H A R Y A N A

HSLSA to resolve matrimonial disputes
CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Haryana State Legal Services Authority is working to play a more active role in resolving matrimonial disputes. Mr R S Virk, member secretary of the HSLSA, said the HSLSA was contemplating to work in tandem with the family counselling centres in various districts and provide its service to the parties involved in the disputes.

Victims recall ‘those black days’
ROHTAK, June 26 — Victims of the government’s high handedness during Emergency in 1975 converged here not only to "recall" the harassment, but also to analyse the present socio-economic and political scenario in the state and the country. As many as 200 persons who attended a conference held here yesterday expressed concern over increase in corruption and unemployment.

Risk from oil terminal to be analysed
AMBALA, June 26 — Is there a risk to the local population from the oil terminal located adjacent to Ambala Cantonment? While district administration and local politicians opine that there is a risk to life in the event of any untoward incident, oil experts feel that there is no inherent danger to surrounding areas.

Power grid enters communication field
FARIDABAD, June 26 — The Power Grid Corporation of India, a government undertaking, is entering the communication field in a big way, according to Mr R.D. Kakkar, Executive Director of the corporation (North Region-1).

‘Hybrid seeds, a boon for cotton producers’
SIRSA, June 26 — The Director of the Central Institute of Cotton Research, Dr M.S. Kairon, said here today, "To cone up with the challenge of WTO who have to reduce our cost of production of cotton and adopt the measures for quality cottons". He was delivering his presidential address in the training programme of hybrid seed production of cotton organised by the Sirsa Regional Station of the CICR.

Hospital in poor health
KALKA, June 26 — The Government Civil Hospital here is sick, but the department concerned is not serious to make it fit.

4 bodies recovered from canal
AMBALA, June 26 — Four bodies were found in the Narwana canal near Kirmich village in Kurukshetra district here yesterday. This was stated by the Inspector General of Police, Ambala range, Mr H.S. Ahalawat.

Clarification on DA slab
CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Haryana Government today clarified that the rate of dearness allowance for both categories of employees who opted the revised scales of pay from January 1, 1996, and those who retained the old scales had been increased from 37 to 38 per cent from January 1, 2000.

Function honours Pt Lakhmi Chand
ROHTAK, June 26 — A musical evening was organised in the memory of Pt Lakhmi Chand, one of the great legends of music in Haryana, at Bahadurgarh, 40 km from here, yesterday.

KU VC assumes charge
KURUKSHETRA, June 26 — Mr R.S. Chaudhry assumed duty as the new Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University here today.

Ban on carrying of arms
CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Haryana Government has imposed a ban on carrying and possession of arms in public places from June 26 to July 31 in the municipal areas of Kaithal and Bhiwani in view of the municipal elections there.

Entrance test to B I Sc held
ROHTAK, June 26 — The entrance test for the four-year course in Bachelor of Information Science B.I.Sc. was held at the local University College recently.

Journalist killed
JIND, June 26 — Anil Saini, Sub-Editor, Dainik Bhaskar, was killed in an accident when the Jeep in which he was travelling dashed against a tree near Safidon town yesterday. The driver of the Jeep, Kashmiri Lal, was also killed.

HSLSA to resolve matrimonial disputes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HSLSA) is working to play a more active role in resolving matrimonial disputes. Mr R S Virk, member secretary of the HSLSA, said the HSLSA was contemplating to work in tandem with the family counselling centres in various districts and provide its service to the parties involved in the disputes.

Mr Virk said the data collected by the HSLSA from the family counselling centres showed maladjustment among the spouses and between the in-laws and the daughter in-law as the most frequent cause for matrimonial disputes. In Karnal the Data from April to September, last year, showed that of the 108 cases registered with the Family Counselling Centre, 96 were of maladjustment with the spouse, while 12 related to interference by the parents and the in-laws.

During the same period in 1998, 112 cases were registered in the Family Counselling Centre at Karnal. Out them, 48 were related to maladjustment with the spouse, 49 cases were of interference by the in-laws, while six were related to dowry demands.

Mr Virk said figures collected from other centres in the state also showed similar trends with dowry listed as the reason for disputes for only about 5 per cent of the cases. In a majority of the cases, women left home after they started having troubles with their husbands, though reconciliation was possible in most of the cases.

Mr Virk said HSLSA could help the parties for reconciliation as well as settling their cases in Lok Adalats. In about 30 per cent of the cases, the parties had moved the court for legal action, the data available with the family counselling centres showed.

