‘We’d rather die than give land for Anandgarh’
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 3 — In less than a fortnight of issuance of notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring of land in 29 villages for the proposed city of Anandgarh, the agitation against the new city has picked up momentum with villagers resorting to a “do or die” approach.

The frequency and venue of protest rallies, too, has increaed against what the Punjab Government maintains it to be an “ultra modern, futuristic city with global vision to reaffirm to the world at large the Punjabi spirit of enterprise, hard work, innovation and risk taking attitude.”

When Chandigarh was developed as a joint capital of Punjab in early 50s, a Periphery Control Order was promulgated, prohibiting any construction activity within a periphery of 16 km of the new capital city. But that was not to be. Immediately, the planners of the new capital city ran into tough opposition from the Ministry of Defence which insisted on building Chandimandir Cantonment.

Much before long of reorganisation of Punjab in November,1966, the Punjab Government also decided to build a satellite town of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar in the periphery of the city. Haryana, too, retaliated by building the new township of Panchkula.

Since then there has been lot of hue and cry over numerous violations of the Periphery Control Order but a little has been done to enforce this order. Though the Chandigarh Administration had been protesting and stressing the need for regional coordinated planning, not much appears to have been achieved during the past three decades.

The Administration even engaged the services of Mr E.F.N. Ribeiro, an eminent town planner, to prepare a concept plan for development of the entire region. His study revealed that population of the Chandigarh capital region would grow to 2.5 million in the next 20 years.

An independent study conducted by PUDA also came out with similar findings.

The 1991 census put the population of Chandigarh at 6.42 lakh; 78,000 for SAS Nagar and 70,000 for Panchkula. Even after considering the capacity of Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar to accommodate a major portion of the new population in next 20 years, it was felt that there would be a gap of six to seven lakhs which would need rehabilitation in the region.

It was perhaps this or similar philosophy which prompted the previous Congress government headed by Mr Beant Singh to come out with a proposal of building new city called New Chandigarh. There was instant opposition, not only from environmentalists, villagers but also from all quarters on more than one accounts.

The main objections raised at that time were that it would weaken Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh; violate Periphery Control Order; put extra pressure on services in the city; displace thousands of villagers who have invested their life savings in making houses on private land besides ousting thousands of farmers, who after years of hard work and toil have turned the area into a fertile and cultivable land. Other major obstacle was inclusion of a large forest area in the proposed New Chandigarh limits.

The proposal was rightly dropped. The revival of this proposal, in a new format and new idea, too, has been largely opposed. The change being that both Akali Dal and Congress have swapped positions.

In response to a questionnaire, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, maintained that his government was

committed to planned urban development of the entire state. Anandgarh, he said,in no way represented concentration of resources of the state in one corner rather this economically backward region with no canal irrigation, low agriculture productivity and limited physical resources needs an economic boost on priority.Anandgarh, he said, was the tercentenary pledge of the government and held that against a pale shadow satellite habitation named New Chandigarh, Anandgarh would be an ultra-modern city.

He also maintains that it would in no way weaken Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh and that Le Corbusier’s Master Plan would remain unharmed even after this city comes up.

Though the government has promised an attractive rehabilitation package, promising jobs, good educational facilities and other basic civic amenities in this new “self dependent and self contained city”, people have not accepted the government package.

Among those opposing the project is not only Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee which has passed a resolution to this effect but also the entire populace of all 28 villages the government proposes to include in the new city.

Mr Ravi Inder Singh, a former Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and who represents Morinda constitutency in the State Assembly as an Akali Dal (Badal) MLA, is, too among those opposing the new city.

Though the Government maintains that new city would be a self financing project, doubts have been expressed over this aspect keeping in view the enormity of the project. To begin with a loan is being secured to proceed with the land acquisition work.

Anandgarh fifth new city to be planned

Anandgarh is the fifth new city planned by the Punjab Government after the reorganisation of the State on November 1,1966.Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) was planned as a satellite town of Chandigarh. In fact, SAS Nagar was planned in contravention of the Periphery Control Order after the Union Defence Ministry insisted on making Chandi Mandir a cantonment.

SAS Nagar was planned more out of a rift between senior functionaries of the Department of Architecture and Town Planning of Chandigarh Administration, following which a senior functionary of the latter department went back and got the SAS Nagar town approved from the Punjab Government in early 70s.

