registered a sharp rise at Baltara crossing the danger level by 130 cm. The river was likely to cross the danger mark at Kursela in Katihar. State Water Resource Department sources claimed all the vital embankments were safe and flood-fighting measures continued unabated to check erosion. Nearly 3.5 million
people continued to reel under the impact of the floods
that had so far damaged property worth more than Rs 4
crore in 21 districts, the sources added. |
Poisoning Yamuna, Delhi style NEW DELHI, July 17 (PTI) — Revered as a goddess, Yamuna the lifeline of Delhi quenching 60 per cent of the Capital’s thirst, is today receiving 60 per cent of untreated domestic sewage not to mention industrial effluents, fly ash and other chemicals that the river is supposed to cleanse. As environmentalists dish out such frightful figures, equally alarmed authorities speak of feasibility studies to restore the river suggesting among other things allowing free flow of the river that has self-cleansing properties. “From entering Delhi at Palla village near Wazirabad to leaving it at Okhla, Yamuna is constantly fed by drains carrying domestic and industrial waste... . “Not only is its water unsafe for drinking but it also has no scope for sustaining any kind of aquatic wildlife. Concrete steps need to be taken fast lest we lose the river forever,” says Sureshwar D. Sinha, of the Pani Morcha, an NGO that has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking restoration of adequate flow of water in Yamuna and Ganga. “There has been no flow of water in the river since the mid-80s. After the Najafgarh drain empties around 60 per cent of Delhi’s sewage just 100 metres after the river enters Delhi, Yamuna has started looking like one too,” says Mr Sinha. The apex court has recently allowed minimal flow of water in the Yamuna, which has been welcomed even by officials, who however, suggest separate drains for sewage disposal to feed them to treatment plants. “The degeneration of the river is becoming a major health hazard for the denizens resulting in diseases like cholera, malaria, as also tuberculosis, says environmentalist Mr Iqbal Malik. Mr A.K. Gupta, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Delhi Government, said “such large-scale pollution of a river which provides nearly 60 per cent of drinking water to the Capital definitely does not augur well for the people.” “The need of the hour is to devise ways and means to stop pollution of the river and we are getting a pre-feasibility study on the problems related to the river,” he says. The only solution is to recharge the drains and recycle sewage so that the quality of water in the river is improved, says Mr Balraj Taneja, ex-chief engineer, Delhi Jal Board and senior consultant to INTACH, which recently submitted a blueprint on Delhi’s water problem to the Government. Allowing adequate flow of water in the river will let marine life thrive and pollutants will also flow downstream leading to dilution of pollution levels, says Mr Taneja noting that “water has its own self-cleansing qualities which will recharge the river and make it suitable for navigation also.” But also necessary is public awareness, which can force the civic authorities to take steps to improve the quality of the river, says Mr Manu Bhatnagar, also of INTACH. “The Yamuna is being collectively raped by residents, and Government authorities alike for the last 30 years and the situation has come to such a pass that it has become unfit for sustaining any sort of marine life,” says Mr Malik. The main source of pollution, says Mr Sinha, is domestic sewage, pumped into the river not just by the drains across the Capital but also from unauthorised colonies. “The Najafgarh drain itself discharges around 1028 million cusecs of sewage into the river. The drain itself is fed by 30 others from West and central Delhi. In addition to it domestic sewage is also pumped by unauthorised slums all along the river”, says Mr Malik. All this plus pesticides and agricultural waste thrown into the river from the fields nearby and large amounts of industrial and hospital waste being pumped into the river. Mr Sinha also points to the ‘rivulets of detergent’ from dhobighats dotting the banks as also half-burnt bodies from the municipal crematorium adding to the river’s woes. While Mr Sinha suggests more domestic sewage treatment plants, Mr S.K. Chabbra, Chief Engineer of the Delhi Jal Board, says the board is in the process of constructing 15 such treatment plants and seven of them have already been commissioned. Mr Gupta says the problem of domestic sewage can be solved by constructing one major drain downstream of the river near Nizammudin with other drains emptying into it. “All sewage emptied into the single drain would then easily be recycled through a sewage treatment plant,” he says. This proposed drain could also receive industrial effluents, says Mr Gupta. As for the fly ash, the power stations in future will have plants that shall treat fly ash before draining the left over into the river, says Mr Gupta. He, however, refutes the charges of half-burnt bodies being thrown into the river. “The construction of parallel drain would also take care of the waste from dhobighats and unauthorised colonies along the river.” They will be shifted