Victims recall ‘those black days’
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, June 26 — Victims of the government’s high handedness during Emergency in 1975 converged here not only to "recall" the harassment, but also to analyse the present socio-economic and political scenario in the state and the country. As many as 200 persons who attended a conference held here yesterday expressed concern over increase in corruption and unemployment.

The organisers of the conference Mr Shyam Sunder Pasrija and Mr Gyan Singh said over 1,500 persons from Haryana had been put behind the bars for "protesting" against the implementation of the Emergency. They said while it was one of the "darkest periods" in the history Indian democracy the successive governments had also failed to solve the country’s basic problems. The participants expressed concern over the fact that corruption, unemployment, injustice to poor people and anti-democratic forces had gained ground.

Recalling the "atrocities" of Emergency days, Mr Nafe Singh, advocate said he was beaten up so brutally during that time that he was unable to walk property till now.

The participants also condemned "attacks" on Christians in the country, they also criticised the disinvestment policy of the Union Government.

The meeting chaired by a former Haryana Chief Minister Hukam was held at Vaish Girls College auditorium. Members of various political parties attended the conference and many of them maintained that proper education and employment avenues were the need of hour for Haryana youth. They also demanded early completion on of the SYL canal.

Mr Balbir Singh Grewal, (former MLA), Mr Hiranand Arya, (former minister), secretary of Haryana CPM, Mr Inderjit Singh, Dr Laxman Singh and Mr Gyan Singh also attended the conference.

Risk from oil terminal to be analysed
From Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, June 26 — Is there a risk to the local population from the oil terminal located adjacent to Ambala Cantonment? While district administration and local politicians opine that there is a risk to life in the event of any untoward incident, oil experts feel that there is no inherent danger to surrounding areas.

To find out the exact degree of risk to the people residing in areas close to the oil terminal, a risk analysis is going to be undertaken. The risk analysis report is slated to be completed within a time frame of three months.

According to an Indian Oil official, the risk analysis will be done by a professional organisation. "The analysis will be regarding the degree of risk which the population in surrounding areas face due to the oil terminal. The report will be ready in three months' time," he said.

He pointed out that there were several strong reasons because of which the population which had come up around the oil terminal did not face any danger. "The first is that we are now storing black oil in the old oil depot. Black oil, though inflammable, does not come under the category of highly inflammable, and it is meant for industrial use," he said.

The official observed that at the oil terminal located on GT road, major upgradation of fire systems was underway. "We already have a well set fire fighting system. On top of that, we are upgrading the fire fighting system and the latest technology is being added. The new system will be one of the best," he claimed.

He stated that they were now storing liquid fuel in the terminal. "In case there is any eventuality, because the fuel is in liquid form, it will be localised and quickly contained within the complex itself," he assured.

The official maintained that the population which had come up unauthorisedly around the oil terminal did not face an inherent danger. To a query on shifting, as demanded by local politicians, the official said building a similar terminal would cost more than Rs 100 crore. He said that they were planning to buy a piece of land close to the oil terminal so that tanker-trucks could be parked there. "We are planning to buy a piece of land where the tanker-trucks can be parked and there is no obstruction on the national highway," he said.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr Ram Niwas, said the suggestion was for relocation of the oil depot. "Keeping in mind the population close to the oil terminal, we have suggested that the oil terminal should be relocated across Tangri river and a green belt should be developed around the new location," he said. He said the risk analysis report would be submitted to the district administration within three months. "There is definitely a hazard to life from the oil depot in case anything untoward happens. In case of any eventuality, Ambala residents face a grave threat," he said.

"We have also forwarded a proposal for giving 25 acres close to the oil terminal for parking purposes. This will ensure that the tanker-trucks do not block the national highway," he said. A proposal for levying a charge of Rs 200 per truck from Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum has also been agreed to in principle by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. "This levy will not affect the common man and the municipal tax will help improve the revenue of the Municipal Council," Mr Ram Niwas said.

The Ambala MP, Mr Ratan Lal Kataria, has already demanded that the oil terminal be shifted from the present location close to Ambala Cantonment. He said the oil terminal would be a major hazard to the city in case of any untoward incident. "There is a risk to people, specially those living in surrounding areas, from the oil terminal. People have started living close to the oil terminal and a major disaster may take place, which must be avoided at all cost," Mr Kataria said.

The state Senior Vice-President of Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr N.C. Jain, recalled that they had encouraged the oil terminal to be set up here as octroi could be earned. "The money earned from octroi was useful for development. But now, there is no octroi. More than two decades back, the suggestion was that in case of any threat to the nation's territorial integrity, oil could be emptied from the huge tanks and send back to Mathura for storage," he said.