Afterwards, the Punjab Government planned to develop a new town — Ranjitgarh — near Phillaur after Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The town never progressed beyond files and died a natural death.

Then came the historic Goindwal Sahib, which was to be developed as a major industrial hub. It, too, did not take off on expected lines. Its development was also hit by the growth of militancy in the Majha belt. The town continues to be in a shambles.

The fourth new city planned by the Punjab Government was New Chandigarh. The project was killed before it actually took off.

The latest on the list is Anandgarh which is being planned to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa.

Villages where land is to be acquired

THE Punjab Government has issued a series of notifications under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act to acquire land of the following villages for the proposed Anandgarh city :

What the villagers have to say

“Anandgarh will come up on our dead bodies,” appears to be the resolve of the residents of a majority of villages, the land of which is proposed to be acquired for this new township.

The villagers are generally agitated and ready for “do or die agitation” to stop this new town from coming up.

“We do not want any new city. We already have Chandigarh ,” they say maintaining that they have been victims of similar displacements more than once before.

“I am a witness to partition of India in 1947. Then I also witnessed displacement of villagers to make room for Chandigarh, the new capital of joint Punjab. Subsequently, we also suffered when Punjab was reorganised in 1966. Now when we are in the process of settling down, the sword of uncertainty is again being hung over our heads in the name of Anandgarh. We are ready to die than give up our land and homes,” declares 80-year-old Mrs Rashpal Kaur, lady panch of Ratwara village. She has been a panch of the village for past 22 years and also heads the Mahila Morcha.

“The Badal Government cannot fool us by selling the idea that ‘abadis’ would not be touched. We are farmers and keeping cattle is an integral part of our life style. Once our farms go from where would we get the fodder. Once we have difficulty in getting fodder, we would be forced to sell or dispose of our cattle. See what happened to farmers in Chandigarh ? They have plenty of problems in keeping their milch cattle,” she adds.

Mr Charan Singh, a former Sarpanch of the village, says that “our own government wants us to be uprooted. We cannot go and buy agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Why is the Government forcing us to give up our ancestral land of farming. We have worked hard on these soils and now when they have just started producing results, the Government wants to acquire this land for raising a new city.

“If Mr Parkash Singh Badal is so keen to build a new city, let him do it in his own constituency where people have large land holdings and may be one village will be enough for Anandgarh. Or they can make a new city near Sri Anandpur Sahib, an area which needs a city close by. Here, we have small land holdings and they want to displace us,” adds Mr Charan Singh.

The present sarpanch, Mr Mewa Singh, says that each of the 28 villages, which are proposed to be acquired for the city have set up “Pind Bachao, Anandgarh Hatao Committees.” These Committees are active and there is unanimity everywhere against locating new city here.

There are others who feel strongly about the new city.

Mr Gurnam Singh, a farmer working in his fields on the Mullanpur-Ratwara road, says that all farmers of the area are prepared for a “do or die” battle to save their land.

“We do not want our children to become beggars from farmers. We will not compromise on our stand come what may,” he adds.

Mr Mohan Singh, President, Pind Bachao Committee, says that there is no logic of raising a new city. “It is the Akali Dal which opposed New Chandigarh when it was proposed by the Beant Singh Government in the state. What has been so earth shaking during past few years that the same party wants to revive the project, uproot thousands of families and build a new city against the wishes of its own people, especially farmers.?”

“Only a handful of people, who have big farm houses want the new city to come up because they want quick money. We will not allow this new city to come up,” he added.

His father, Mr Gurcharan Singh, Nambardar of the village ,who recently suffered an attack, was virtually in tears when asked to comment on the proposed new city.

HUDA to spend Rs 764.18 crore on various projects
By Gautam Dheer

PANCHKULA, April 3 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) will spend Rs 764.18 crore on various programmes and proposals during the current financial year.The HUDA budget for the year was approved and announced at a meeting held recently under the chairmanship of the Minister for Town and Country Planning and Urban Estate, Mr Dhir Pal Singh. Revealing details, an official spokesman said here today that out of the total amount, Rs 200 crore is proposed to be spent on various development projects, including construction, buildings, special repairs, annual maintenance etc.

