 |
| Tuesday, June 6, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Mishra to lead team to Nepal Cong differs with TN on Lanka SC notice to govt on AIIMS pay |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Carbide cites govt in its defence Few takers
for DMK’s Eelam plan Rehabilitation
in jeopardy Control
orders to check oil adulteration Warrant against
Sanjeev Chawala Guru’s martyrdom
day observed Assam plan to boost
foreign trade JEs
issue threat
|
|
Environment fund mooted NEW DELHI, June 5 (PTI, UNI) — The Centre has decided to hike from 15 to 25 per cent funds for soil and water conservation measures in new afforestation projects in desert and drought prone areas and plans to set up an Environment Protection Fund for creating mass awareness. The hike from 15 to 25 per cent of the project cost will be undertaken on a pilot basis in selected areas of each state and will later be extended to other parts, Minister for Environment and Forests T.R. Baalu announced at a World Environment Day function here today. His ministry is actively considering water-harvesting in view of the unprecedented drought prevailing in several parts of the country and the urgent need for sustainable use of water resources, Mr Baalu said. The Environment Ministry has identified 12 thrust areas including management, conservation and growth of mangroves, bamboo, medicinal plants and wildlife, and has allocated higher funds for them. It has also started paying greater attention to coastal shelter belts, promoting eco-tourism, eco-villages and eco-cities. Despite a rich cultural heritage that stresses on the importance of nature,
India's environment is a matter of great concern, Mr Baalu said. The country’s rivers are polluted, underground water is contaminated, water table is depleting at an alarming rate, and the protective ozone layer is endangered, he said, adding that combating these problems is the “biggest challenge” before the country. Eminent scientist Prof M.G.K. Menon, who delivered a keynote address, recommended setting up a national committee on sustainable development that would address ecological security issues both at the central and state levels. Severely criticising the country’s environment laws as “antiquated “ and “unimplementable”, Mr Menon said the government should set up an institutional framework for sustainable development. He said environmental issues should be the joint responsibility of several ministries such as agriculture, water resources, surface transport and forestry. Minister of State for Environment Babu Lal Marandi presented United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) awards to school children for outstanding posters and essays on this year’s theme for the
occasion “2000: The Environment Millennium: Time to Act.” AMBEDKARNAGAR: Forest experts have warned that the decreasing forest cover in Uttar Pradesh might threaten the environmental balance. Conservator of Forests Saryu Rampravesh Tiwari said here today that around 5,660 sq km area or 17.5 per cent of the total geographical area of the state was covered by forests. He said around 80 per cent of the state population lived in rural areas and 70 per cent of them were dependent on forests and their produce. These people take away 11.06 lakh tonnes of fuel from the forests every year while only 1.12 lakh tonne of fuel a year can be harvested from
them. The demand for fodder and fuel was beyond the total capacity of the forests, he said. DEHRA DUN: A healthy environment is necessary to safeguard conditions conducive to promote the personality development of human beings said Uttar Pradesh Chief Justice Shyamal K. Sen. He was addressing participants and guests at the Rlek Human Rights Centre. Citing the Doon valley case, Mr Justice Sen said Article 21 of the Constitution was invoked by the Supreme Court to prevent degradation of Mussoorie hills due to the mining operations there which was becoming a health hazard. The court held that Article 21 included in its sweeping right to clean environment and that “the permanent assets of mankind cannot be allowed to be exhausted in our generation.” KOHIMA: Nagaland today observed world environment day with the state government fervently calling upon the people to protect and preserve the rich bio-diversity by optimising the use of natural resources. Chief Minister S.C. Jamir in a message urged the people to reduce the demand for natural resources through their efficient use and popularise alternative means. |
|
Gods victims of ecological degradation! PURI, June 5 (UNI) — Even gods have to suffer environmental degradation. Forests of
Phasi, Asana and Dharua trees, used in building the gigantic chariots of Lord Jagannath during the famous car festival here, have become scarce and temple authorities have been facing difficulty arranging the wood. Now, under a Rs 65-crore government project, the trees are to be planted in an area of 2,800 hectares along the Mahanadi in the districts of
Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Phulbani, Cuttack and Dhenkanal. The project, “Jagannath Bana
Prakalpa”, would be headed by “Gajapati king” Dibya Singh Deb of Puri and include as members the collectors and Divisional Forest officers of the six districts. Various district rural development agencies have already released Rs 75 lakh to start the project. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who launched the project yesterday, also took stock of the progress made for the conduct of the car festival at its preparatory committee meeting in this holy city. The “Daitapatis” and servetors of the temple promised the timely completion of all rituals and “nitis” of the three presiding deitis of the temple — Lord
Jagannath, Lord Balavadra and their sister Devi Shubhadra — for the car festival on July 3. The Chief Minister expressed displeasure over the absence of the representatives of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Car Festival Coordination Committee meeting. The ASI is looking after the repair, conservation and preservation of the 12th century temple. Mr Patnaik also released an additional Rs 10 lakh to the Puri civic body on a request by the Chairperson of the Puri Municipality to undertake necessary steps regarding health and hygiene during the car festival. The Chief Minister assured the meeting that the festival would be telecast live on the national network as he had already taken up the matter with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun
Jaitely. Representatives from the Railways told the meeting that special trains would run during the festival. State Revenue Minister Biswa Bhusan
Harichandan, Works Minister Nalini Kanta Mahanty, Union Minister of State for Steel Braja Kishore Tripathy and senior district officials were present at the meeting. |
|
Mishra to lead team to Nepal NEW DELHI, June 5 — A two-day meeting of the Indo-Nepal High Level Task Force (HLTF) is being held in Kathmandu from tomorrow for taking stock of the projects being undertaken with Indian assistance. The Indian delegation at the HLTF meeting is being led by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr Brajesh Mishra, and the Nepal Chief Secretary, Mr Trithaman Sakya, will lead the Nepalese delegation. During his stay in the Nepalese capital, Mr Mishra will call on the Prime Minister, Mr G.P. Koirala, the Foreign Minister, Dr Chakra Prasad Bastola, and the Home Minister, Mr R. Joshi. The Principal Secretary will also have a special audience with Nepal King Birendra Bikram Shah. The HLTF was set up in 1992 with a mandate of ensuring
successful completion of projects being implemented with Indian assistance and to recommend new projects which could be taken up under the Indian development aid. This is the
fifth meeting of the HLTF with the last meeting having taken place in 1997. Over the past three decades, India has given substantial economic
assistance to Nepal. The initial focus was on infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, irrigation, power and airports. Over a period of time cooperation has also been extended to other sectors, such as education, health and agriculture. Indian assistance to Nepal has increased from Rs 11.1 crore in 1980-81 to Rs 76.45 core in 1997-98. Two major projects which have been completed during the previous year are the Rs 80 crore B.P. Koirala
Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan and the Rs 68-crore 22 bridges on the East-West Highway. The BPKIHS has emerged as a premier institute in Eastern Nepal and India will continue to provide faculty and training support to the institute till 2009. The 22 bridges have been constructed in some of the most difficult terrains and will provide a continuous road link on the East-West Highway, which will be a catalyst for the development of western Nepal. Ongoing
commitments which are in various stages of implementation include the Tankapur-Mehendranagar link road, the Raxul-Sirsiya rail link and the setting up of an emergency and trauma centre at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu. In addition there is the regular programme of scholarships for Nepalese students. New areas of cooperation which are likely to be discussed at the HLTF meeting include strengthening of infrastructure along the Indo-Nepal border, cooperation in water resources, rural development, and human resource development. |
|
Cong differs with TN on Lanka NEW DELHI, June 5 — The Congress today disagreed with the suggestion of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, to split Sri Lanka on Czech lines as a solution to the ethnic crisis there. “Any solution to the problem has to be found keeping in mind the interests of minorities, especially the Tamils and the unity, territorial integrity and
