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| Saturday, January 1, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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HVP to contest all seats Kalka residents feel let down Rail passengers’ problems persist |
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| At the dargah, it is all a matter of faith AMBALA Dec 31 — Moist eyes reverently gaze through the cut-glass door at Pir Sayeed Ibrahim’s dargah, ringed about with offered time-pieces, and more time-pieces, as Shiv Narain’s lips tremble to transform chocking emotions into words. Panipat shoddy yarn units under strain Upgradation brings cheer Haryana sets up board for economic growth Rs 10-lakh milk plant for Sonepat BSP workers take out procession BJP selecting candidates
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HVP to contest all seats ROHTAK, Dec 31 — The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) will contest elections to all 90 Assembly segments and will not enter into any electoral understanding or alliance with any other political party in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha poll. The former Chief Minister and HVP supremo, Mr Bansi Lal, will launch the election campaign on January 10 by addressing the Scheduled Castes and Backward Class workers' meeting at Kurukshetra. Mr Bansi Lal claimed that his party would seek the people's mandate on the developmental works undertaken during his successive regimes in the state. The party has a fairly long list of achievements, he told The Tribune. The HVP leader severely criticised Congress leader Bhajan Lal for making a ‘false’ statement that the HVP was prepared to enter into an alliance with the Congress but the latter spurned the idea. Mr Bansi Lal described Mr Bhajan Lal's statement as ‘mischievous’ aimed at misleading the people. He said that HVP has never talked about forging any alliance with any party. The Congress had never won any election under the stewardship of Mr Bhajan Lal in the past. In the 1996 Assembly elections, fought under the leadership of Mr Bhajan Lal, the Congress had won only nine seats and seven of them belonged to the anti-Bhajan Lal camp. Mr Bansi Lal said that Mr Bhajan Lal had always formed government by manipulations and that was the reason that the Congress leader has no mass base in Haryana. Mr Bhajan Lal, he said, had claimed to be a leader of the non-Jats but his humiliating defeat during the recent Parliamentary elections from the Karnal constituency has exposed this claim as well. |
Kalka residents feel let down KALKA, Dec 31— Residents of this subdivision of Panchkula district feel betrayed by successive Chief Ministers of Haryana in not meeting the deadline by which the construction of the much-talked-about bypass here would be undertaken. The only occasion politicians in power visit this town in the Shivalik foothills and give audience to its residents is the election time. And when the residents pointedly ask them about the time by which the bypass would be constructed, their oft-repeated reply is: “Jaldi hi ban jayega”. Although nearly seven years have gone by since the proposal about the bypass was mooted, nothing tangible has been done so far to execute it. The bypass was conceived way back in 1993, following a public outcry against the traffic congestion on the track of the Chandigarh-Shimla national highway passing through this town. Mr Chander Mohan, son of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who had contested the assembly byelection from this constituency in 1993, had promised to get the bypass constructed on a war-footing. The promise made by no less than a person than the son of the then Chief Minister, had earned him applause from all and sundry. No wonder, the electorate of this constituency had enthusiastically voted him to power with a thumping majority. He was re-elected from here in the 1996 assembly elections in the hope that he would honour his commitment and get the bypass constructed expeditiously. During this period the traffic congestion has gone up manifold, much to the chagrin of the residents. And yet the bypass is nowhere in sight. After all promises made during the election time are promises, conveniently forgotten once the electorate exercises its franchise. Mr S.S. Nanda, a councillor of the local municipal committee and Congress leader, however, accuses Mr Bansi Lal, who succeeded Mr Bhajan Lal as Chief Minister of Haryana, of delaying the project. He alleges that Mr Bansi Lal deliberately put the proposal on the backburner because of his known political rivalry with the Bhajan Lal family. He asserts that the Bhajan Lal regime had taken necessary steps to acquire the land needed for the bypass. The entire process was, however, shelved with the installation of the HVP-BJP coalition government in the state. The bypass, as planned, was to take off from near the Pinjore Garden and was to connect the Chandigarh-Shimla national highway in Parwanoo’s Sector 6. This would have helped heavy vehicular traffic to pass outside Pinjore and Kalka and given much-needed respite to the residents of both these towns from traffic congestion. Mr R.R. Sheoran, Engineer-in-Chief of Haryana’s P.W.D. Department, says that the 14-km bypass project would be funded by the Union Surface Transport Ministry, as it is a part of the national highway. While its 6-km-track falls in Haryana, the remaining 8 km is in the territory of Himachal Pradesh. Therefore, the construction of the bypass would be undertaken jointly by the Haryana and the Himachal Pradesh governments. Mr Sheoran claims that they have already submitted to the Union Surface Transport Ministry their feasibility report. His counterpart in Himachal Pradesh, too, has sent comments of his government. “On December 29 the Regional Officer of the Union Surface Transport Ministry, Mr Faqir Chand, and engineers of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh P.W.D. Departments, conducted a joint inspection. Now the Regional Officer has to send his comments to the Centre,” he adds. The Pinjore-Kalka bypass is a ticklish project involving highly technical input and thorough investigation, says Mr Sheoran. “We have to construct bridges, retaining walls, breast walls, side drains and sharp bends,” he adds. |