from where they are, not just to stop the sewage being
pumped from there but also to facilitate the construction
of the parallel drain, says Mr Gupta. |
AIDS awareness plan NEW DELHI, July 17 — The Delhi Government’s proposal to inform blood donors of their susceptibility to HIV infection has triggered of a debate in the medical community. The National AIDS Control Organisation has sought a clarification from the Delhi Government on its proposed plan to reverse the directive forbidding laboratory technicians and blood bank doctors from informing a blood donor that his blood has tested positive for HIV. Ms Neelam Kapoor, Joint Director, National AIDS Control Organisation told TNS here on Thursday that a reversal of the directive would retard the blood donation programme. “The entire blood banking system would suffer. Besides, according to the national HIV testing policy, all units of blood are tested by a rapid test which is not sufficient to confirm the HIV status of the donor. It is not a conclusive test as it sometimes gives false positivity. A series of three tests done over a period of time are essential to confirm the HIV status of a donor.” Looking at the practical implications, Ms Kapoor said, “All a blood bank can tell a donor is that he should go for a confirmation. How can it ascertain whether the donor would actually heed the advice ? Can the donor feel assured that the blood bank employees would keep the results of the test confidential?” She pointed out that the trauma associated with such a disclosure needs follow-up counselling and the counsellors in the blood banks are not trained to offer it. “Right now, only Safdarjang Hospital, AIIMS and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases offer a comprehensive range of services including the series of tests and counselling,’’ she said. The Delhi Health Minister, Dr A.K. Walia said that once NACO approves the proposal, an integrated service of confirmatory tests and counselling facilities can be introduced in blood banks in city hospitals. He pointed out that
about three lakh units of infected blood is discarded by
city hospitals every year. “This does not help in
preventing the spread of infections. Informing a patient
that his blood has tested positive for HIV is for his
welfare.” |
Sonia intervenes in Salman case NEW DELHI, July 17 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi has intervened in the Salman Khan poaching case to stop the investigating officer from being transferred before the submission of the charge sheet later this month. Acting on an appeal by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), which has been actively pursuing the case, Ms Gandhi helped put off the transfer of the officer, a WPSI release said yesterday. Alleged illegal hunting
of a chinkara deer and two black bucks by some film
actors, including Salman Khan, in Jodhpur last year had
evoked strident reaction from wildlife activists and the
Bishnoi community known for their protection of the
wildlife. |
Amarnath Yatra on schedule NEW DELHI, July 17 — There is no proposal to defer the Amarnath Yatra in the wake of developments in Kargil, the Union Home Ministry clarified here today. “The Union Home
Ministry has not issued any directive to the state
government either to defer the Amarnath Yatra by one week
or for rescheduling the Yatra”, the Ministry said in
a release. |
Harbans Lal chief of Punjab Seva
Dal NEW DELHI, July 17 — Dr Harbans Lal, MLA from Sirhind, has been appointed chairman of Punjab Pradesh Congress Seva Dal. Dr Lal, who has served as the Transport Minister in the Rajinder Kaur Bhattal Ministry, said that he would make efforts to revitalise the Seva Dal in Punjab. As a first step, he would concentrate on mobilisation for the rally planned in Jalandhar for August 13. He said the Seva Dal is
actively involved in raising money for the benefit of the
families of the Kargil martyrs. |
Cost being worked out CHENNAI, July 17 (PTI) — The Ministries of Finance and Defence are working out the cost of the military operations in Kargil, Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said today. “The two ministries are currently working out the impact of Kargil on the economy for this year and for next year, too,” Mr Sinha told a meeting of industrialists here but ruled out any Kargil tax for the moment. “Given the buoyancy
in revenues, it appears that we may be able to meet the
burden imposed on us by Kargil”, he said. |
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| Electronic voting
machines for UP LUCKNOW: Electronic voting machines will make their debut in UP in the coming Lok Sabha elections. These would be used in four constituencies of Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Allahabad. A total of 9000 machines are being procured to be installed in these constituencies, an state election office spokesman said. — UNI Mental
hospital lacks facilities EC summons Chief
Secretary Three foreigners
convicted Ayodhaya to be
developed Kargil website
launched Two sets of
triplets born |
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