Monday, November 27, 2000,
Chandigarh, India






THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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N A T I O N

Bandh: schools closed, security tightened
NEW DELHI, Nov 26—Even as the issue of the polluting industries in the Capital continues to remain unresolved, the Delhi Government has ordered the closure of schools in view of a bandh tomorrow.

DHR becomes heritage site
Gets 6.3 cr grant from Mamata

DARJEELING, Nov 26—The Minister for Railways, Ms Mamata Banerjee, today announced a grant of Rs 6.3 crore for the track renewal of the 121-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway while dedicating it as a world heritage site.

Laxman for setting up federal force
BANGALORE, Nov 26 — BJP President Bangaru Laxman today appealed to states and political parties to reconsider their stand on the Centre’s proposal to enact special laws to combat federal crimes which had international ramifications and involvement of extremists.

Shankaracharya flays ceasefire move
DEHRA DUN, Nov 26 — Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his Ramzan ceasefire by saying militants, who are killing innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir, should be dealt with iron hands.

Burning of PM’s effigy ‘improper’
MUMBAI, Nov 26 —Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today termed as “highly improper” the burning of an effigy of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee by Shiv Sainiks to protest the Centre’s uniltareal ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 

EARLIER STORIES

 

China’s progress a challenge: George
NEW DELHI, Nov 26 — The progress made by China in all fields pose the greatest challenge to India in its endeavours to lead the world in the new millennium, Defence Minister George Fernandes said here today.

Anti-potency drug in prisoners’ food?
NEW DELHI, Nov 26 — It is anti-Viagra that is at work in prisons of Delhi. “The food that is supplied to prisoners in Delhi jails is laced with drugs that can debilitate their sexual potency,” alleged a Congress MLA during discussions on the Delhi Prisons Bill, 2000.

Four Bihari artisans shot dead
GUWAHATI, Nov 26 — Four persons belonging to a minority community were shot dead early today by suspected ULFA militants in Assam’s Nalbari district, the police said.

ULFA militant harvests paddy
BANBHAG SALBARI (Nalbari, Assam), Nov 26 — Abhinash Bordoloi (32), a former self-styled lieutenant of ULFA, is a changed man. Having given up his gun, Bordoloi, alias Sailen Haloi, now works in the field cherishing Assamese age-old spirit of dignity of labour, thanks to a revised rehabilitation scheme chalked out by the Mahanta Government.

Actress Kajol dances with Asha Bhosle at the “Kal Aaj aur Hamesha” show in Mumbai on Saturday night. Asha belts out evergreen hits
MUMBAI, Nov 26 — Scores of hands clapped in unison and hundreds more swayed under a magnetic spell as the mellifluous voice of diva Asha Bhonsle filled the air when she belted out her evergreen numbers like “Dum Maro Dum” and “Monica O my Darling” here last night.


Actress Kajol dances with Asha Bhosle at the “Kal Aaj aur Hamesha” show in Mumbai on Saturday night. — PTI photo

Escapades of jailed VIPs worry Centre
PATNA, Nov 26 — The Union Government has expressed concern to the Rabri Government and sought a detailed report on the alleged escapades of VIP prisoners and police inaction in this regard.

Scientist predicts eco disaster
DEHRA DUN, Nov 26 — The ecological balance of the world is deteriorating rapidly. There is a possible threat to human survival. The state of water systems, forests, and soil cover is worsening, atmosphere is getting polluted and variety of life forms on land and oceans decreasing.

41 to donate bodies for research
NEW DELHI, Nov 26 — As many as 41 persons pledged to donate their bodies after death for research purposes at a function organised today by the Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti at Maulana Azad Medical College.

Elephant crushes woman to death
DEHRA DUN, Nov 26 — A woman was reportedly killed by a wild elephant in the Garhwal region last night.

Transferred staff not accepted
PATNA, Nov 26 — The fate of over 100 employees of the Bihar Legislative Council, transferred to the newly created Jharkhand Assembly, hangs in the balance as the Jharkhand Government has refused to accommodate them.