Rail passengers’ problems persist AMBALA Dec 31 — The Ambala railway authorities have shifted the railway reservation office in a newly constructed building having sufficient space for parking. But the problems of the passengers have not been solved since they have to stand in queue for hours for their turn. In the new reservation booking office, five counters have been made for the passengers but at present only two counters are in operation. One of the counters which was made especially for senior citizens, handicapped persons, MLAs, MPs and freedom fighters has not been functioning since its commencement. Now even the handicapped and the senior citizens have to stay in queue for hours for the reservation. However, some of the passengers have expressed happiness over the closure of VIP counter as they find that the MLAs and other VIPs also have to stand in queue along them for the reservation. According to railway information, most of the important stations of Ambala division have reservation facilities on their platform, but in Ambala Cantonment the new reservation office has been made about 1000 yards away from the railway station. The Ambala cantonment station is an important junction and a large number of passengers from J&K, Himachal, Chandigarh and Punjab generally break their journey here to board other trains. The outstation passengers find it difficult to approach the new reservation office, which is situated on the main GT Road. Moreover, any passenger who wants to cancel his reservation has to walk 1000 yards from the railway station for this purpose. One of the booking clerks of a reservation counter disclosed that initially there were five computers at different windows, but at present due to the shortage of staff, only two counters are working. He disclosed that the two booking clerks had to issue at least 700 to 1000 computerised tickets daily, besides answering hundreds of inquiries made by passengers regarding waiting lists and the trains. If the authorities make arrangements to start the functioning of the remaining three counters, the passengers standing in the queue for the reservation would be made free within 15 minutes, the clerk added. Some female passengers have also made a request to the railway authorities to make a separate counter for them. They say that they have to stand among the males in the queue for the reservation. Ambala cantonment is an important headquarter of the Army and the Air Force. More than 60 per cent of the railway reservations are made by Army personnel. According to sources, the Army has also made a representation to the railway authorities to arrange a separate reservation counter for Army men. Meanwhile, the Ambala Traders Federation and some other local organisations have demanded that the railway authorities should open an alternative reservation booking office at the railway station. |
At the dargah, it is all a matter of faith AMBALA Dec 31 — Moist eyes reverently gaze through the cut-glass door at Pir Sayeed Ibrahim’s dargah, ringed about with offered time-pieces, and more time-pieces, as Shiv Narain’s lips tremble to transform chocking emotions into words. “Baba, the miracle has taken place”, he utters, letting out the feelings clouding his brain ever since he started from Karnal in a hired taxi. “My business is now normal. An acquaintance gave me loan even before I reached my shop, all because of your blessings”. Just two weeks ago, Narain, a “flop” shopkeeper, had stopped at the dargah, about 15 km ahead of Ambala, on the Delhi speedway. With memory of a “miracle” in a relative’s life and the desire for a solution to his own problems, he had knelt before the dargah, with hope. Today he is here to place a chaddar, as committed. Also to take home a time piece, if permitted. To place it in his provision store where he can see it all day long. “Nothing will ever go wrong after I have the clock,” he believes. Narain is one of the 500 believers from all religions descending the 36 steps every day — to pay divine honour, and to offer clocks, blue and green chaddar, even hens, occasionally liquor bottles. No one knows the dargah’s history. It is not documented. The holy grave, believes manager R.N. Gulati, is as old as the Grand Trunk Road — about 600 years old. “Nothing’s for sure, but according to the folklore, the adjoining bridge used to collapse every night while the highway was being laid, till Baba came in the contractor’s dream asking for the clearing of his grave. The bridge came up only after the dargah was constructed”. Its glory has increased over the years, also the offerings — 25 to 30 lakh annually. In the mid 90s just about 50 clocks were offered every month, now about 400. And it