H A R Y A N A

3 new sugar mills for Haryana
HISAR, April 12 — In a bid to add a dash of sweetness to the bitter lives of the jobless, the Haryana Government has decided to set up three new sugar mills in the state despite the fact that the existing 10 sugar mills had accumulated losses of Rs 84.24 crore at the end of March last year.

Rousing reception to Khalsa march
PANIPAT, April 12 — Amid shouts of “Bole so nihal”, the Khalsa march was accorded a rousing reception on its arrival last night at Haldana, about 30 km from here. Co-operative Minister Kartar Singh Bhadana welcomed the march by led Agriculture Minister Jaswinder Singh Sandhu.

World Bank project cuts off Dhulkot
AMBALA April 12 — It is soon going to be a road to nowhere. Dhulkot village here is all set to witness development. But development in reverse.

Action against cop on NRI’s complaint
SIRSA, April 12 — The chowki in charge of Chautala village has been sent to police lines on the compliant of an NRI. According to the information received here today, the complainant Amolak, who was married to a German woman Bringanta Ensirt and was staying in Kala Titar Tourist Complex near Aboobshahar village of the district, said that he had been living in Germany since for past five years and was here to visit India with his wife.

Sewage treatment plant inaugurated
SONEPAT, April 12 — Mr T.R. Balu, Union Minister of Environment and Forests, inaugurated a Rs 11.26 crore sewage treatment plant of 30 MLD capacity, constructed under the Yamuna action plan, on the Sonepat-Rathdhanna road, 4 km from here, last evening.

Dalal assails govt on wheat procurement
CHANDIGARH, April 12 — The RPI MLA from Palwal, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, has alleged that the wheat procurement agencies in Haryana have not made required arrangement for the purchase of wheat though the crop has already reached the market.

3 new sugar mills for Haryana
From Raman Mohan

HISAR, April 12 — In a bid to add a dash of sweetness to the bitter lives of the jobless, the Haryana Government has decided to set up three new sugar mills in the state despite the fact that the existing 10 sugar mills had accumulated losses of Rs 84.24 crore at the end of March last year.

It is learnt that this year too, eight of these 10 mills have incurred losses. These are located at Panipat, Rohtak, Sonepat, Jind, Palwal, Meham, Kaithal and Bhuna. Only two of the mills located at Karnal and Shahbad are expected to either break even or earn marginal profits this year.

However, the political exigencies of providing employment to the jobless in the rural areas have forced the government to announce setting up of two new mills at Panniwala Mota in Sirsa district and Gohana in Sonepat district. The third new mill is likely to be located in the vicinity of Hisar, either in Ghiraj assembly segment or the Narnaund assembly constituency. Mr Puran Singh Dabra (INLD) and Mr Ram Bhagat (Ind.) represent these constituencies, respectively.

Both are keen to have the mill located in their area. During a function last week at Data village, near here, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, announced that the location of the mill would be decided after a survey. According to knowledgeable sources, each new mill will cost Rs 55 crore.

Expert, however, question the logic of setting up new mills even as the existing mills continue to accumulate losses. Besides, they claim that the location of the proposed mills at Panniwala Mota and Gohana has not been decided on merit. Hardly any sugarcane is grown in the vicinity of Panniwala Mota and the proposed mill may find it hard to obtain sugarcane to utilise its full capacity.

Likewise, Gohana is located near Sonepat. The existing Sonepat Sugar Mills is heavily dependent on the Gohana area for its supply of sugarcane. The Sonepat mills on an average gets 6 lakh tonnes of sugarcane from Gohana. Once the new mill is ready, the Sonepat mills, already in debt, will be starved of sugarcane.

In fact, interest burden is the biggest drain on the financial resources of sugar mills. The mills are set up with funds loaned by financial institutions. The interest burden on this loan itself makes a mill financially unviable to a considerable extent right from its inception.

Strangely enough, as per a government directive, all these mills are expected to deal only with cooperative banks, which charge interest at the rate of 16 per cent, that is considerably higher than the rate charged by other banks.

The mill’s problems are aggravated by the government control over their produce. Till October last year, 40 per cent of the produce had to be sold in the levy sector at government-dictated prices, leaving the mills to dispose of the rest in the open market. The levy quota has since been slashed to 30 per cent, providing some relief to these mills.

The problems of these mills do not end here. The molasses’ sales policy leaves much to be desired. Till recently, there was no ban on import of molasses from neighbouring states. So, molasses from Uttar Pradesh flooded Haryana and distilleries picked up this molasses at throwaway prices. After the ban, now these mills hope to sell molasses at Rs 300 to Rs 350.

Experts say that instead of setting up new mills, the government should modernise the existing sugar mills to help them earn profits. The mills should be allowed to raise funds from private and other commercial banks at lower rates of interest to reduce the interest burden. Besides, the establishment costs much be brought down.

Rousing reception to Khalsa march
From Tribune Reporters

PANIPAT, April 12 — Amid shouts of “Bole so nihal”, the Khalsa march was accorded a rousing reception on its arrival last night at Haldana, about 30 km from here.