A sum of Rs 151.15 crore will be spent on land acquisition, Rs 35.10 crore on administrative expenditures and Rs 300 crore on the payment of enhanced compensation. For loans and other advances, Rs 48.36 crore has been approved as part of the HUDA’s annual budget. With special reference to Panchkula, the spokesman said that HUDA, Panchkula shall develop 201 commercial and 158 residential sites for offering possession during the current year.

On the commercial front in the Urban Estate of Panchkula, 100 sites in Sector 26, 20 in Sector 8 (Group Housing), 22 in Sector 9 (Group House) and 59 in Sector 20 are proposed to be developed.Eighteen residential sites in Sector 26 (Ext) and 48 in Sector 21(Part II) will be developed. In the Group Housing (Residential), 21 sites in Sector 23, 15 in Sector 24, six in Sector 25, 58 in Sector 27, 33 in Sector 28 and seven in Sector 20 (Part II) will be developed for offering possession.For the current financial year, Rs 1700 lakh has been approved as the budget estimate for HUDA, Panchkula, for land acquisition of 270 acres. A sum of Rs 4077.90 lakh, will be the budget estimate for various development works including works proposed under the Panchkula division I, II, III, Panchkula Horticulture and Electrical.

Sources said that HUDA, Panchkula, proposes to generate a total sum of Rs 400 lakh during the year from various extension fees.

Revenue of Rs 8351 lakh and Rs 800 lakh shall be generated by the head office here from sale of new residential and commercial property, respectively. The income estimate from instalments of plots will generate Rs 4000 lakh for the Estate Office, Panchkula, during the year.Other significant decisions agreed at the meeting included mandatory pension scheme on the government pattern for new recruitment of employees in HUDA.

The existing employees will now have the option to opt either for the pension scheme or for the Contributory Provident Fund scheme. It was also decided at the meeting to allot 1000 plots to the Housing Board, Haryana, for the economically weaker sections (EWS) at subsidised rates. Significantly, HUDA also decided to exclusively reserve 10 per cent EWS plots from the Government Servant Reserved Quota (GSRQ) for the category of Group D employees of the Haryana Government.

Bye folks, good morning ma’am
By Monica Sharma

CHANDIGARH, April 3 - New books, new classes, new teachers. School is back in session! Some schools are still admitting new students even though classes have started.The method of admission varies from school to school — most take an admission test but there are a few, such as St Annes in Sector 32, which admit new students through draw of lots “because every type of student deserves a chance”. Where admission tests for different classes are still in progress, the parents fear that the delay will put their children behind in class work. Many parents have applied to several schools — and that means several admission tests. “It’s a real financial burden, “one mother admits.

Some schools will continue with admissions throughout April. The sufferers will of course be the new students.Most schools register applicants according to their vacancies, giving first preference to students who have come up through the school’s own lower classes.School admission fees vary from Rs 1,500 to 10,000. Obviously, the more prestigious the school, the higher the fees. However, a few good schools do appear to be trying to keep the price-line. Pradeep Kumar, whose son was taking admission at one of the city’s “good” schools, observed bitterly: “The school authorities take undue advantage of the parents and squeeze as much as they can. The irony is that ultimately it is the parents who really have to drill the kids and get them through the exams.”

But what do kids know of their parents’ financial squeeze. They are back with their classmates, decked out in new uniforms, with new books and bags. The first day of school is a time to shout and run and size up the new teacher.

Haramrik, one of the students, said,’’I am excited to see the new face of my school and to meet my old class fellows in a new class.’’ Chaal Thakur, student of a convent said,’’ “I was desperately waiting for my school to reopen so that I could meet my teachers and friends.’’Parents of nursery school children who were toddling off for their very first day of school were misty-eyed and amazingly, when they speak of the reasons why they have chosen to put their child in a particular school, they all sound like they are reading from a brochure. Rajan Vaid, proud papa of a LKG student, said: ‘I am feeling happy to send my daughter to a convent school because the grooming students get here help in overall development of the child.’’ Another daddy, Danish Deep, thought the school chosen for his child would make him “well mannered and an all-rounder.

The teachers prepare the students so that they may adapt to the environment gradually.The students are given a friendly atmosphere in the beginning of the session so that they don’t miss their previous teachers.”But, howsoever, good the school might be, a few little ones were crying and clearly unprepared to say “bye-bye” to Mom and Dad.The start of the school year is a time for pious resolutions of studying hard, making the top position — or maybe just staying out of trouble. Every one knows how long such good intentions last but still “it’s the thought that counts”.