is not just by the truck drivers, but also distressed “creatures of the uncompassionate creation”, even parents of the “daring” leaving for, or returning from, foreign lands. Why time-pieces, no one knows for certain. “The tradition started about five years ago by the truck drivers,” explains Gulati with folded hands. “The reason is not very clear. Perhaps, they want Baba to ensure that they reach the destination safely on time. Or perhaps, they want Baba to make certain that time is spent as smoothly as the ticking of the clock”. Requesting Narain to write down an application for the watch to the Shahabad Block Development Officer, in charge of the dargah for the last 10 years, Gulati reveals, over the unceasing drum beat, “the clocks are not sold. Never”. Sitting down on a plastic chair away from the perfume of the incense sticks and burning mustard oil, he elaborates, “They are gifted to the young couples at mass marriages. Or are handed over to the brilliant students. Or to the players. The offered money is also used for the development of roads and schools in the area”. The visit to the dargah has done good, not only to Narain, but also to other devotees, insists Gulati, blessing Narain on his way back. “A couple offered a lock. Their son’s tongue had opened after paying obeisance here. Another father came here with a basket of ladoos. His son, implicated in a murder case, had been acquitted. Oh, Baba can do wonders.... You just have to come here with a clean heart”. Outside the dargah parked are trucks, one after the another. Among the exhausted drivers is Govardhan Singh. “No accidents take place on this stretch”, he says convincingly, ready, on the driver’s seat, to continue with his journey to Amritsar — on the uncertain road of life with the blessings of the Baba, the guardian saint of the good times. |
Panipat shoddy yarn units under strain PANIPAT, Dec 31 — Importing rags in bulk from European countries, the USA and Canada and Spinning them into inexpensive yarn, the 450-odd shoddy yarn spinning units in Panipat are the only hope for lakhs of poor for whom a cheap Rs 40 blanket remains the only means of beat the chill in the winter. Be it the cyclone-hit people of Orissa or the poor labourer on the street, these cheap blankets made from shoddy yarn are a suitable alternative to the expensive woollen blankets. The handloom city of Panipat enjoys the distinction of having the maximum number of shoddy yarn spinning units throughout the world, leaving even Italian cities behind. Though the shoddy yarn spinning units started setting up here in the seventies, the industry got a real impetus in the eighties when entrepreneurs realised the potential of this trade. Mr Neeraj Aggarwal, who owns a shoddy yarn unit here says, "It is true that in the past two decades this industry has grown manifold but the trade does not seem to be lucrative nowadays due to recession and certain government policies. So many owners of such spinning units are even contemplating to sell their units or close them down. Another factor is that shoddy yarn can be used either to prepare cheap blankets or acrylic shawls. So we have a limited market to sell our products". Shoddy yarn unit owners say that the government's policy to levy 32.5 per cent duty on the rags if they were imported by the manufacturer and 27.5 per cent if the traders import them was injudicious. They say that since the traders can import the rags by paying a lower duty, they start exercising monopoly and become arbitrary. "It is because of this that many shoddy yarn unit owners have floated their own trading companies and import rags on their own", said an entrepreneur. The industry had suffered a setback when a couple of years ago the government had banned the import of rags by traders following the discovery of a major scam. Many traders were found to be importing high-grade rags (which are as good as new clothes) in the guise of torn clothes. Though countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morroco allow the import of good quality or high-grade rags, India does not allow this. These high-grade rags are generally those apparels which become out of fashion in the developed countries. "The rags imported by us are mechanically mutilated so that they cannot be marketed but can only be used for making yarn. In fact, the countries exporting these rags charge mutilation expenses from us", said Mr Ishwar Aggarwal, an industrialist. To prevent such bunglings in this trade, Mr Aggarwal suggested that the government should revert to the practice of issuing permission for import by the Textile Commissioner. Earlier, the State Trading Corporations used to import rags and then sell them to us. Then the taking of permission from the Textile Commissioner was made necessary but now after liberalisation, the rags can be imported directly. Therefore, there is hardly any check on traders. Industrialists say that this industry which was supposed to fulfil the needs of the poor has been overburdened now due to mounting import duties, central excise, sales tax etc. |