Four killed as trucks collide
MEERUT, Nov 26 — Four persons died and two injured in an accident on the Meerut-Delhi bypass on the outskirts of the city last night.








 

Bandh: schools closed, security tightened
Tribune News Service and UNI

NEW DELHI, Nov 26—Even as the issue of the polluting industries in the Capital continues to remain unresolved, the Delhi Government has ordered the closure of schools in view of a bandh tomorrow.

Apprehending major trouble during the bandh, the Delhi police today invoked prohibitory orders in several parts of the Capital and deployed about 45 companies of paramilitary forces, besides putting its full strength of 60,000 men on the roads.

The police will also be assisted by 10,000-odd Home Guards personnel and thousands of workers of voluntary organisations.

While the Education Minister of the Delhi, Mr Narendra Nath, ordered the closure of schools, the former Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, is emerging a winner in his political battle of supremacy.

Mr Khurana is not only taking the Urban Development Minister, Mr Jagmohan, head-on, he is also settling scores with his other political rivals like the former Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma.

Mr Jagmohan is being painted as a villain by Mr Khurana, who is leaving no opportunity to send a message to the agitating industries that the Urban Development Minister was a stumbling block in their way as he was not ready to amend the Delhi Master Plan.

Mr Khurana, who has made common cause now with arch political rival Sahib Singh Verma on the issue of polluting industries, is motivating the industries to take to agitation with a view to targeting Mr Jagmohan.

Mr Khurana, who has not only mended fences with Mr Verma but also has the support of the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha MP, Mr Vijay Goel, is said to be lobbying for the industries with a twin motive.

On the one hand, Mr Khurana hopes to become close to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee by championing the cause of the industries, on the other hand, he would also succeed in making Mr Jagmohan unpopular among the masses, party sources said.Top


 

DHR becomes heritage site
Gets 6.3 cr grant from Mamata

From Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

DARJEELING, Nov 26—The Minister for Railways, Ms Mamata Banerjee, today announced a grant of Rs 6.3 crore for the track renewal of the 121-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) while dedicating it as a world heritage site.

The DHR is among the 631 sites the world over to be listed as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO). Other sites which share this distinction include the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in Agra. The DHR is also the second railways in the world to be granted this status and is the first ever narrow-gauge to be listed.

Speaking at a function at Chow Rasta (the Mall) here today, Ms Banerjee said that the dedication of the DHR was a great moment in the history of not only Indian Railways but also the railway system of the world.

Describing Darjeeling as the heart of the country and a lovable place, the minister said that this part of the country had tremendous tourism potential which had not been tapped. “We will try to give a comprehensive tourism package to both foreign and domestic tourists. This would include board and lodging.”

Ms Banerjee also announced a grant of Rs 60 lakh for the upgradation of the stations and the over 100 year-old Tindharia workshop. Another grant of Rs 5 lakh each for the Katharia division and the DHR sector comes as a departmental award. The announcement of additional passes and privilege passes as a one-time measure to all pensioners and serving employees of DHR also brought cheer to the beneficiaries.

The minister handed over the UNESCO heritage certificate to the General Manager,North-East Frontier Railway and unveiled the plaque declaring the DHR as a world heritage site.

The Railways Minister also inaugurated a museum showcasing the DHR heritage at Ghum railway station, at a height of 7407 feet above sea level. The 7 km distance between Ghum and Darjeeling is also covered by DHR. The Museum has got an overwhelming response from people and some of them have even donated DHR artefacts from their family heirlooms.

In his welcome address, the General Manager of North-East Frontier Railway, Mr B.M.S Bisht, described Sunday as a“red-letter day, which formally marked the granting of world heritage site status by UNESCO.” He said that the NF Railway would leave no stone unturned to fulfil its responsibilities to preserve the heritage of the DHR.

Mr Perera, Administrative Officer of UNESCO, congratulated the Railway Museum, the Railway Board and Railway Ministry for taking the initiative to propose the DHR’s name for world heritage site.

