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| Wednesday, August 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Dalal dares Chautala Withdraw taxes, BJP asks Haryana Govt Environment plan for Panipat Bhajan: Cong
to expose irregularities Steps fail to curb crime against women Paddy growers get raw deal |
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Power employees
lock offices Governor lays stone for boys hostel Left flays hike in power tariff 2 held for Mahant’s murder Looted money
recovered Three cops suspended Court restrains
sewage drainage
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Power employees
lock offices SONEPAT, Aug 22 — To register their protest against the police inaction in the cases of assault and to press the demand for the arrest of the culprits allegedly involved in them, irate employees locked all three offices of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(UHBVN) at Gohana town, 35 km from here yesterday. According to a report received here, the employees also formed an 11-member action committee to intensify their agitation if the police failed to arrest the culprits immediately. They also announced that their struggle would continue until their demand was fulfilled. In one case, a large number of youths of Baroda village reached nearby Kathura village on a tractor-trailer on August 18 and attacked the office of the SDO, UHBVN there, smashed the furniture and other equipment in protest against the power crisis in the village. Similarly on August 14, seven employees of nigam were kept in illegal confinement by some persons in Chopra colony at Gohana and they were rescued by the SDO when he arrived on the spot. Irate employees alleged that both the SDO (C) and the DSP, Gohana have adopted anti-employee attitude and this had caused widespread resentment among them. It is stated that both these officers had gone to the power house to initiate negotiations with the inhabitants of Khanpur Khurd and Baroda villages who were staging a dharna in front of the power house in protest against the power crisis. The agitating employees of the nigam also alleged that the legislators of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD)— Dr Ram Kumar Saini (Gohana) and Mr Ramesh Khatak (Baroda) — were taking the side of the villagers and this was the main cause that the police was reluctant to arrest the culprits involved in assault on the employees. Meanwhile, according to another report, a large number of women held up traffic on the Sonepat-Gohana road near Nagar Village to register their protest against the power crisis. As a result, scores of vehicles including buses, trucks and cars were lined up on both sides of the road. The irate women lifted the blockade when they were assured regular power supply in the village. |
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Paddy growers get raw deal KURUKSHETRA, Aug 22 — Seventy-year-old Trilok Singh of Jyotisar is a sad man. He is unable to sell his paddy at a price which would be commensurate with the labour put by his family for the past two months to raise the crop. The price offered to him by traders in Kurukshetra Mandi is hardly sufficient to meet his expenditure alone. But he has no alternative. Against the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 520 a quintal assured by the government, Trilok is offered only Rs 375 a quintal because his crop has been harvested using a combine. If he had harvested his crop manually, he could have got a little more than Rs 400 a quintal. He has no one to turn to. Official agencies, which are supposed to provide the MSP to growers like Trilok, are miles away from the mandis. Only private traders are buying paddy, of course at their own rates. His son, Sukhwant Singh, laments that the cost of inputs like fertilisers and pesticides have gone up but the price of paddy has gone down. He says on an average the price of paddy this year is down by Rs 40 to Rs 50 a quintal as compared to last year. He blames the government rather than the trader. Trilok and Sukhwant represent thousands of paddy growers of Haryana. The growers have to sell their produce at rates ranging from Rs 375 a quintal to Rs 425 a quintal, depending upon whether the crop has been harvested manually or mechanically. The farmer and the trader, both blame the government for the low rates of paddy. A miller, Mr Jai Bhagwan Singla, who is also the president of the Haryana Yuva Beopari Sangathan, says “we are not sure if the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will buy levy rice from us or not. There is no demand for rice in the open market. The price of levy rice is Rs 913 a quintal. Even after buying paddy at such a low price, the cost of production comes to Rs 800 a quintal of rice. The market rate is Rs 775 a quintal, which also includes expenses of about Rs 75. Thus a miller stands to lose about Rs 100 a quintal at the current prices.” Mr Som Sachdeva, a commission agent in Kurukshetra, says if the government wants that the miller