Co-operative Minister Kartar Singh Bhadana welcomed the march by led Agriculture Minister Jaswinder Singh Sandhu. The march traversed through Samalkha, NFL township before calling it a day. A multi-media show depicting 500 years of sacrifices and glory of the Sikhs was staged at the Arya Samaj school grounds.

FARIDABAD: The Khalsa March was given a warm welcome by thousands of people as it entered the district through Managar village on Tuesday. Mr Anand Mohan Saran, Deputy Commissioner, presented siropas to Mr Sandhu and others who were in the march. Muslims and Christian organisations also presented siropas to those who led the march.

SONEPAT: An impressive march to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, which started from Delhi, was welcomed by a large number of people at Kundli village, along the Haryana-Delhi border, 25 km from here, on Tuesday.

Mr Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Agriculture Minister, Haryana, received the Khalsa march. The Khalsa march was also welcomed at Bad Khalsa village, Rai, Bahalgarh, Murthal and Ganaur, while enroute to Panipat.

Action against cop on NRI’s complaint
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, April 12 — The chowki in charge of Chautala village has been sent to police lines on the compliant of an NRI.

According to the information received here today, the complainant Amolak, who was married to a German woman Bringanta Ensirt and was staying in Kala Titar Tourist Complex near Aboobshahar village of the district, said that he had been living in Germany since for past five years and was here to visit India with his wife.

On the night of April 8 few persons knocked at his door. On asking for their identity they said that they were policemen, however, none of them was in police uniform. They abused him on his refusal to open the door. But when he threatened to shoot them, they went away. They again came around 3 am drunk and repeated the things. Amolak said they shouted for help but to no avail. Next morning when they were leaving Kala Titar, the same persons came and asked them for their papers. When he showed all their documents he and is wife were asked to come out of their car.

Later, Amolak also met the Punjab Chief Minister at a function at his village where a son of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Abhey Chautala, was also present. He directed the police in charge to take strict action against the culprits but the police has not even registered the case so far.

According to Amolak Singh, he is being forced to withdraw the complaint because of the chowki in charge Mr Naresh Ahlawat, is a relative of the I.G. Haryana, Ambala range. However district police chief K.K. Mishra, while confirming the incident, said that an enquiry has been ordered to be conducted by the DSP Dabwali.

Sewage treatment plant inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 12 — Mr T.R. Balu, Union Minister of Environment and Forests, inaugurated a Rs 11.26 crore sewage treatment plant of 30 MLD capacity, constructed under the Yamuna action plan, on the Sonepat-Rathdhanna road, 4 km from here, last evening.

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, presided over the function. Prominent dignitaries who were present on this occasion included Mr Hideharu Tanaka, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in India, Mr Hiroshi Oita, Chief Representative of JBIC, New Delhi, Mr K.C. Sharma, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Public Health Department, Haryana and Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commissioner.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Balu said the plant had been built by the Haryana Government under the Yamuna action plan in collaboration with the Central and the Government of Japan. The technical and financial support of the Japanese Government was laudable and he appreciated it by expressing thanks to the officers of the Japanese Government for joining hands with the Indian Government for this noble cause.

The Chief Minister thanked the Japanese Government for providing financial assistance and said the treatment effluent would be used for irrigation in the nearby fields.

Mr Tanaka also spoke on the occasion.

Dalal assails govt on wheat procurement
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 12 — The RPI MLA from Palwal, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, has alleged that the wheat procurement agencies in Haryana have not made required arrangement for the purchase of wheat though the crop has already reached the market.

In a letter written to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr Dalal said during the last paddy season, the growers were fleeced by traders in collusion with the staff of the state procurement agencies. The farmers were forced to sell their paddy at rates much below the minimum support price, ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 100 per quintal. As a result the farming community suffered a loss of about Rs 500 crore in Haryana.

Mr Dalal, who released copies of the letter to the press here today, said when the farmers raised a hue and cry over their exploitation the Haryana government, instead of taking corrective measures, blaming the Union Government for not purchasing the paddy at the minimum support price.

Urging the Prime Minister to direct the FCI and the state government to ensure the purchase of wheat at the minimum support price, Mr Dalal said it was an established fact that the industrial and tertiary sectors had been flourishing not because of their technological innovations or better efficient managerial strength but by way of clever twisting of terms of trade between agricultural commodities and non-agricultural commodities. The anti-farmer policies of the present government was the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back.

Mr Dalal regretted that against the 40 per cent increases in the prices of diesel and 15 per cent increase in the prices of fertilisers, the government had raised the minimum support price of wheat by only 4 per cent.

World Bank project cuts off Dhulkot
Tribune News Service

AMBALA April 12 — It is soon going to be a road to nowhere. Dhulkot village here is all set to witness development. But development in reverse.

The approach road from Dhulkot village, connecting it to the national highway, is going to be blocked, as a flyover, part of a World Bank-aided project, is being constructed near the Central Jail bridge. The villagers have an alternative road, but that is a defence road and civilian movement is not permitted whenever there is threat to the country’s territorial integrity. In effect, Dhulkot village is soon going to be cut off.