Upgradation brings cheer RATTIA (Fatehabad): Residents of Rattia, an under-developed town in this district, are happy at the town’s elevation to the status of a sub-division. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had surprised all on his visit to this town recently when he granted Rattia the status of a sub-division and made Jakhal a sub-tehsil. The latter is a town in this district situated on the Punjab border. This reporter talked to a cross-section of people here to know their reaction to the upgradation of their town to the status of subdivision. Dr Ramesh Gupta, a leading child specialist, said this step by the state government would go a long way in improving the general condition of this town. Rattia was far behind other towns in development, and the move (making it a sub-division) would accelerate development of the town. Mr Dharmender Goswami, a local journalist, said the local residents’ long-standing demand had been met and it would lessen their problems. Hitherto they had to go to Fatehabad for getting any administrative work done. Mr Surinder Kumar Jain, a former president of the Fatehabad District Bar Association, said it was a matter of great pleasure that the long-pending demand of the people has been accepted by the government at last. He hoped that this would help the people in their day-to-day work. Mrs Bindu Gupta, principal of the local Saraswati College for Women, hoped that the developmental activities here would pick up once the Sub-Divisional Officer starts functioning from the town. She regretted that successive governments had ignored the interests of Rattia town, hence it was lagging in development. Mr Naib Singh Mander, president of the Haryana Punjabi Sanskritik and Sahityak Manch, said the people of the town and the surrounding villages were feeling relieved at the announcement. Residents of villages on the other side of the Ghaggar (known as Nali in common parlance) were particularly happy as they had to cover a long distance to reach Fatehabad for all official work. Mr Ashok Garg, block president of the Congress, however, termed the announcement as an election stunt. He expressed doubts over the Chief Minister’s seriousness in making various announcements these days. He, however, added that it was a welcome stop, if implemented with sincerity. The district administration, in the meantime, has initiated a move to find suitable staff for various sub-divisional offices at Rattia, though a formal notification by the state government is still awaited. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, when contacted, said the government was serious about the announcement and steps would be taken by the administration to implement the orders as soon as the notification was issued. |
Haryana sets up board for economic growth CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — The Haryana Government today announced the setting up of a 15-member Economic Development Board (EDB) under the chairmanship of Chief Minister to act as an apex body for formulation and overseeing the implementation of the state's economic development plan. The members of the board include the Finance Minister, Town and Country Planning Minister, Industries Minister, Agriculture Minister, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Finance and Planning Secretary, Secretary for Agriculture, Secretary for Town and Country Planning, two prominent industrialists and two economists (one of them an agro-economist). The Secretary for Industries would be the coordinator.The board would be entitled to call any minister or administrative secretary as a special invitee. There would also be an executive committee to assist the board. The members of the Executive Committee include Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Secretaries of Finance, Industries, Agriculture and Town and Country Planning. Director of Industries or Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Development Board would be the Member-Secretary. The EDB's primary objective would be to formulate economic policy, which addresses the broader issue of economic value addition. It would reinforce the underpinning of long-term developmental vision of the state and form policy, programmes and high-impact initiatives for economic development to realise the objectives of the development vision. It would coordinate and target development of the key sectors like agriculture, industries and services sectors for achieving sustainable economic development in the state. The EDB would also set targets for growth in key areas of the state's economy consistent with the long-term developmental vision cutting across jurisdiction of individual departments. It would maximise synergies between policies of different economic, infrastructure and developmental initiative for achieving high growth rate in all sectors of economy. The board would draw a long-term master plan for infrastructure development in the state covering basic infrastructure, industrial infrastructure and social infrastructure. It would encourage private investment in the development of infrastructure wherever possible and desirable. For this purpose, Infrastructure Development Board would be constituted to act as the administrative wing of the EDB. It would be the supreme body for all infrastructure initiatives through public, joint or private participation. The EDB would lay down long-term policies and objectives for Human Resource Development to provide trust at upgrading skills of its population that would enhance employment potential and improve the quality of life of citizens. The board would devise its own procedure for project clearance and the decisions taken by the board would be presumed to be the decisions of the administrative department concerned. |
