H A R Y A N A

Fear of water-borne diseases in Haryana
CHANDIGARH, June 13 — With the onset of summer, the fear of water-borne diseases is looming large over Haryana. According to government sources, diarrhoea has already taken an alarming proportion in the State with more than 20,000 people getting affected by the disease.

Life term for 2 ex-students
ROHTAK, June 13 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan, has sentenced two former students of Maharshi Dayanand University to undergo life imprisonment for murdering two youths in Sector 1 here in July 1996.

Bus services to link all villages
FATEHABAD, June 13 — The Haryana Government has formulated a new transport policy under which every village of the state would be linked with bus services. Disclosing this here today, the Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Arora, said while formulating the new transport policy care had been taken to ensure that no village in the state was left without the facility of bus service.

Fresh probe into bank fraud
FATEHABAD, June 13 — The District Grievances Committee has today ordered a fresh probe into the allegation of fraud against the Manager and Land Valuation Officer of the Primary Land Development and Cooperative Bank, Tohana.

Kargil funds: Cong seeks White Paper
ROHTAK, June 13 — The Congress has demanded a White Paper on the collection of donations and its utilisation for the welfare of families of Kargil martyrs. It has also demanded an ex-gratia grant of Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of the soldiers who have laid down their lives for the nation after the Kargil conflict.

Fear of water-borne diseases in Haryana
By Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 — With the onset of summer, the fear of water-borne diseases is looming large over Haryana. According to government sources, diarrhoea has already taken an alarming proportion in the State with more than 20,000 people getting affected by the disease. The maximum number of cases of diarrhoea was reported from Panipat where, according to the figures available with the State Government, 3421 people had fallen ill due to the disease. The only death in diarrhoea, however, was reported from Gurgaon where more than 2000 people were affected by the ailment.

Cases of three other water-borne diseases have also been reported from various parts of Haryana. Gastroentritis cases have been reported from at least three districts of Haryana. They are Faridabad (218), Yamunanagar (197) and Panchkula (72). Government datas also show more than 300 jaundice cases taking place in 13 districts of the State. More than 100 typhoid cases have been reported from Karnal district, though in other parts of the State number of typhoid cases seems to be negligible.

Officials here, however, said that the Health department was aware to the threat of water-borne diseases and added that monitoring was being regularly done at the district and State level. A committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioners, was functioning in each district of Haryana for this purpose, the officials said. Moreover, as preventive measures to tackle the diseases, all water sources were being chlorinated and water samples were being tested for presence of residual chlorine and bacteriological counts, the officials said.

The findings of the districtwise water samples tests, however, showed an alarming level of contamination in drinking water. For the Orthotoludine test, for checking residual chlorine, 28740 water samples were taken from all over the State, out of which 22219 were positive. The maximum number of contaminated samples was reported from Jhajjar as 3762 samples, out of a total of 4340 collected from that district showed positive results. From Sirsa, Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala’s home district, 180 samples were collected and 100 showed positive results.

The results of the bacteriological tests of the water samples were no better. While 1464 samples were collected from entire state, there were 246 cases of water found unfit for consumption. Results are awaited for 445 cases, while the water was found fit for consumption in 773 cases. From Sirsa, 11 water samples were taken and all the samples were found unfit for consumption. Seventyfour out of the total 364 water samples collected from Karnal was found unfit. The least presence of bacteria was in Rohtak, where only seven out of total 302 cases were found unfit, while the rest was found fit for consumption.

Official sources said that leakage in the drinking water pipes is one most potent sources for contamination of drinking water. Since last January, Health department personnel reportedly detected 242 leakage of pipes which were subsequently repaired. The maximum number of repair works were needed for Yamunanagar where 71 cases leaking of drinking water pipes were detected.

While Health department officials are also taking steps such as chlorination of drinking water wells, distribution of halogen tablets and bleaching powder etc to tackle the water-borne diseases, they are hopeful that the ailments will not take an epidemic proportion. They pointed out that Mr M L Ranga, the Minister of State for Health, had also assured that a special medical team would be available on requisition in case of large number of occurrences of water-borne diseases for any district.

Life term for 2 ex-students
From Vipin Sharma

ROHTAK, June 13 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan, has sentenced two former students of Maharshi Dayanand University to undergo life imprisonment for murdering two youths in Sector 1 here in July 1996.

The convicts have also been fined Rs 5,000 each and in default of payment of the fine further imprisonment for six months.