Illegal alterations abound in flats
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 3 —With the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) looking the other way, illegal alterations and additions abound in the Board’s Sector 40 flats.Although the problem of unauthorised changes endangering the flats’ basic structure is common in CHB flats in all sectors, residents of Sector 40-D apparently “lead the way” in making alterations.

A number of second floor allottees have gone ahead and constructed additional rooms on their roofs.When a TNS team visited the sector today, it saw that in some cases, major portions of roofs had been covered, endangering the whole structure as also the lives of many residents. Alterations, which are banned under various provisions of the Capital of Punjab(Development and Regulation) Act ,1952, seem to be increasing with each passing day.Many residents view the alterations in the flats with consternation and fear that the whole structure may be damaged. This coupled with inaction on part of the authorities, had only compounded the problem, they added.What irks residents most is the authorities’ indifference.

They say they have complained repeatedly about the illegal changes in the original structures but little had been done in this regard.Some allottees, who have made changes, have their own sides of the story. They maintain that alterations had been made, keeping in view the needs of their growing families. “Minor need-based changes, which do not endanger the structure, should be regularised by the CHB,” pleaded an allottee.

More staff for police stations
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 3 — To strengthen the beat system in the city, more personnel have been provided to the police stations.Forty five officials have been directed to report to the Sub Divisional Police Officers. With this, all SDPOs will have a reserve force of 15 men each, which will be used for any additional duties, keeping the regular staff of the police stations free for routine duties. Although beats have been chalked out, availability of staff in adequate number has been a major constraint for the past many months.

Given the limited number of personnel, it was felt that staff should be posted in the three divisions as this will greatly ease pressure on the staff posted in police stations. The main job of such a force will be to accompany the SDPOs in case of any exigency while the regular staff could concentrate on routine policing. Sources said the men — two SIs, one ASI, seven Head Constables besides 35 Constables — have been drawn from the CID, DDA branch, police lines and the PCR. Orders to this effect were issued by SSP Parag Jain.

The department is according top priority to the beat system, personnel have been assigned their respective beats and asked to interact with people of their area. They are supposed to not only have first-hand information of the residents of their area and the nature of local problems, but also to be aware of the movement of anti-social elements in their area. Sources said the issue has been discussed at the senior level and police officers are convinced that a strong beat system is the key to curbing the increasing crime in the city and its colonies. The UT Administrator had also dwelt on the matter at a meeting.

Beat boxes have been put up in many sectors, villages and colonies and more such structures in the remaining areas are on the anvil. To give permanancy to the system and one-to-one interaction with the public, it has been decided to have a fixed tenure of at least two years for all personnel in the beats.In several sectors the city, the beat staff has compiled all information on house owners and tenants but information about servants leaves much to be desired. Efforts are afoot to urge the people to be more cautious about whom they employ, sources added.

COMMUNITY

Liquor vend irks residents
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 3 — Residents of Ram Darbar Colony, led by the area councillor, Ms Kamlesh, held a rally here today in protest against the opening of a liquor shop in the colony. According to a press note, there was resentment among the colony residents against the opening of the shop after the recent auction of liquor vends.The press note said the officials had assured the residents that the vend would be shifted.

CRIME

Servants thrashed, buffaloes stolen
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, April 3 — In two unusual incidents, 15 buffaloes were stolen by rustlers from two different dairy farms near Singhpura village, 2 km from here, on Sunday morning.

According to sources, about 15 rustlers broke into a dairy farm, thrashed three servants, tied them with cots and took away 11 buffaloes, including a bullock and two calves. Narrating the story, Mr Ashrafi Lal, a servant, said the rustlers broke into the farmhouse at about 11.30 p.m. and thrashed them after tying with strings. They held us till 4.00 a.m. and threatened with dire consequences.

‘‘All of them were in the 25 to 26 age group. They released the cattle from the hooks and took them away. Some of them used a dialect of Uttar Pradesh, while others were Punjabi-speaking men’’, he claimed.‘‘We heard the roar of some engines outside the farmhouse. They might have taken the animals in vehicles,’’ said Mr Ashrafi.