sovereignty of Sri Lanka,” the AICC General Secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said. Mr Azad’s response came in reply to a question on the party’s reaction to the statement of Mr Karunanidhi, who said at Chennai that since the Sinhala government and minority Tamils were unable to co-exist in Sri Lanka, the country could be split on the Czech lines. Mr Azad said it was strange that a leader of Mr Karunanidhi’s stature had made such a statement and it indicated that there no cohesion within the NDA as the Government and leader of a NDA constituent were speaking in different voices. Earlier, Mr Azad announced the appointment of Mr E V K S Elangovan, as the new President of the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee. Mr Elangovan, who is the grandson of late E V Ramaswamy Naicker “Periar” , replaces Mr Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy. Mr Elangovan, who was also present on the occasion, alleged that Mr Karunanidhi had been making contradictory statements on the ethnic crisis and it was difficult to react to it as such. With elections to the State Assembly due in March next, Mr Elangovan said his ultimate aim was to see the installation of a Congress government in Tamil Nadu. For the present, the Congress will contest the forthcoming elections in alliance with the AIADMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress. Playing almost the same time CPM today asked the
Vajpayee government to condemn Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s statement
calling for the division of Sri Lanka. In a statement of the party’s politburo, the CPM expressed surprise over the silence of the Vajpayee government over Mr Karunanidhi’s statement supporting the division of the island nation. |
|
SC notice to govt on AIIMS pay NEW DELHI, June 5 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today issued notices to Union Health and Finance Ministries on a petition of faculty of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) seeking implementation of higher pay scales recommended by the Bakshi Committee in July 1998. A Division Bench comprising Justice V.N. Khare and Justice A P Misra asked the respondents to file reply within 10 days and posted the matter for further hearing on June 19. The notice on behalf of the central ministries was received by advocate P. Parmeswaran while notice to AIIMS was accepted in court by advocate Mukul Gupta. Arguing for the
petitioner, senior advocate D.D. Thakur contended that though a premier institute, the Centre has shown step-motherly attitude to AIIMS by not accepting the Bakshi Committee recommendations for higher pay to faculty members. The report given by the Committee, headed by then Health Secretary K.K. Bakshi, was rejected by the Government and the Finance Ministry had proposed another pay scale. The faculty had rejected the Finance Ministry proposal saying the proposed Government pay scale was much lower than that recommended by the Bakshi Committee. The Bakshi Committee had recommended a pay scale of Rs 12750-375-16500 for Assistant Professors as against the present pay scale of Rs 3500-125-4500 and for Professors a pay scale of Rs 22400-525-24500 as against the present Rs 5900-200-7300. However, the government proposed pay scale for an Assistant Professor was Rs 11625-325-15200 and that for a Professor was Rs 18400-500-22400. The petitioners pointed out that the government proposed pay scale was much lower than that recommended by the Bakshi Committee and said their petition for implementation of the Committee recommendations before the High Court was dismissed without the court going into the merit of
the case. The petitioners said their pay scales were inferior in many aspects even to Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) “though AIIMS in addition to being a world class hospital is ahead of the IITs in terms of research.” “The eligibility criteria, age at the entry level, job requirement, promotion criteria and personal policies were more rigid and stringent as compared to the IITs,” it said. |
|
Carbide cites govt in its defence BHOPAL, June 5 — The Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) has cited in the Federal Court of New York statements made by the Government of India and the Madhya Pradesh Government in its defence in the lawsuit instituted by the 1984 Bhopal MIC gas-leak disaster survivors. According to Mr Himanshu Rajan Sharma, the New York-based attorney representing the survivors of the Bhopal disaster, Union Carbide had produced in the Court a notification of the Union Ministry of Tourism saying that the “site of its former factory is to be turned into a technology park for tourists”, along with a press release of Madhya Pradesh Government claiming that the “site of the Union Carbide factory is not contaminated”. Besides, there was also a