should buy paddy at the MSP or above, it must ask the FCI to accept levy rice from them. Otherwise it is not possible for them to provide remunerative prices to the farmers. Or the government agencies should intervene and start purchasing paddy at the MSP. The credibility of the government seems to have suffered heavily with the traders after their bitter experience in the wheat season. Mr Lakshmi Narayan of Pehowa says before the wheat season, the Centre fixed the price of wheat to be sold by the FCI at Rs 900 a quintal against the MSP of Rs 580 a quintal. The traders bought a large quantity of wheat at prices much higher than the MSP. Later, the government reduced the FCI prices considerably. The private traders have been left in the lurch with huge unsold stocks and a big hole in their pockets. The traders are, therefore, weary of purchasing paddy because they are not sure of the FCI’s stand in the coming months, particularly when the food giant is burdened with overcrowded godowns. Interestingly, official sources say that to help the farmers the FCI has exempted the “saathi” paddy from levy rice. It seems to be a case of formulating policies without knowing the ground realities. The levy exemption has harmed the interests of the farmers. The millers just don’t have the money to pay the growers. The sources also claim that the government agencies have never intervened to provide the MSP for the “saathi” paddy in the past. It is true. But in the past, the growers had been getting prices close to the MSP. This year is extraordinary, demanding extraordinary remedies. Moreover, it is nowhere written in the notification fixing the MSP that it is not for “saathi” paddy. The MSP is fixed for one crop year which ends on September 15. The farmers and the millers say the government should honour its promise. The trade feels that the bureaucracy which advises the political leadership is mentally trained to handle economy of shortages. Now when it is an economy of surplus, the bureaucracy finds itself out of tune with the demands and challenges of the new environment. It says the FCI should accept levy rice in two categories — one for the export market and the other for the domestic market. Unless the corporation is able to export a good quantity of rice, it will be difficult for the political leadership to keep the farm lobby in good humour. |
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Left flays hike in power tariff SONEPAT, Aug 22 — The district committees of the CPI and the CPM have decided to observe August 24 as a ‘protest day’ against the increase in power tariff by the state government and the introduction of a Bill in the Lok Sabha by the Vajpayee-led NDA government at the Centre for the privatisation of the power sector. Mr S.N. Solanki, secretary of the district committee of the CPM, told mediapersons here today that workers of the party would take out a procession and stage a dharna on that day. A rally would also be held at the district headquarters in support of the party’s demands. He lashed out at the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government and criticised it for pursuing anti-people and anti-worker policies in the state. He disclosed that the CPI, the CPM and other Left parties would oppose the Bill tooth and nail in the Lok Sabha. |
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2 held for Mahant’s murder GURGAON, Aug 22 — After a hot pursuit spread over a month in various districts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the local police has nabbed heads of two notorious inter-state gangs, accused in more than a dozen murders and several cases of dacoities, kidnappings, car thefts etc. The arrest of the two, wanted by the police in various districts of Haryana, is likely to solve a number of cases. Briefing newspersons about their arrest, the IGP, Gurgaon Range, Mr Ranjiv Dalal, said today that the cases included the recent sensational broad daylight murder of Mahant Krishan Giri, head of the Balak Dera at Barwala in Hisar district. The Mahant and his associate were allegedly shot dead by the two at the Lal Giri ashram in Churu district of Rajasthan. The police had set up a special team headed by the ASP, Gurgaon, for their pursuit. The authorities had decided to recommend Mr Randhir Singh, Mr Sumer Singh and Mr Rajesh Kumar, members of the team for promotion. The team was tipped off yesterday that the two would be entering Gurgaon from the Bijwasan-Kartarpuri road. Subsequently, the police tightened security on all roads leading to Gurgaon. The accused were on a motor cycle. When confronted, they made an attempt to escape. A sophisticated pistol and a revolver along with a number of cartridges were seized from their possession. The IGP described the two gangsters as the most dreaded in the annals of “hired crime” in Haryana. They used to charge between Rs 5 lakh and 10 lakh per killing. A preliminary investigation by the police had revealed that the duo had conspired to commit a number of crimes, including murders, in several parts of Haryana. The police constituted the crack team after the murder of a local properly dealer, Manoj Malik, last month. Kulbeer and his associates were allegedly involved in it. Another five members of the two gangs were already in jails in various districts. According to the police, Wazir had escaped from police custody in June when he was being taken to Sonepat jail after being produced in a court in Jhajhar. Thereafter, he committed three murders. |