While delivering the judgement today, the judge observed: “Both the accused convicts have committed barbarous and brutal act in taking away two innocent lives of Rajiv and Ramesh and have thus, committed a heinous crime against society which should be curbed with a heavy hand to set an example to remind other such criminals in society that anyone who dares taking the precious life of a human being has to suffer punishment for the whole of his life, for committing such offences against humanity”.

According to the prosecution, the two students — Kranti (20) of Sisana village in Sonepat district and Dharmender (21) of Samargopalpur village in Rohtak district stabbed Rajiv of Mokhra village and Ramesh of Madina village to death in connection with a dispute regarding the handing over the certain photographs of the teenaged sister of Kranti in Sector 1 on July 11, 1996.

The complainant Satish, a laboratory supervisor in the local Shiksha Bharti School had stated that he along with his cousin (uncle’s son), Rajiv and Ramesh visited Malik Studio owned by Satyajeet, his cousin (uncle’s son). Kranti and Dharmender reached the shop on a scooter around 6 p.m. and Kranti asked Satyajeet to hand over his (Kranti’s) sister’s photographs and their negatives. The photographer told him that the photographs were not ready.

At this Kranti caught hold of Satyajeet and dragged him out. Both the assailants started beating the photographer. When certain friends of the photographer came to his rescue, Dharmender gripped Ramesh from the rear and Kranti stabbed him with a knife in the stomach, chest and shoulder. The victim fell on the ground, crying for help. During the scuffle Dharmender also took out a knife and both stabbed Rajiv also.

Seeing a gathering the assailants drove away towards the Sonepat road on their already started scooter with the blood stained knives in their hands. Both victims, Rajiv and Ramesh, succumbed to their injuries on the spot.

Following a tip-off the police arrested both the accused on July 13, 1996.

Bus services to link all villages
From Sushil Manav

FATEHABAD, June 13 — The Haryana Government has formulated a new transport policy under which every village of the state would be linked with bus services. Disclosing this here today, the Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Arora, said while formulating the new transport policy care had been taken to ensure that no village in the state was left without the facility of bus service. Mr Arora was talking to mediapersons after presiding over a meeting of the District Grievances Committee. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, and the SP, Mr Shrikant Jadhav, were also present.

Mr Arora said the Chautala government in Haryana was being run with the aim of ensuring all-round development of the state and prosperity of its residents. He said Haryana being a predominantly agricultural state its prosperity depended on the prosperity of its farmers. He said keeping this in mind the Chief Minister had announced new policies for the welfare of small farmers and poor and downtrodden sections of society. Efforts, he said, were being made to ensure proper water and power supply to the farmers. The government had succeeded in its endeavour to a large extent.

The minister claimed the state government had succeeded in supplying irrigation water to the tail-end of the water distributaries while the previous governments had failed miserably on this count. He recalled that it was Mr Chautala who had provided connection for 30 tubewells after obtaining special permission from the Centre during his earlier term as Chief Minister in 1990. He alleged that not a single tubewell connection had been sanctioned during the eight-year-long terms of Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Bansi Lal. He said that the government had procured new transformers worth Rs 110 crore and was seriously trying to provide tubewell connections to all applicants by December 31 this year.

The Transport Minister said the state government was formulating a new education policy which would be announced soon. Under the new education policy, he said, English would be taught from first standard while computer education would be introduced from ninth standard in government schools. He said the government was of the view that the children of the poor and downtrodden should get the best of education and be able to compete with other children who get education from public schools.

Mr Arora said a fresh survey for people living below the poverty line was under way as many people who were genuinely eligible had been left out in the earlier surveys. The government, he said, would provide yellow cards to all those who deserved these.

The minister claimed the government had already completed the work of repair of all roads in the state. He said the government was firm in its resolve of removing all encroachments from the state as the issue was related to the security and convenience of ordinary citizens. He appealed to the media to cooperate with the government in its resolve.

The Deputy Commissioner informed the district administration had already completed the work of removing encroachments from 145 out of 231 villages in the district. He said 42006 applicants had been found eligible for old age pension in this district. The survey for this was done by a three-member medical board.

Fresh probe into bank fraud
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, June 13 — The District Grievances Committee has today ordered a fresh probe into the allegation of fraud against the Manager and Land Valuation Officer of the Primary Land Development and Cooperative Bank, Tohana.

Mr Parkash Singh, a resident of village Akanwali in the district, had lodged a complaint with the committee in which he had alleged that he had applied for a tractor loan from the Tohana branch of the above said bank. However, the Manager and the Land Valuation Officer of the bank kept 10 per cent of the loan amount.