statement by the Union Minister, Ms Maneka Gandhi, in parliament that the “site is not polluted”. This was to impress upon the court that all was well in Bhopal when Union Carbide left it. However, Goodkind, Labaton, Rudoff and Sucharow, the New York-based law firm which is fighting the case on behalf of the Bhopal disaster survivors, not only forcefully rebutted all the arguments of Union Carbide Corporation but also cited instances of grave violations of international law and human rights by UCC. Mr Sharma works for this law firm. A positive development in favour of Bhopal disaster survivors was the service of the summons on Warren Anderson, former chairman UCC, who has been a fugitive from the Indian courts for over a decade. Mr Sharma said that summons, issued by the New York Court, were taken to Anderson’s three houses in the USA, but he evaded them. Ultimately, UCC accepted the summons on behalf of Anderson and that served the purpose of the Court. Mr Sharma, who had been visiting Bhopal since 1995 to acquaint himself with the conditions of the Bhopal disaster survivors, said that some pronouncement of the Indian Supreme Court on the Union Carbide case had also come in for different interpretations. However, the interpretation of Goodkind’s law firm had been endorsed by the former Chief Justice of India, Mr P.N. Bhagwati. In fact, the complaint against Union Carbide has been substantiated by affidavits from nine international legal experts including Justice Bhagwati and Professor Upendra Baxi, former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University. Mr Sharma said that preliminary hearing in the Federal Court had been completed and the Court was expected to pronounce its verdict any time. The suit has been filed under provisions of the Alien Tort Claims Act, a US law that permits foreigners bring claims for violations of international law. The statute was originally enacted in 1789 to provide a remedy to foreign citizens injured by pirates, slave traders and other international outlaws. According to the suit, “The defendants are liable for fraud and civil contempt for their total failure to comply with the lawful orders of the courts of the courts of both the United States and India”. The complaint alleges that “Union Carbide demonstrated a reckless and depraved indifference to human life in the design, operation and maintenance of the Union Carbide of India Ltd (UCIL) facility.” This “resulted in the devastating leak of massive amounts of methyl isocyanate (MIC) into the city, killing and injuring many thousands of its residents.” The plaintiffs in the case include individual survivors as well as victims’ organisations in Bhopal that have been representing survivors and next-of-kin of victims for the past 15 years. The suit asserts that the Indian Supreme Court, in its judgement of October 1991, held that the criminal investigation and prosecution of Union Carbide should proceed and stated that failure to accomplish this would constitute “a manifest injustice”. According to the petition, although Union Carbide was a party to all of these proceedings, it subsequently refused to comply with all efforts to obtain its appearance for trial by the Bhopal District Court and the efforts of Indian authorities to secure jurisdiction over Union Carbide have proved futile, including the service of summons on Union Carbide through the US Department of Justice and
Interpol. |
|
Few takers for DMK’s Eelam plan CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, may have raised a horneti’s nest with his proposal over the weekend for a Chechslovakian model of separation to resolve the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka, apart from making the already prevailing
confusion among the political parties in the state over the issue worse. The initial reaction among the DMK allies like the BJP and Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress TRC of Mr Vazhapadi Ramamurthy has been one of scepticism about the applicability of the Czechslovak solution to Sri Lanka to meet the LTTE’s demand for a Tamil Eelam. Predictably, for the other DMK allies — PMK and MDMK — who are known sympathisers of the LTTE, Mr Karunanidhi’s proposal made at a public function to felicitate him on his 77th birthday on Saturday a virtual endorsement of their demand for a separate State for the Sri Lanka Tamils. The PMK leader, Dr S. Ramdoss, has hailed the chief minister’s suggestion as a “source of great consolation and high hopes for all.” “We should not dictate to the Eelam Tamils to accept slavery and as second class citizens’ status with a policy of upholding the territorial integrity,” he told reporters. At the same time, he was careful to reiterate that his party would abide by any decision taken by the Centre. The Puthia Tamizhagam president, Dr