Hospital in poor health
From Our Correspondent

KALKA, June 26 — The Government Civil Hospital here is sick, but the department concerned is not serious to make it fit.

This 30-bed hospital was started about three decades back. It has 12 beds for men and 18 for women. Since then, this hospital has not been upgraded. From time to time, politicians have been making announcements to make it a double-storeyed and 50-bed hospital.

Besides the SMO, this hospital has a dental surgeon and six medical officers, but the post of eye specialist has been lying vacant for the past one year. As a result, eye patients have to make rounds of Panchkula or Chandigarh hospitals. The hospital does not have emergency electricity supply. Power supply in the town is quite erratic. As a result, doctors have to face lot of inconvenience while checking or operating upon patients. The worst affected is the X-Ray Department, where the patients have to wait endlessly.

There is no heart specialist in the hospital and patients having heart ailments do not get adequate care. There is no blood bank. In the event of need of blood, doctors refer the patient to Chandigarh, without bothering whether the patient is in the condition to travel to the PGI or the General Hospital.

Not only life-saving medicines and injections , but medicines of common ailments like cough and stomach upset are not available in the hospital. A government or Red Cross chemist shop should be set up on the hospital premises, which should remain open round the clock. Some doctors prescribe only those medicines which are available at a particular chemist's shop.

The hospital does not have an anesthetist and consequently, an anesthetist is called from outside. Is it legal to call a private anesthetist to a government hospital, ask the people. The hospital compound is littered with used bandages, blood-soaked cotton, plastic pouches, empty glucose bottles, syringes and empty bottles of medicines. The condition of wards and toilets is no better.

‘Hybrid seeds, a boon for cotton producers’
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, June 26 — The Director of the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Dr M.S. Kairon, said here today, "To cone up with the challenge of WTO who have to reduce our cost of production of cotton and adopt the measures for quality cottons". He was delivering his presidential address in the training programme of hybrid seed production of cotton organised by the Sirsa Regional Station of the CICR.

Dr Kairon cautioned the farmers against high cost of production due to excessive use of chemical pesticides, which also have an adverse effect on environment. He suggested that the cost of the cultivation of cotton should be reduced by cultivation of hybrids and by adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. He emphasised on the need to adopt NPV and neem as biopesticides to control insects harmful for cotton crop. While talking about the plans of the CICR he said the institute was working on developing biocontrol agents in a big way and was also facilitating the farmers to take up this technology at village level.

While highlighting the importance of information technology, Dr B.L. Jalali, Director of Research of HAU, Hisar said the CICR should adopt villages where information be given through this latest technology for the benefit of the farmers. He suggested to take up hybrid seed production in a big way and also adopt IPM to get better yield and to take cotton production to its old levels in this area.

Dr L.S. Randhawa, Head, of the CICR Regional Station, Sirsa, emphasised on the need to connect village panchayats through computers to provide latest information to the farmers. He said this would help interaction. He also disclosed that a machine for sowing cotton hybrids had been developed by the CICR which would not only help in quick planting but would also reduce the requirement of hybrid seed. Dr Randhawa stressed that by imparting training to the farmers on hybrid seed production their dependence on government agencies would reduce. Dr A.K. Dhawan, Senior Entomologist, PAU, Dr Meena, and Dr Monga also spoke on the occasion.

Power grid enters communication field
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, June 26 — The Power Grid Corporation of India, a government undertaking, is entering the communication field in a big way, according to Mr R.D. Kakkar, Executive Director of the corporation (North Region-1).

Mr Kakkar told TNS in an interview here today that this was being done through the latest optical fibre technology. The corporation already had got the infrastructure.

In the first instance Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Panipat and Jaipur circuit would be charged by October. A number of private companies had approached the corporation to give band width to them on lease. Besides increasing the revenue of the corporation, it would help improve communication between various cities.

Mr Kakkar said wherever optical fibre lines had been laid in the country, these would be leased out to the private companies.

Work was being undertaken on a war footing in the country to set up the National Power Grid which was scheduled to be completed by 2012. This would facilitate the flow of power from the surplus states to the deficit ones. At present power could be transferred from the northern region to western region and west to south. A total of 15000 MW of power could be transferred from one region to the other by 2012.

Work was also in progress from Talchar in Orissa to Kolar in Karnataka and Sasaram (Bihar) to Allahabad (UP).

Unified load despatch and communication network to control the quality of power and planning and scheduling of generation would be completed by mid 2002.