Sector 22 pub owner booked
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 3 — The police has registered a case against a pub owner of Sector 22 on the charges of serving hard drinks on his premises without permit here this evening. According to police sources, a waiter, Kuldeep Singh, was serving two customers — Ajay Kumar and Mela Ram — beer from a bottle when a team of Excise Department officials raided the premises. The trio was arrested and a case registered at Police Station Central.

Held with gas cylinders:The police arrested Rajinder Kumar and Hukam Singh on a charge of possessing six gas cylinders, five regulators and five gas pipes. They were stopped near the airport roundabout and the items found in their car (CHOIK-6810). The papers for the consignment were later found to be fake. A case under Sections 7, 10 and 55 of the Essential Commodities Act and Sections 468, 474 and 120 of the IPC as been registered.

J&K resident nabbed:Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, has been arrested for staying in the city without furnishing his antecedents to the police station. He has been booked under Section 188 of the IPC.

Gamblers arrested:The police arrested Ram Dhan, Rajbir, Naim Pal and Puran Singh on charges of gambling at a public place. A case under Sections 13, 3 and 67 of the Excise Act has been registered.

Five booked:The police has registered a case against five workers of an eating joint of Sector 22 for opening the joint beyond the prescribed business hours. Those arrested include Amandeep Singh, Tilak Ram, Joginder Singh, Parkash Chand and Dharam Singh. A case under Section 188 of the IPC, has been registered and further investigations are on.

SAS NAGAR

Girl kidnapped:The local police has registered a case of kidnapping of a minor girl of Phase 3B1 here. According to the information available, the father of the girl, Chander Sen, in a complaint lodged with the police, said his daughter, Radha, who used to work as a domestic help, did not return from work on March 3 last. He alleged that they were last seen with a woman called Meera.The police has registered a case under Sections 363, 366-A and 34 of the IPC and is investigating the matter.

Police inaction:Mr K.S. Gill, an NRI who has settled in Phase X here, alleged that the police had taken no action in a three-month-old case of assault and snatching. Mr Gill, who was taking to mediapersons, said a cement dealer of Phase VIII here and his accomplice had snatched Rs 9,000, a gold chain and a wrist watch from him.He said he had lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Mr B.S. Randhawa, but no action had been taken. Meanwhile, an official of police said a case under Section 392 of the IPC had been registered and the matter was being investigated.

Shop burgled:Burglars broke into a shop in Phase 3B2 here and decamped with electronic gadgets. A case under Sections 380 and 457 has been registered by the police.

ADMINISTRATION

Cool! No power cuts this summer, no rate hikes
By Akanksha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARHApril 3 — Chandigarh is not short of power. Senior officers of the UT Electricity Department have been at work to see that summer power requirements are met by strengthening the distribution system, repairing all transformers and installing double circuits to enhance the existing supply system. “We will complete the double circuits within a week. We are fully prepared for a regular and uninterrupted distribution of electricity”; the officials claim.Can it really be true?

City residents remain apprehensive and memories of long, hot, powerless nights of years gone by are vivid.The good news is that the department has no plan to revise the electricity tariff. The rate would continue to be 0.97 paise for first 40 units, 146 paise for next 35 units and beyond that 216 paise. This averages to 130 paise. UT Electricity Department officials explain that Chandigarh buys its power from the Northern Grid and distributes it through the extra-high voltage distribution station at SAS Nagar.

This station forwards two-thirds of the supply to Chandigah. Chandigarh’s power supply is augmented by Dhulkot and Pinjore distribution stations.Last year, to improve the distribution network, the department built an overhead tower between Sectors 39 and 52 and laid a single circuit. This year, it will upgrade it to a double circuit; work on this will be completed next week. When the double circuit is operationalised, it will obviate dependence on the trouble-prone underground cable.

“No power cuts are planned as of today as we foresee no need for that unless there is a supply breakdown from either SAS Nagar, Pinjore or Dhulkot stations”, said the sources, adding “But yes, we might shut down now and then for scheduled preventive maintenance.”The peak load restriction (PLR) will continue for industrial units; they will be asked to shut down between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm and may also be asked to take rotational off days, added the officials.Chandigarh has eight 66-KV electricity stations (at Sector 52, Industrial Area, Phase I & II, Sector 28, Civil Secretariat, Sector 12, PGI, Sector 39 and Sector 32) and six 33-KV capacity substations (at Sectors 17, 18, 34,37, Industrial Area I and Mani Majra).Officials disclosed that the department has begun work on a 220-KV station at Kishangarh which would be fed from the 220-KV line from Nalagarh.