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Withdraw taxes, BJP asks Haryana Govt REWARI, Aug 22 — The Rewari district unit of the BJP, at its meeting held at Khol village on Sunday, asked the Chautala government to withdraw the new taxes imposed on traders and the people of the state. It said the traders’ statewide bandh succeeded because of the “obstinate” attitude of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. It alleged that the district was being neglected in the matter of education and urged the state government to open the previously sanctioned sainik school at Pali village, near here, and start the pending construction work on the regional postgraduate centre. The party urged the government to release tubewell connections and provide adequate canal water in the district. The meeting, chaired by the district President, Mr Yogendra Yadav, was attended among others by the state General Secretary, Mr Om Parkash Dhankhar, and a former state President, Mr Om Prakash Grover. |
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Governor lays stone for boys hostel KURUKSHETRA, Aug 22 — State Governor and Kurukshetra University Chancellor Babu Parmanand laid the foundation stones of the Dr Ambedkar bhavan boys hostel for weaker section and shaikshnik bhavan (teaching block) of the Directorate of Correspondence Courses (DCC) of the university, on the university campus here today. The Chancellor also addressed the Professors, Chairpersons and senior officers of the university. According to the University Vice-Chancellor, Mr R.S. Chaudhry, there was a long-standing requirement for Shaikshnik Bhavan for conducting personal contact programmes and it was long felt that the DCC should have its own infrastructure because over the years its enrolment has phenomenally gone up. Mr Chaudhry said “the university plans to construct a three-storey building at an estimated cost of Rs 3.23 crore with accommodation like entrance lobby, five lecture threatres, students service centre, tutorial rooms, office-cum-reception, director’s office with a covered area of 16570 sq ft. Mr Chaudhry further said a grant of Rs 30 lakh had already been received from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for Dr Ambedkar bhavan hostel. The Governor, Babu Parmanand, along with his wife, Mrs Sudesh Kumari, also visited the art exhibition which comprised of paintings of acclaimed painters like P.N. Choyal, Prem Singh and Baldev Gambhir. Students of the Department of Fine Arts also exhibited their talent through display of the paintings which included a solo exhibition of Dr Ram Viranjan’s a lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts. The Governor and other dignitaries including the Secretary to Governor, Mr Manik Sonawane, the University Vice-Chancellor, Mr R.S. Chaudhry, Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Jyoti Arora, and Inspector General of Police, Ambala Range. Mr H.S. Ahalawat planted saplings as part of vanamahotsava on the premises of the Department of Fine Arts. Earlier, addressing the district officers at Panchayat Bhavan here yesterday Babu Parmanand called upon the district officers to shun corruption, indiscipline and work honestly. Describing, the former Prime Minister, late Gulzari Lal Nanda as an active inspiration for the development of Kurukshetra, Babu Parmanand paid floral tributes to him at his samadhi on the bank of Brahamsarover here yesterday. |
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Looted money
recovered KAITHAL, Aug 22 — The police has recovered Rs 1.20 lakh out of the money looted from an HVPN vehicle on May 15 last in day-light robbery by three armed men here. Giving this information the District police chief Mr Parbhat Ranjan Deo, said here today that the money was recovered from Krishan and Rajinder alias Leela, both residents of Kasan village. Besides this, the police had recovered a stolen motor cycle used in the crime and a .12 bore pistol from Rajinder. He said efforts were on to arrest Randhir, alias Dheera, and Pritam Singh driver of the HVPN who connived with the accused involved in the looting. |
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Bhajan: Cong