Speaking in Nepali, Mr Dawa Lama, Rajya Sabha MP, objected to the DHR being referred to as the “toy train”. He said that it was a full-fledged railway system. He urged the Railway Ministry to give the DHR the same attention it had given to the Palace-on-Wheels.

The Chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, Mr Subhash Ghising, also spoke.

Speaking to TNS later, Ms Banerjee denied reports that the DHR was making losses that touched 6.5 crore last year. She said that in the previous financial year, the DHR’s earnings from passenger services had increased by 22 per cent. Railways did not propose to hike the fares of the “toy train”.Top


Laxman for setting up federal force

BANGALORE, Nov 26 (PTI) — BJP President Bangaru Laxman today appealed to states and political parties to reconsider their stand on the Centre’s proposal to enact special laws to combat federal crimes which had international ramifications and involvement of extremists.

Mr Laxman, addressing a press conference here on his first visit to the city after he took over as BJP chief, said the latest venture of forest brigand Veerappan kidnapping Kannada thespian Rajkumar, has sharply illustrated that the state government may not be able to deal with such crimes on their own.

Pointing to the opposition expressed by some at the Chief Ministers’ conference convened by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani on August 5 to the proposal of creating a federal force to deal with federal crimes on the ground that law and order was state subject and accepting Centre’s role would infringe on their powers, he said the BJP felt the need for such a force.

Mr Laxman said the Centre’s proposal meets the need of the hour in the wake of growing ISI activities in many parts of the country.

The BJP supremo lamented what he described “mysterious shyness and silence” maintained by various state governments on the ISI activities, despite the fact that they had reports from intelligence agencies.

Mr Laxman said in dealing with the terrorists, extremists and other subversive forces the country cannot allow to get its resolve and capability to weaken because of lack of consensus and coordination between the Centre and states.

The BJP chief, stoutly defending the Centre’s proposed reforms in banking sector, allayed fears that with the proportional decline in government equity, the public sector banks will pass on to the hands of few corporate houses.

He assured people that the BJP was committed to the social role of the public sector banks and it will in no way be jettisoned by the BJP-led government.

Coming down on the critics of banking sector reforms, Mr Laxman said the reforms were being wrongly interpreted by the Left and their front organisations as privatisation of banks.

He said out of 19 banks nationalised, three are already in red and as many on the verge of following them.

He hailed the ceasefire declared by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Jammu and Kashmir describing it as an important milestone in the efforts to restore peace and tranquillity in the militancy torn state.

He, however, urged the government to act firmly against those who perpetrated acts of terrorism against innocent people taking advantage of the ceasefire.
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Shankaracharya flays ceasefire move

DEHRA DUN, Nov 26 (PTI) — Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his Ramzan ceasefire by saying militants, who are killing innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir, should be dealt with iron hands.

“He (Vajpayee) has been making mistakes after mistakes ever since assuming office. First he undertook the bus ride to Lahore, and we got the Kargil episode in which several Indian soldiers were killed and the nation suffered huge financial losses. Now it is ceasefire. Any appeasement policy towards Muslims cannot be tolerated,” the Shankaracharya, who is Jyotipithadhishwar told PTI here.

Taking strong exception to the unilateral ceasefire, Swami Swaroopanandji wondered how Mr Vajpayee could take such a stand when the BJP still had to carry out its agenda on Article 370, Ramjanmabhoomi and Uniform Civil Code.

“We are not against Muslims in India but we definitely object to it when the government takes people for a ride. Those people who are spilling blood in India should be dealt with iron hands,” he said.

Stating that the Vajpayee government should resolve vexed issues like influx of Bangladeshis in India first, the Shankaracharya said unless such issues were addressed, the nation would have to pay a heavy price for any misadventure by the government.

On the temple issue, he said, “The BJP came to power on this major issue only. I don’t know why it is now dithering on the issue when the whole Hindu community wants the temple to be constructed at the Ramjanmabhoomi.”