Transmission lines would be laid from the 1000 MW Tala hydel project in Bhutan to Delhi via Siliguri, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Moradabad. Similar projects would also be undertaken from the Rihand hydel project to Ballabhgarh (Faridabad) and Anta (Rajasthan) to Auraiya (UP) and Tehri to Meerut.

The Northern Region-1 comprises UP, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana.

4 bodies recovered from canal
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, June 26 — Four bodies were found in the Narwana canal near Kirmich village in Kurukshetra district here yesterday. This was stated by the Inspector General of Police, Ambala range, Mr H.S. Ahalawat.

It was not confirmed that how the bodies has reached to the canal but it seemed that the bodies came in the canal through the Bhakra canal from Punjab side, he added.

The bodies had not been identified so far.

Clarification on DA slab
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Haryana Government today clarified that the rate of dearness allowance for both categories of employees who opted the revised scales of pay from January 1, 1996, and those who retained the old scales had been increased from 37 to 38 per cent from January 1, 2000.

A spokesman for the government, however, added that while calculating the revised dearness allowance of 38 per cent from January 1, 2000, in the case of those employees who opted old scales of their basic pay, dearness allowance at the rate of 148 per cent, 111 per cent and 98 per cent, as applicable on January 1, 1996, and interim relief I and interim relief II would be taken into account.

The arrears of enhanced dearness allowance from January 1, 2000 to May 31, 2000, would be credited to their general provident fund account. However, the additional instalment of dearness allowance would be paid to them in cash for their salary of June to be paid on July 1, 2000.

KU VC assumes charge
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, June 26 — Mr R.S. Chaudhry assumed duty as the new Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University here today.

Just after assuming his new charge, Mr Chaudhry addressed separate meetings of deans of various university faculties, chairpersons of departments and officers of the university.

Outlining his priorities, he would try to resolve all financial crunches and would fill up teaching and non-teaching vacant posts. He would also streamline the functioning of the university examination wing so that the results could be declared well in time.

Ban on carrying of arms
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Haryana Government has imposed a ban on carrying and possession of arms in public places from June 26 to July 31 in the municipal areas of Kaithal and Bhiwani in view of the municipal elections there.

Stating this here today, a spokesman of the Home Department said any person having arms would have to deposit them with the police.

Entrance test to B I Sc held
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, June 26 — The entrance test for the four-year course in Bachelor of Information Science B.I.Sc. was held at the local University College recently.

Mr J.K. Sharma, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, during a visit to the examination centre said University College was the first in the state to have started the course.

Dr D.S. Dahiya, Principal of the college, said nearly 400 applications were received as against 60 seats for the course. He stated that the result would be displayed on the college notice board on July 5 and interviews would be held on July 10. The interviews for payment seats would be held on July 17.

Function honours Pt Lakhmi Chand
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, June 26 — A musical evening was organised in the memory of Pt Lakhmi Chand, one of the great legends of music in Haryana, at Bahadurgarh, 40 km from here, yesterday.

Several renowned artistes from Haryana and Delhi participated. Some of them, including Ustad Jahur, Ustad Tahir Hassain and Ustad Jhamman, had to their credit of being associates of Late Pt Lakhmi Chand.

Mr K.C. Sharma, Financial Commissioner, presided over the function and Mr Dhirpal Singh, Town and Country Planning Minister, was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dhirpal said the downfall of a community was inevitable if it forgot its culture, moral values and ideals. He said every person of the state could be apprised of the Haryanvi culture by the publicity of the folk music of Pt Lakhmi Chand.

Besides describing the importance of folk music, Mr Sharma urged the gathering to contribute for the construction of a park in memory of Brig Hoshiar Singh, who made the sacrifice for sovereignty of the nation.

Mr Dhirpal donated Rs 51,000 for the construction of the park and Rs 5,100 to encourage the artistes of the musical night.

Journalist killed
From Our Correspondent

JIND, June 26 — Anil Saini, Sub-Editor, Dainik Bhaskar, was killed in an accident when the Jeep in which he was travelling dashed against a tree near Safidon town yesterday. The driver of the Jeep, Kashmiri Lal, was also killed.

According to a report Anil was coming from Panipat to Safidon when the driver of the Jeep lost control over the vehicle and it struck against a tree. Both were seriously injured. Anil died on the way to a hospital while the driver succumbed to his injuries at Safidon hospital. Other four occupants of the Jeep were also injured.

Anil was cremated at Safidon yesterday. A large number of people attended the funeral.