to expose irregularities ROHTAK, Aug 22 — Mr Bhajan Lal, a former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly today said the shadow Cabinet set up by him would drive the government in a corner in the assembly session scheduled to begin on September 5. He was addressing the mediapersons after inaugurating a showroom of cellular phone here today. He said the “irregularities” being committed in different departments would be exposed by the MLAs concerned in the session. He informed a meeting of the MLAs of the shadow Cabinet had been convened at Chandigarh on September 5. The MLAs would give the details of “lapses and irregularities” in the departments concerned at the meeting. He claimed that resentment prevailed among all sections of society against “anti-people” policies of the government. He alleged that the government would collapse on its own in six months as it came to power on false promises. The Opposition leader claimed that the election for the post of the HPCC chief would be conducted fairly on November 1. He categorically stated that he was not in the race for the post but he would support the candidate who could establish a coordination among different factions. Commenting on recruitment of cops in the state he said the people were apprehensive of large scale irregularities in the recruitment but the party had got no proof in this regard so far. |
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Three cops suspended KOTKAPURA, Aug 22 — Three constables of city police station have been placed under suspension and sent to police lines allegedly for beating up innocent bystanders on the night of August 20. Dr Arun Oraon, SSP, who placed the three policemen under suspension, has also recommended to their commandant the suspension of 13 commandos of Fifth Commando Battalion, Bhadurgarh, who were involved in the incident. Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, who ordered a magisterial probe at the request of the SSP, has also asked the SSP to register criminal cases against the policemen. Official sources said that on the night of August 20, Chamkaur Singh, a constable and his friend were driving towards the Dhodha chowk on his scooter when it collided with another scooter. This led to a verbal duel followed by a scuffle. At the receiving end, Chamkaur Singh and his friend fled in search of reinforcements from the city police station. Enroute they met police commandos and narrated their woes. At this an army of commandos descended on Dhodha Chowk in their own vehicle and started beating up all those present, using their rifle butts for added effect. Four of those injured in the incident had to be admitted to the local civil hospital. The following day residents staged a dharna at Dhodha Chowk in protest against the incident and demanded action against the guilty police personnel. Dr Oraon said that all the four victims had been discharged from the hospital and he had visited the hospital to inquire about their condition. He said that a medical examination of the policemen involved had shown that Chamkaur Singh had consumed alcohol. He promised action against those found guilty. |
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Court restrains
sewage drainage SIRSA, Aug 22 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr C.B. Jaglan in a judgement ordered that sewer water would not be drained into the ancient “Bhadra Talaab”. According to the information received today, cows of Bansi Mandie Gowshala had died drinking water from this pond in 1990, which had led the temple priest Sita Ram go on a fast against the pollution being caused by local factory. Later the factory owner had assured the panchayat of stopping the draining of factory waste into this pond. But when it did not happen Sita Ram moved court and a commissioner voersaw the preventive arrangement. But again the polluted water was drained into the pond on the instructions of the then SDM B.B. Kaushik and the Public Health Department. The priest filed another case of contempt of the court but the factory owner got a stay. A commissioner was again deputed to seal the drainage. The Additional Session Judge decided that the pond would not be used by the municipal council or the Public Health Department for draining of polluted water and waste. |
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Steps fail to curb crime against women CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — Even as the Haryana Government has been organising “gender-sensitisation” programmes and has also taken the initiative to set up the State Women Commission (SWC), such measures have apparently failed to create a tangible impact if the figures of crime against women (CAW) in the state are any indication. According to official figures, 99 women died in Haryana in dowry-related violence in the first five months of this year. Interestingly, reports of the marriage counselling centres in various parts of the state indicate inter-personal differences between the husband and wife as the reason for the maximum number of cases of marital dispute. In the marriage counselling centre reports, dowry demands are seldom listed as leading to such disputes. However, given that 270 dowry deaths took place in Haryana in 1999, 234 in 1998, 229 in 1997, 195 in 1996 and 212 in 1995, dowry demands and their non-fulfilment result in a lot of