The Shankaracharya said Mr Vajpayee should not have assumed the high office after the BJP failed to muster a majority in Parliament. Had Mr Vajpayee waited for another two to three years, the people of India would have surely given him a thumping majority to carry out the party’s unfinished agenda.

Referring to the ongoing controversy over the construction of a Jain temple in Badrinath, he said, “We cannot allow any such construction when the place is one of the dhams of Hindus.”
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Burning of PM’s effigy ‘improper’

MUMBAI, Nov 26 (PTI) —Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today termed as “highly improper” the burning of an effigy of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee by Shiv Sainiks to protest the Centre’s uniltareal ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Whatever happened was highly improper and such incidents should not occur in the future”, the Sena chief said in a statement in party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ here.

Sena activists had on Friday burnt an effigy of Mr Vajpayee near the Parliament House demanding immediate withdrawal of the Ramzan ceasefire.

Mr Thackeray said “We have accepted the decision (of ceasefire) in view of the national interest” and warned Shiv Sainiks that such protests aimed at the allies must be avoided.

The Sena chief said his 12-year-old relationship with Mr Vajpayee was not merely political but personal as well. “I am pained as the protests have caused great mental anguish to the Prime Minister”, he said.

“If we are not happy with the government’s decision, there are other ways to protest”, he added.

Mr Thackeray’s statement assumes significance in the backdrop of his talks with Union Minister Arun Shourie who had airdashed to the city yesterday to meet him. 
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China’s progress a challenge: George

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (PTI) — The progress made by China in all fields pose the greatest challenge to India in its endeavours to lead the world in the new millennium, Defence Minister George Fernandes said here today.

Referring to the talk about the new millennium belonging to India, Mr Fernandes said, “Several countries are in the race. We should particularly look at China and see how ahead of us it has gone in all fields. We cannot make it our millennium without overcoming those challenges.”

He was delivering a lecture here on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

“China has not become a powerful country overnight. It is the result of decades of hard work,” said Mr Fernandes, whose alleged reference to China as “India’s number one enemy” had stirred a hornet’s nest during his previous tenure.

Rampant corruption among politicians and unemployment among the youth are responsible for the clamour for “azadi” (independence) in Kashmir and the North-East, Mr Fernandes said.

Recalling his interaction with the local Kashmiri populace, Mr Fernandes said, “When they asked me where the Rs 1 lakh crore the Centre has invested in the state had gone, I said they have gone into the palatial bungalows they see around them, the farm houses with swimming pool in South Delhi, the skyscrapers in Mumbai and Swiss bank accounts.” “The people I spoke to had never seen a ballot paper before that time,” Mr Fernandes said recalling his stint as Kashmir Affairs Minister during the V.P. Singh regime in 1990.

In the North-East, over 2500 ULFA militants recently surrendered before the authorities with over 3500 weapons “and their only demand was employment,” he said, adding that “these are not stories but my experiences.”

“I will never blame the youth (for taking to militancy). It is the people who created the circumstances who are guilty,” the Defence Minister said.

He, however, said the problems of unemployment and corruption were all pervasive. “We have 4.3 crore unemployed youth on the registers of the employment exchange. Youth constitute the most creative segment of any society and we cannot allow it to go astray,” he said.
Top

 

Anti-potency drug in prisoners’ food?

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (UNI) —It is anti-Viagra that is at work in prisons of Delhi. “The food that is supplied to prisoners in Delhi jails is laced with drugs that can debilitate their sexual potency,” alleged a Congress MLA during discussions on the Delhi Prisons Bill, 2000.

“There have been numerous such incidents which stand substantiated by medical reports,” asserted Mr Mukesh Sharma (Cong) and demanded that if a prisoner was administered drugs, he/she should be given the full details of medicines.

The Bill, which was validated into a law with four amendments, now makes it difficult for prisoners to skip meals as a hunger strike in jail would incur a penalty in the form of segregation with the rest of inmates. The Act, though, speaks little about the quality of food to be given to prisoners.