Mr Parkash Singh alleged that while refunding the loan, he deposited an instalment of Rs 17,000, but only Rs 1,700 were credited to his account.

He further alleged that though both these officials were found guilty in an earlier probe, no action had yet been taken in this regard. The Transport Minister who was presiding over the committee ordered a fresh probe in this regard.

The Grievances Committee listened to 11 complaints which were placed before it today. It resolved five complaints out of 11 on the spot.

In a complaint of misbehaviour by a member of the nursing staff of the local general hospital, the committee asked the Civil Surgeon, Dr Balbir Singh Beniwal, to take suitable action. The Civil Surgeon informed the committee that he had conducted a probe and found the official official guilty of misbehaviour. He said the nursing staff member concerned had been issued a warning.

Kargil funds: Cong seeks White Paper
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, June 13 — The Congress has demanded a White Paper on the collection of donations and its utilisation for the welfare of families of Kargil martyrs. It has also demanded an ex-gratia grant of Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of the soldiers who have laid down their lives for the nation after the Kargil conflict.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the District Congress Committee (DCC, Rural) here on Sunday evening.

It was claimed at the meeting that the government did not provide relief to the bereaved families of soldiers from its exchequer. Rather, it was alleged, that the government had even withheld a part of the donations collected from various parts of the state.

Divulging the details the DCC President said the state government had collected an amount of nearly Rs 15 crore in the form of donations. He said if the government provided an ex-gratia grant of Rs 10 lakh to each of the 105 bereaved families in the state, it came to a total amount of Rs 10.5 crore. He claimed that a huge sum of nearly Rs 15 crore had been accumulated as donation, but only Rs 10.5 crore was utilised for providing relief to the families of the martyrs.

The Congress leader gave an ultimatum of 15 days to the state government to clear its position on the issue. He also asked the government to apologise publicly for the false propaganda of providing an ex-gratia grant of Rs 10 lakh to each of the bereaved families from the government exchequer.

Farmers to pay more for water
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 — Farmers in Haryana will have to pay more for the canal water they use to irrigate their fields. The increase in the irrigation charges will be effective from the next crop season.

The decision to raise the irrigation charges was taken by the State Cabinet at its meeting held here on June 8.

The average increase for various categories is believed to be about 30 per cent, though for certain crops, which consume comparatively less water the increase will be marginal.

Official sources describe the increase as “peanuts” but the government seems to feel shy in making its decision to increase the irrigation charges public, obviously because of its possible political fallout. It is clear from the fact that no mention about the increase in the irrigation charges was made in the press note released after the Cabinet meeting.

The increase in water rates will cover bulk consumers like industrial users and the Public Health Department also which treats the canal water for pumping in the drinking water system.

The Haryana Government is committed to increase the water charges by about 10 per cent every year under an agreement with the World Bank which advanced a loan of about Rs 800 crore to the State for strengthening and modernising its irrigation system.

The agreement with the World Bank was signed in the early nineties by the Bhajan Lal Government. The rates were increased in 1995, 1996 and then in 1998 when Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister.

However, the rates were not revised in 1997 and 1999. In 1998 the rates were raised by about 20 per cent.

The official sources say the irrigation rates in Haryana, even after revision, will be no where near what they are in States like Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. For example, while in Uttar Pradesh the irrigation charges for sugarcane are about Rs 190 per acre, in Haryana these will be Rs 80 per acre in the Yamuna Command Area and Rs 70 per acre in the Bhakra Command Area. For paddy and wheat, the two main crops in Haryana, the charges will be Rs 60 per acre per crop season.

A leader of the ruling INLD said his party did not object when the irrigation rates were raised in 1998 because it appreciated the necessity of the revision. He said while the canal water charges in Haryana were much cheaper particularly when seen in the context that a farmer had to spend over Rs 400 per acre if he irrigated his fields through a tubewell. He said the thrust of the government was to ensure adequate supply of water even at the tail-end of the water sources.

Cases to be filed against 8 officers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 — The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau today recommended registration of cases against eight gazetted officers, 12 officials and 20 others for various irregularities committed by them.

A spokesman for the Bureau said that it also recommended department action under Rule 7 against nine gazetted officers and 161 officials. In one case, it also recommended action by the local police.

He said the Bureau detected the loss of Rs 60,725 to the State exchequer in two cases. It also recommended recovery of over Rs 4.16 lakh.

He said the Bureau also detected a case in the Irrigation Department in which tenders of higher rates were accepted, thus causing a loss of about Rs 29 lakh to the State exchequer.