The installed capacity of the station would be 100 MVA, to have better voltage profile. The project is likely to be completed by March, next year.“Chandigarh has a summer power problem because people use more load then actually sanctioned. This causes fluctuations and the problem of low voltage. In summers agricultural sectors’ electricity demand also increases, especially from Punjab and Haryana,” said an officer, conceding, “And then we can’t ignore electricity thefts.”

HUDA allows more than one plot
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, April 3 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has lifted the ban which prohibited individuals to acquire more than one plot in an Urban Estate, in the general category. The decision in this regard was taken at the 77th meeting of HUDA, held recently.

Earlier, an individual was required to submit an affidavit certifying that he did not possess more than one residential plot in his name or in the name of his dependent family member for transactions. However, there is no such alteration in the policy regarding reserved categories, including plots for the economically weaker sections, an official spokesperson said here today.

PUDA plans modern market centre
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, April 3 — The market centre to be developed in Sector 62 here will be among the best in the country, Mr Jit Gupta, Senior Town Planner, PUDA, said here yesterday. Mr Gupta, who was highlighting the development plan for the town as chief guest at the annual function of the Social Welfare Association of Phase 2, said a five-star hotel would also be set up, which would put the town on the world tourist map.

Among the other projects were the establishment of a state-of-the art heart care centre and the Army Law College. Besides, efforts would be made to develop the link roads between the town and other areas, including Chandigarh.The association President, Dr J.S. Lamba, hoped the administration would continue to cooperate with the association to solve the problems of the residents.Games were conducted for children and senior citizens at the function.The guest of honour was Mr O.P. Popli, SDM. Among those present were Mr Amrik Singh Mohali and Ms Manmohan Kaur, former Senior Vice-President of the Municipal Council and Councillor, respectively.

HUDA goes online
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, April 3 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has gone online with the launch of its website (www.huda.online.com). The website was inaugurated by the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhir Pal Singh. According to the Chief Administrator of HUDA, Mr NC Wadhwa, information regarding HUDA’s policies, procedures and building regulations etc have been placed on the site.

The website also features current schemes of HUDA for the allotment of freehold residential and industrial plots. The Chief Administrator of HUDA, said the next endeavour of HUDA would be to computerise all its estate offices in order to ensure that its allotees can benefit from speedy and online information pertaining to their plots. Mr Wadhwa said relevant feedback from people on the website was vital for improving the system.

DGP holds open darbar
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 3 — Out of the 44 complaints received at an open darbar of the Haryana Director General of Police, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, held at Police Headquarters in Sector 6, here today, 21 were submitted by citizens and 23 were about the service matters of the police personnel.The public complaints primarily revolved around ex-gratia and employment to the families of police personnel who died on duty.

The police personnel mainly argued for or against transfers and other administrative issues and department matters.Mr G.R. Hans, a robbery victim who had attended the past darbar and had alleged laxity by the local police in the recovery of some looted money, came again to reiterate his stand. The DGP assured him that the police was on the job and would solve the case with a little cooperation from him.A Karnal resident alleged that her two sons had been falsely been implicated in a case under Section 302 of the IPC.

She pleaded innocence on their behalf while demanding a CBI inquiry into the matter. The DGP assigned the case to the Rohtak IG and ordered that an inquiry be conducted into the case. He set a three-week deadline for the submission of the report.Another complaint by Mr Baldev Singh of Yamunanagar alleged that he was under a constant threat from his elder brother, Ajmer Singh, who was upset on account of a property dispute. He alleged that while the case had been decided by the Bilarspur village panchayat, his brother had refused to respect the decision.

Rs 184 crore for villages
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, April 3 — The Punjab Government will spend Rs 184 crore in the current financial year on various village projects, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a cultural programme at Amlala village, near here, yesterday.

He announced Rs 1 lakh for the village primary school, Rs 2 lakh for the repair of streets and drains, Rs 51,000 for the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Club and financial aid for the construction of a gate in the memory of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Famous Punjabi folk singer’s Kuldeep Manak and Paramjit Palli and others performed on the occasion.