BSP workers take out procession SONEPAT, Dec 31 — BSP workers took out a procession here today in protest against the alleged atrocities and police excesses on Dalits and backward class people in Sonepat district and elsewhere in the state. Carrying placards and raising anti-government slogans they marched through the main bazars of the city and reached the mini-secretariat where BSP leaders submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner to be set to the Governor. The main demands include an end to atrocities and excesses on Dalits and backward class people, fresh surveys to identify people living below the poverty line and an increase in the minimum wages of industrial workers. The memorandum also demanded the dismissal of the Chautala Government and the imposition of President's rule on the state to ensure free and fair Assembly elections. |
Rs 10-lakh milk plant for Sonepat SONEPAT, Dec 31 — The Haryana Government has approved the setting up of a Rs 10-lakh milk chilling plant here with a capacity of 5,000 litres milk per day, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commissioner, said while addressing a meeting of the governing body of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) yesterday. The milk plant would benefit the residents of Sonepat, Rai and Ganaur. The milk procured from cooperative societies would be supplied to the Rohtak milk plant. The Deputy Commissioner said the government had already released Rs 1.95 lakh for distribution among 15 milk societies for the purchase of equipment. Each milk society would get Rs 13,000 for this purpose. President over another meeting of the Canal Area Development Agency, the Deputy Commissioner said the state government had allocated Rs 27.85 lakh for the development of canals and distributaries in Sonepat district during the current financial year. |
BJP selecting candidates AMBALA Dec 31 —The Haryana BJP has started the process for selecting the prospective candidates for different assembly constituencies for the forthcoming assembly elections expected in the last week of February. A state BJP team consisting of its two senior leaders Bishan Dass and Shri Niwas reached here today to discuss the prospective candidates for Ambala city, Ambala cantonment, Mulana, Naraingarh, Kalka and Naggal . Besides Ambala this team will make the survey for Panchkula, Yamunanagar Kuruk-shetra and Kaithal districts too. The team will also meet prominent local leaders besides the prospective candidates. According to information, about two dozen prospective candidates from six assembly constituencies of Ambala and Panchkula districts met the team and staked their claims. It is learnt that BJP may stake claim for Kalka, Naraingarh and Mulana along with Ambala city and Ambala cantonment. One of the sons of Mr Suraj Bhan, Governor, UP, is an aspirant for the Mulana seat, while Mange Ram may also be the main claimant for this seat. Mr Bharat Bhushan Jatwar, President of the Ambala district unit, has been a claimant for the Naraingarh seat. Former Deputy Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Faquir Chand Aggarwal, Mrs Veena Chibber and Nirmal Vij have also staked their claim for the Ambala city seat. A youth leader of the party Sanjay Sharma, said that local unit would fight for Naggal seat too. Dr K.D. Sharma, Mrs Neeta Khera, Dr Shyam Singhla, Purushttam Deshmukh, Ravi Sehgal and Shubhadesh Mittal are the prospective candidates for the Ambala cantonment seat. |
BSP favours President’s rule in Haryana AMBALA Dec 31 — The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has demanded President’s rule in Haryana to ensure an impartial assembly poll. BSP workers led by its state President, Mr Aman Kumar Nagra, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, in this regard. The memorandum urged the government to conduct a fresh survey of the people living below the poverty line. The party demanded the withdrawal of the cases lodged against employees of the Naraingarh Sugar Mill a few days ago. The party leaders who were present on the occasion included Mr Rameshwar Dass, Mr Ashok Kumar, Mr Jangsher Kashyap, Mr Surender Tandwal and Dilbag Saini. |
Cong wants review of ward quota AMBALA Dec 31 — The Congress Municipal Commissioners of the Ambala City Municipal Council has urged the Deputy Commissioner to review the decision made through a draw of lots on the reservation of wards for women. They alleged that earlier the officials concerned did not conduct the process in a proper manner. The Municipal Commissioners, who submitted a memorandum in this regard included Mr Sushil Sharma, Mr Harish Shashan, Mr Santokh Singh, Ms Bimla Devi, Mr Sudhir Kaushal, Ms Nirmala Sandhu, Mr Sudesh Sharma, Mr Jaswant Rai Pawar and Mr Mohinder Tanwar. |
Cong may tie up with BSP: Hooda ROHTAK, Dec 31 — Ruling out the possibility of alliance with the HVP, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Bhupender Singh Hooda, said the party could reach an electoral pact with the BSP. He said this while talking to mediapersons here yesterday. Mr Hooda claimed that the atmosphere in the state had been changed after the Lok Sabha elections and the people were fed up with Chautala government. He alleged that farmers were worst affected as paddy growers had to go to the markets of Punjab and UP for selling their produce. He claimed that it was for the first time that the farmers were forced to sell their paddy below the minimum support price in the local markets. He said a meeting of the HPCC general body had been convened in Delhi on January 5 to discuss the strategy regarding the Assembly poll. |
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