He said two cases of revenue leakage involving over Rs 10.54 lakh were also detected for which departmental action was recommended against five gazetted officers.

Councillor’s election upheld
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA June 13 — The District and Session Judge, Ambala, Ms Kiran Anand Lal has dismissed the election petition filed by a senior local BJP leader Subhadesh Mittal against Mr Umesh Kumar who contested the Ambal cantonment board elections from the ward 4 against Mr Mittal. The judge also declared the election of Mr Umesh Kumar valid.

The judge said in his order that the petitioner could not prove his allegations levelled against Mr Umesh and others for violating the model code of conduct and adopting illegal method during the counting of the votes.

Besides Mr Umesh the petitioner had also made two candidates, Mr Ganga Prashad and Mr Madan Goel and the Returning Officer, Mr P.S. Bishnoi the party in the case.

The petitioner had alleged that the Returning Officer did not adopt the prescribed norms while counting the votes. The postal ballots were opened even before the casting process of the votes in the ballot boxes was completed. The declaration forms did not got tally with the postal ballots due to which 92 postal ballots were rejected.

The counsel of the respondent refuted the charges of the petitioner. He stated that during the counting the normal procedure was adopted.

Decision on courses approved
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala today approved the decision of the Board of Governors of the Regional Engineer College, Kurukshetra, to introduce part-time evening classes in M.Tech. in six different courses, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics and communication engineering, computer engineering and instrumentation.

The Board of Governors of the College had adopted a resolution to this effect and agreed in principle to start these classes on Saturdays and Sundays for the members of the staff of the newly emerging engineering colleges and inservice engineers. Each course would be of two years duration and have 20 seats.

Civic body poll schedule
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 — The Haryana State Election Commission today announced the election schedule for the Kaithal and Bhiwani Municipal Councils.

A notification issued by the State Election Commission said the Returning Officers would get the notice inviting nominations published by June 15, while nomination papers would be presented from June 26 to June 30.

The list of nomination papers would be posted from June 26 to June 30. The candidates would furnish the information that they did not suffer from any disqualification under the Representation of People Act 1951, by July 1. The Commission said July 1 would be the last date for scrutinising the nomination papers, while July 3 would be the last date for making applications for revision. The Deputy Commissioner would decide revision applications by July 5.

The Commission said July 6 would be the last date on which revision applications would be decided by the Deputy Commissioner.

July 7 would be the last date for withdrawal of candidature by candidates. The list of candidates would be posted by July 7.

Poll, if any, would be held on July 27 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The counting of votes will take place immediately after the polling is closed. The election results will be declared immediately after the account of ballot papers received from presiding officers of the polling stations of the constituency is consolidated.

PGIMS seeks social service
From Bijendra Ahlawat

ROHTAK, June 13 — The authorities of the Pt B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) here have sought the help and cooperation of various social organisations and voluntary bodies with a view to improve and provide better facilities to the patients visiting the institute. This is the only institute in the state which offers superspecialised medical treatment and health service free of cost to poor patients.

Some of the voluntary organisations and individuals involved in social activities have set up their counters near the main building of the hospital in the institute, to provide help and guidance to the patients and their attendants. The activists of these organisations guide the patients to reach the OPDs or wards. They also act as attendants to the unattended patients. The local unit of the Manav Sewa Sangh has many times provided such kind of help to needy patients at the request of the PGIMS authorities. Some of the poor patients, who have no money to buy medicines, have been given medicines by the sangh.

The hospital authorities recently decided to provide space for the members of these organisations so as they could quickly come to the help of the needy patients. The activists would be given special identity cards so that any one needing their help could approach them easily.

In one of the cases an old woman, who was admitted for over a month, was provided a female attendant by the Manav Sewa Sangh. Another organisation based at Kalanaur has offered to install some water coolers near the gate.

When contacted, the Director of the PGIMS, Dr S.B. Siwach, said an action plan was being chalked out for more participation of voluntary organisations in improving the standard of services to the patients. He said it served several purposes as due to shortage of funds, the institute could not provide better facilities to patients. Also the involvement of the people who wanted to serve others was also achieved. He informed that the institute had decided to take several steps and start schemes in this direction.

He further said to decongest the entrance and waiting galleries in the OPDs, he had ordered the construction of cemented benches under the shady trees just near the entrance gate and the parks situated nearby so that the attendants or the visitors who have to wait could wait there.

The material for this construction had been supplied free of cost by some individuals and societies.