K. Krishnaswamy, called the Karunanidhi proposal a “step forward.” But the BJP leaders made it clear that a separate state for the Tamils could not be supported as it would encourage secessionism. The recently elected BJP state president, Dr S.P. Krupanidhi, told newsmen in Coimbatore yesterday that his party favoured a separate province within Sri Lanka to give Tamils equal rights. Mr I. Ganesan, general secretary of the party, said the BJP had consistently opposed a separate Eelam. The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) general secretary, Mr Peter Alphonse, feels the Czechslovakia model cannot be followed in Sri Lanka where Tamils live in different parts of the country. In Czechslovakia, he points out, Czech and Slovakia were two separate geographical blocks and hence could be divided. The AIADMK and the two main left parties, CPI and CPM are favouring a solution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Analysts say Mr Karunanidhi’s proposal, though novel, is a non-starter. His equation of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka to disharmony between husband and wife may raise a few laughs but his remedy of a separation is unlikely to draw many takers, least of all Sri Lanka, whose President Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunga, is toughening her stand with the declaration that there could be “no unconditional talks” with the LTTE. The Vajpayee government also cannot be expected to promote Mr Karunanidhi’s solution. |
|
Rehabilitation in jeopardy THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, June 5 (UNI) — If Kerala Women’s Commission Chairperson Sugathakumari is naive enough to think that sex workers can be reformed and rehabilitated by simply giving them a job, she is rather mistaken. “Do you expect they should lead a nun’s life after getting employment?” asks Mr Maitreya, a member of the support group of the Sex Workers Forum in Kerala. “When you say they (the sex workers selected for an industrial training programme) are students from now on, should dress properly, plait their hair, behave properly, do you know you are putting the onus of all their ills on their head?” While forum activists like him and the officials of the commission are engaged in an ego clash, the ambitious project to rehabilitate sex workers in Thiruvananthapuram will meet with a premature death. The commission had prevailed over the Industries Department to provide three months’ industrial job training to the sex workers and provide them a stipend of Rs 500 per month. However, the first batch of 30 women from the forum, did not report for the training camp, apparently as a result of the differences that Mr Maitreya had with the commission’s initiative. According to Mr Maitreya, the sex workers boycotted the training camp in protest against “the manner in which they were treated” by the women’s commission members. “However, in a letter to the commission Chairperson, released to the Press, he said the rehabilitation programme was a futile exercise since the women would get mere Rs 500 a month compared to their present earnings of more than Rs 300 per day. The issue of identity cards to the trainees to avoid possible harassment by the police was another point of difference. The commission insisted that the women carrying the cards should not indulge in their profession, which was not at all acceptable to Mr Maitreya. “The training will be over by midday. What do you expect them to do during the rest of the day?” However, the commission Chairperson termed the arguments of Mr Maitrya as the manifestation of a male-dominated society which wanted to ensure that women remained a saleable commodity. Mr Maitreya., who succeeded in organising sex workers in Kerala, argued that there was nothing wrong in selling sex. “It is the conditions of the selling that have to change. With the police, mafia and the public at their heels, the sex workers’ negotiating skill is hampered. That is what we have to address.” He said if the commission could offer them a job having more than Rs 3,000 as salary, “Probably the most miserable among them would take the offer. No one else would.” He said, “If it is the health of the sex worker or the client that you are concerned about, then they should be taught about safe sexual practices. There are more than two million sex workers in India alone. Can the government can rehabilitate all of them,” he asked. |
|