violence against women. Harassment after marriage, which is a crime under the IPC, is also a common occurrence in the state. While 484 such cases were reported to the police this year up to May 31, there were 270 incidents of harassment in 1999, 234 in 1998, 229 in 1997, 195 in 1996 and 212 in 1995. Officials here, however, attribute the growing number of such cases to the rise in awareness among women as a result of which incidents are now reported to the police. The number of rape cases this year up to May 31 was 156. There were 370 rape cases registered with the police last year, 362 cases were registered in 1998, 371 cases in 1997, 333 cases in 1996 and 311 cases were registered in 1995. The number of molestation cases registered up to May 31 this year was 256. The number of molestation cases reported last year was 377, while the figure was 388 in 1998, 323 in 1997, 299 in 1996 and 280 in 1995. Figures compiled for five years from 1995 showed a steady increase in the number of incidents of CAW. There were 1,771 incidents in 1995, 1966 incidents the next year, 2,022 incidents in 1997, 2,585 in 1998 and 2,840 incidents in 1999. There were 1,137 incidents of CAW up to May 31 this year. A large number of cases relating to kidnapping/abduction of women were also registered during this period. While the number of such cases was 280 in 1995, it shot up to 388 in 1998 and 377 in 1999, while the number of these cases registered up to May 31 this year was 142. Police officials here, however, say that many of these cases are actually of elopement by adult women by consent and the figures do not represent the true picture. While the state government has responded to this phenomenon by creating special cells at all district police headquarters, there is need for more lasting measures to combat the menace, experts here say. The SWC, set up by the INLD regime, which could have played an important role, has remained virtually a defunct body, it is pointed out by them. Bizarre reactions by members of the audience, including at times women members, often mark the “gender-sensitisation” workshops run by the state government, says an insider, who, however, adds that a beginning has been made toward giving a more respectable status to women by the state government with these initiatives. |
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Dalal dares Chautala CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — The irrepressible RPI member of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, today dared the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to order an inquiry by either a Supreme Court Judge or the CBI into the allegations levelled by him regarding the “illegal and unjustified” release of acquired land by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). Talking to newsmen here Mr Dalal said if his statements proved to be true then Mr Chautala should resign or if these turned out to be false he (Mr Dalal) would quit the Assembly. Coming out with another set of allegations regarding what he called the “shocking” misuse of authority by the state government in releasing acquired land in Panchkula in favour of persons alleged to be close to the powers that be, Mr Dalal urged the state Governor, Babu Parmanand, to take appropriate action as the Chief Minister was “releasing land and allotting plots without following any procedure of law and just to please his close confidants and to extract money”. Mr Dalal showed photostat copies of a letter written by the Urban Estates Department to support his allegation that in one case the government released 630 sq yd of land in lieu of 315 sq yd acquired from a person close to the ruling party. He said two houses, measuring 240 sq yd and 75 sq yd, respectively, belonging to the person concerned were acquired in Kundi village in Panchkula. But vide its letter of March 21 last the government conveyed to the Estate Officer, HUDA, Panchkula, that after reconsideration of its earlier order the government had now decided that 630 sq yd should be given to that person. Mr Dalal said by this decision the government had virtually allotted an additional 315 sq yd to its favourite in a developed area without charging anything from him. He also expressed surprise why the government was silent on the appointment of a former member of the Haryana Public Service Commission, Mr Sher Singh Barsami, as the Political Adviser to the Chief Minister in complete violation of the Constitution. However, a spokesman for HUDA denied that the government had allotted any land without following any procedure and rule in Kundi village. He clarified that Mr Prem Singh and members of his family owned about 6.4 acres in Kundi village falling in Sector 20 of Panchkula. Their land was acquired through different awards during 1986 and 1993. He had been repeatedly representing to the government for the release of land, especially in respect of his three constructed houses which had also been acquired along with his cultivable land. Of the three