He said some new local phones would be soon installed for the use of the patients in the institute and the hospital would soon be provided some new gadgets for cleaniness work.

He also announced that the organisations doing commendable work would be honoured and recognised for their services from time to time. He said he would take personal interest in any kind of offer which aimed to improve the standard of services and surroundings in the campus.

Plea filed against shops’ auction
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, June 13 — The Sonepat Municipal Council yesterday earned a revenue of Rs 1.16 crore from the auction of 25 shops to be built by it along the boundary wall of the ESI dispensary in this city.

According to official sources, the site of these shops was cleared of squatters and enchroachers on Saturday last with the assistance of the district and police administration. The protesters also clashed with the members of the demolition squad and the police in which six persons, including two policemen, sustained injuries. Some of the protesters were taken into custody but they were let off.

Meanwhile, the office-bearers of the local Gurdwara Committee have filed a complaint in court, challenging the construction of the shops and their auctioning by pleading that the site was a part of the road and if the shops are constructed on it there will be traffic jams on this road.

The court has issued notices to the Chairman, the Executive Officer and the Secretary of the municipal council, asking them to explain their view point in the light of this complaint.

Mr Y.S. Gupta, Secretary of the municipal council, told this correspondent here today that the council will complete the construction work of these shops which will be handed over to the actual bidders immediately. The bidders, he said, had deposited Rs 15 lakh with the council as advance money. The municipal council will earn Rs 66,500 per month as lease money from the shopkeepers.

Members of the Residents Welfare Association and the Sonepat Citizens Council today alleged that the district administration had demolished the structures on the ground that these had created traffic hazards and had been constructed illegally. But immediately after the demolition, the municipal council auctioned the site for the construction of new shops on the same land.

They questioned if the shops were to be rebuilt on the same land what was the fun of demolishing the existing shops owned by the poor people. It would have been better if the occupants of the existing structures or land were offered the sites against suitable payments.

They also alleged discrimination in the demolition and demanded similar action against other such structures in other parts of the city, particularly on the Atlas road.

They urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to order a high-level probe into the public complaints on this scandal and punish the guilty officials responsible for growing menace of encroachments and construction of unauthorised structures.

Transfers and promotions
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 - The Haryana Government today carried out an administrative reshuffle in the State. Mr L M Goyal, IAS, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue, Consolidation and Rehabilitation Department was given the additional charge of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development in place of Ms Veena Eagleton, who is on a study tour.

Ms Shashi Bala Gulati, IAS, Joint Secretary PW(Public Health) will also look after the work of Social Defence and Security and Welfare of SCs and BCs department. Mr Ramendra Jakhu, IAS, OSD Land Use Board becomes OSD Rules, relieving Mr Ram Niwas, IAS, of the charge. Mr Ram Niwas, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and Estate Officer for Management of Government Land in Excised Area, Ambala Cantt will also look after the work of OSD land Use Board. Mr M Kithan, IAS, Director Social Justice and Empowerment will also look after the work of MD, Harijan Kalyan Nigam relieving Mr R D Sheokand of the charge.

The State Government today also promoted nine IAS officers to the selection grade in the pay scale of 15100-400-18300. They are Mr R S Vatsa, Mr S C Jain, Ms Jyoti Arora, Mr Devendra Singh, Mr T C Gupta, Mr Amit Jha, Mr S N Roy, Mr Avtar Singh and Mr Rajiv Arora.

More staff sought at sub-depot
From Our Correspondent

JHAJJAR, June 13 — There are only 55 buses available with the local sub-depot, though it earns the highest revenue throughout the state. Out of these, only 30 buses have been plying on roads due to lack of staff. Sources at the bus stand say around 30 more drivers and conductors are needed to embark all buses on the roads. The post of the Transport Manager has also been lying vacant for the past several days.

The roadways workers said the routes from Jhajjar to Rohtak, Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and Najafgarh were the busiest ones. Around 5,000 passengers travelled daily from here to various places.

The demand of the local roadway workers to upgrade this sub-depot to a depot has fallen on deaf ears. The workers also demand 50 more buses and adequate staff to deal with this grim situation.

GJU postpones entrance tests
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, June 13 — Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) has postponed its proposed Common Engineering Entrance Test (CEET) scheduled to be held on June 18.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the university said this test would now be held on July 9. He said the admission cards already dispatched should be treated as invalid and fresh admission cards bearing roll number and examination centres would be dispatched shortly.

In entrance examination for BAMS scheduled to be held on July 9 has also been postponed and now be held on July 16. This step has been taken in view of the clash of dates with other universities.