The approach road which passes through Dhulkot village is said to be more than 100 years old and it used to connect Topekhana with Ambala City during the British period. Over a period of time, the Air Force base came up and the road was truncated.

Dhulkot Sarpanch, Gurmeet Kaur said that it was only a few days ago that they realised that the village was going to be cut off due to the development project on the national highway. “We are shocked by the development,” she said.

A villager, Mr Charanjit Singh, said that a delegation of villagers had met the Deputy Commissioner to apprise him of the development. “We may even resort to agitation if our demand for an approach road is not met,” he stated.

Dhulkot village, with about 2500 residents, is dependent to an extent on the industries located here.

The villagers state that an Army school is also going to come up soon on the defence road “which means that even during times of need we may not be able to use the alternative road.” “We were offered an alternative through a low-lying area. During the rains, the drain in the area overflows and yet again the village will become inaccessible. Dhulkot, it seems, is destined to be cut off despite lying so close to the national highway,” former Sarpanch, Mr Bhola Ram said.

XEN (World Bank project division), Mr C.S. Chawla, said we are sorting out the matter. “The height of the flyover is leading to blockage of the approach road of Dhulkot village. We were under the impression that the village has an alternative road which connects it to Jagadhri road but it has now been brought to our notice that the alternative road is a defence road,” he said.

Undertrial gives a slip
Tribune News Service

AMBALA April 12 — An undertrial, who was lodged in Ambala Central Jail, escaped when he was being brought back to the Central jail from Jagadhri.

The undertrial, Laxmi Narain, had 13 robbery cases against him. Yesterday, the undertrial was taken to Jagadhri. Laxmi Narain gave the team the slip when they were returning back. It was only when the undertrials were being counted at the jail gate, did the officials realise that one undertrial was missing.

A case has been registered against 12 persons who were on duty. This is a second incident of an undertrial escaping in less than a fortnight.

Earlier on April 2, an undertrial, lodged in the Ambala Central Jail, escaped after he was admitted to Civil Hospital. He was, however, nabbed by jail officials.

The undertrial, 35-year-old Sanjay Kumar, was involved in a robbery case in Panipat and had been shifted to Ambala Central Jail on March 30.

After being admitted in the hospital, Sanjay went to the toilet located on the third floor of the hospital. Not suspecting anything, the person on duty had permitted him to go. After about 15 minutes, the person on duty realised that the undertrial had escaped. Sanjay had escaped through the ventilation window of the toilet after removing the glass pane.

A senior jail official said that Sanjay was later caught from Panipat. Sanjay had spent two days with a `Baba’ in Ambala as he was an addict. He later went to Panipat from where he was nabbed by jail personnel on April 5.

Marriages of 24 girls arranged
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, April 12 — Prerna, a voluntary organisation, arranged the marriages of 24 girls belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes here yesterday.

Several girls, whose marriage ceremony was performed by “Gayarti Parivar”, Patiala, were fatherless.

The Director, Haryana State Vigilance Bureau, Mr M.S. Malik, who was the chief guest, donated Rs 11,000 as “kanyadaan”.

The President of Prerna, Mr Jai Bhagwan Singla, said the organisation had been organising marriages every year. It was also running an old age home besides a vocational training centre. The “Foster Parents Scheme” of the organisation had helped donors provide educational facilities to several destitute children.

Among others who attended the function were Mrs Jyoti Arora, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Des Raj Singh, S.P. and Mr Des Raj Garg and Mr Jagdish Aggarwal, both philanthropists.

CPM to protest in Delhi on April 17
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 12 — The state unit of the CPM will hold a demonstration in front of Parliament on April 17 in protest against the “considerable” hike in prices of essential commodities by the union government.

In a statement here today, Mr Inderjit Singh, secretary of the state committee of the party, said the protest had been organised in different districts by the party against the hike.

The CPM leader claimed people would not accept the decision of the union government and would agitate against the move.

He also criticised the permission by the Vajpayee government to open a branch of US security agency, the FBI, in New Delhi to counter terrorism.

CJI asked to help end strike
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 12 — The Ambala Citizens Council has appealed to the Chief Justice of India to effectively intervene to salvage the situation created by the strike of advocates, which is causing problems for the general public.

In a statement issued here today the Chairman of the council, Dr N.C. Jain, said due to the strike the arrears of cases in the courts had further mounted and justice to the needy would be further delayed. The CJI should issue a directive to the central government to take concrete steps to end the strike of advocate by opening negotiations with the striking advocates on the proposed amendments in the Civil Procedure Code and the Advocates Act.

Dr Jain said the government should set up a commission or a committee to look into the objections raised by the advocates to the proposed amendments. It should be asked to submit its report within one month.

Rich tributes paid to Amba
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 12 — Rich tributes were paid to the late Chuni Lal Amba, permanent Secretary of the Haryana Congress, at a prayer meeting held here today.

The meeting was attended by a large number of Congressmen and admirers of Amba from all over the region.

The President of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said the void created by Amba’s death could not be filled. Among others who paid tributes were Mr Sultan Singh and Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, both former presidents of the Haryana Congress and several sitting and former party MLAs.