houses, one house, measuring 180 sq yd, had been left out of acquisition by the Land Acquisition Officer. In the case of the other houses, owned by his two sons, Mr Prem Singh had been representing for their release. The spokesman said after examining the case on merit the government decided to offer him 630 sq yd in exchange for these two houses near the “abadi” of Kundi village for the construction of houses of his sons as the area on which the houses actually stood could not be released from the planning point of view. He said Mr Dalal should know that as and when constructed houses were released from acquisition, the land under construction along with proportionate vacant land was released so that the owner got reasonable space for movement and household activity. On this analogy, he said, the government decided to exchange 630 sq yd in Mr Prem Singh’s case. He also said it was wrong to say that Mr Barsami’s appointment violated the Constitution. He said Mr Barsami had been “serving the state in an entirely honorary capacity.” Mr Barsami had been neither drawing any salary nor travelling allowance or dearness allowance from the state exchequer. The ruling party also raised the level of its attack on Mr Dalal. Earlier statements against Mr Dalal had been coming from Mr Dharambir Singh, office secretary of the INLD. Today this responsibility was discharged by Mr Pardeep Chaudhary, general secretary of the party. Describing Mr Dalal as a “frustrated politician” who appeared to have lost his mental balance, Mr Chaudhary urged newsmen not to give any weightage to the “lengthy and false statements” being released by Mr Dalal to “remain in the news”. |
Environment plan for Panipat CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — Even as new industrial units worth about Rs 10,000 crore are coming up at Panipat, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board is stated to have drawn up a comprehensive environment management plan for the area. The board, however, compromised on its standards in the very beginning as 50 clauses mentioned by it for giving the no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Indian Oil Corporation, the promoter of these projects, were reduced to 34. The gigantic amount of investment and the concomitant gain to the state in terms of revenue and job opportunities apparently led the HSPCB to do away with 16 preconditions. The Rs 4,228 crore Naptha-based petrochemical complex, for which raw material will come from the Panipat and Mathura refineries, was a particularly lucrative proposal which the board wanted to clear fast for obvious reasons. Scheduled to be completed by December, 2002, the petrochemical complex will not only provide job opportunities to more than 500 persons, but will also open up scope for ancillary industries such as polyester fibre plants, weaving industries, fire hose units, etc. Besides, the state will gain about Rs 300 crore annually from excise duty and sales tax obtained from the products of the complex. The Rs 258 crore power plant, too, will give Haryana electricity which it badly needs. Mr H S Bains, chairman of the HSPCB, however, argues that despite amending the NOC preconditions, the new projects will have unprecedented measures for the safety of the environment. He says that for the first time the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI) has been employed to make a comprehensive study of the environment within a radius of 25 km of the Panipat refinery where the new projects are going to be set up. The Nagpur-based institute will collect data on the existing level of pollution caused by the Panipat refinery, the fertiliser plant and other units, take into account the estimated pollution by the new plants and study the movement of wind in that area. At the end of the year it will submit an environmental management plan for the area. While preparing the report, the NEERI will also take into account pollution in Panipat caused by the burgeoning traffic on the GT Road. On the basis of the NEERI report and the technology available, an action plan for environmental management will be drawn up, Mr Bains says. Moreover, as the disposal from these projects — extension of the Panipat refinery, the power plant by the IOC and a Japanese company, Marubeni, using petrocoke as raw material and the petrochemical complex — will be mostly in the form of emission in the air, it has been already decided that 15 ambient air-quality stations will be set up in and around Panipat to determine the level of sulphur dioxide in the air. Excess of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere leads to the formation of sulphuric acid. From the air-quality check stations, the extent of sulphur dioxide can be determined and precautionary measures taken, Mr Bains says. For the three new projects, there will be four sulphur recovery plants with one plant acting as a standby unit, Mr Bains says adding that each of these plants costs Rs 100 crore. |
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