Control orders to check oil adulteration NEW DELHI, June 5 (PTI) — The government today issued two control orders under the Essential Commodities Act to check adulteration in transport fuels by giving search powers to states and oil companies and providing for forfeiture and imprisonment. Announcing the major offensive against adulteration by way of mixing of naptha and other solvents in diesel and petrol on the occasion of World Environment Day, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik told reporters “by these orders the sale, acquisition, storage of naptha and solvents have been restricted.” Violations of the orders — The Naptha (acquisition, sale, storage, and prevention of use in automobile) Order, 2000 and the Solvent, Raffinate, Slop Order 2000 — would result in imprisonment of not less then 3 months and fine and doubling of the punishment for second offence besides forfeiture of property and vehicles, he said. “The funtionaries of oil companies and state governments have been given powers to search the premises/vehicles and check the use of these products as well as inspect documents,” Naik said. Asked about the diesel scam in Gujarat, entailing diversion of products to take advantage of sales tax, Naik said his Ministry had taken steps to check any such misuse and had asked the oil companies to check all major consumers to ensure products were being used for the declared purposes. |
|
Warrant against
Sanjeev Chawala NEW DELHI, June 5 — A Delhi Court today issued non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Sanjeev Chawala, prime accused in match-fixing case in which South African former cricket Captain, Hansie Cronje and three others were allegedly involved. The warrant was issued by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Mr T.R. Naval, as the prime accused in the case, Sanjeev Chawala failed to appear despite repeated summons served on his known addresses in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and the UK. He is reportedly residing in England where he fled a few days before the case came to the limelight. The warrant was issued after an application was filed for personal exemption before the court by the ED counsel, Mr Subhash Bansal. The judge said, “I am satisfied that there is sufficient material on record to proceed against the accused for offence under Section 56 of the FERA, 1973. As such, I take cognisance of the said offence and issue warrant against the accused for June 30”. |
|
Guru’s martyrdom day observed NEW DELHI, June 5 (UNI) — Sikhs and other communities observed the 394th martyrdom day of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, in the Capital today. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) held the main programme at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj where day-long religious programmes were organised to commemorate the Guru’s martyrdom. The Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee’s women wing President Bibi Arvinder Kaur at the panel’s meeting made an appeal to the people to follow the teachings of Guru Arjan Dev. She also paid tributes to those innocent people who were killed during Operation Bluestar in the first week of June, 1984, at the Golden Temple. In his address at the meeting, the All-India Citizens Committee’s Delhi secretary Raja Singh Sethi urged the government to book the killers of Sikhs in 1984 riots. In honour of the martyred Guru, devotees distributed kachhi lassi (consecrated mixture of water, milk and sugar) and langar at stalls erected on the Capital’s walkalongs. Guru Arjan Dev compiled the hymns of his predecessors in the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib). The fifth Head of the sect, also known as “Shanti de punj — the embodiment of peace” was savagely tortured and executed in 1606 by an order of Mughal emperor Jehangir on charges of helping rebel Prince Khusro. |
Assam plan to boost
foreign trade
GUWAHATI, June 5 (UNI) — The Assam Government has prepared an action plan for promoting international trade with neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh and China to boost the economy of the North-Eastern state. The two-prong action plan, both short-term and long-term, which was taken up by Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta with the Union Minister of Commerce, would greatly benefit the North-Eastern region as a whole, official sources said here yesterday. JEs issue threat NEW DELHI, June 5 (PTI) — Junior Engineers of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) today threatened to close down water and sewer services in the Capital in protest against the “negative attitude” of the Delhi Government towards their long-pending demands. In a statement here, Mr Ashok Pal, General Secretary of the Junior Engineers’ Association, said the engineers had no option but to adopt the path of agitation due to the “negative attitude” of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Jal Board Chief Executive Officer Pradeep Mehra towards their demands. In the first phase of their agitation, the engineers would stage a sit-in and demonstration outside the DJB headquarters at Varunalaya, Mr Pal said. He also claimed that the association had the support of all workers’ unions. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | In Spotlight | 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