This clause was objected to by the legislator, saying hunger strike was a mighty tool of Mahatma Gandhi in his fight against the British rule, and prisoners in independent India should not be deprived of this right.

The Bill, however, allows the prisoners to observe fast on religious occasions. Another controversial aspect of the Bill is that censorship in jails has been legitimised with the Jail Superintendent having authority to scrutinise any letter written by a prisoner.

“The facility of writing letters is contingent on good conduct and may be withdrawn or postponed by the superintendent on the bad conduct,” says the Act, which otherwise allows jail inmates to post any number of letters but at their own expense.

With regard to women prisoners, it says, “the females shall be imprisoned in separate buildings, or separate parts of the same building, in such a manner as to prevent their seeing, or conversing with the male prisoners.”

But a controversial section of the Act now entails the segregation of sex workers from other female prisoners. Critics hold that it is an attack on the human rights of sex workers, who are forced into this profession. Segregation would pave the way for their exploitation and scotch the chances of their reformation.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who introduced the Bill, had said it was a “modern and model Bill” having its slant on reformatory aspects and humane considerations.

The Bill, which deals with the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners while ensuring their safe detention, lays down 27 offences for which prisoners can be awarded punishment.
Top

 

Four Bihari artisans shot dead

GUWAHATI, Nov 26 (PTI) — Four persons belonging to a minority community were shot dead early today by suspected ULFA militants in Assam’s Nalbari district, the police said.

A group of cycle-borne militants came to Jagra village at around 2 a.m. and asked the victims to come out of their houses. As they opened the door, the militants killed three of them on the spot and injured another. The other inmates of the house, however, escaped.

The injured later succumbed to his injuries. The militants fled under the cover of darkness, sources said.

The victims were Bihari Muslim quilt-makers.

Senior police and civil officials rushed to the village and a massive search operation had been launched to nab the culprits, the sources added.
Top

 

ULFA militant harvests paddy

BANBHAG SALBARI (Nalbari, Assam), Nov 26 (PTI) —Abhinash Bordoloi (32), a former self-styled lieutenant of ULFA, is a changed man. Having given up his gun, Bordoloi, alias Sailen Haloi, now works in the field cherishing Assamese age-old spirit of dignity of labour, thanks to a revised rehabilitation scheme chalked out by the Mahanta Government.

Under the scheme, 73 surrendered militants, who refuse to be called Surrendered ULFA (SULFA) — a term which gained currency during the erstwhile Hiteswar Saikia regime — are now harvesting paddy and mustard flowers over 150 bighas plot of land under the aegis of the “Udyan multipurpose Cooperative Society”.

Once a barren piece of land, the site with yellow mustard flowers and a large variety of vegetables is a delight to watch.

“I joined ULFA but now it looks independence is an impossible mission,” says Bordoloi answering why he chose to lay down arms.

“I am happy, my parents and family members are happy that I am back in the mainstream. Earlier they always had fears”.

Thanks to the toiling efforts of Bordolois, the area now resembles an agricultural haven with as much as 85 bighas under paddy cultivation, 25 bighas under mustard, five bighas under brinjal and 10 bighas with potato and cabbage.

The success of the new rehabilitation package, according to Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha, (retd) lies in the fact that unlike the sulfa package of the Saikia Government, there is no distribution of “easy cash” nor the militants are allowed to retain arms.

“Sulfa had come all of a sudden at one go. Everybody was given Rs 2.5 lakh cash and Rs 1.5 lakh as a soft loan which was never returned. They were allowed to retain their weapons as well,” says the Governor, who played a crucial role in recasting the rehabilitation package in 1997.

Although initially some ex-ULFA cadres were given jobs in central organisations like the BSF, the CRPF and the Railways, soon state government realised that it could be self-defeating as joining militancy could be treated as a launch-pad for government service.

Then, the agri-farm and coopertative scheme was worked out keeping in spirit the cherished agrarian tradition. Therefore, it is not without good reason that over 2800 militants have surrendered since last year.

Dutta, who joined ULFA in 1987, says that “ideological differences” over the role of Pakistan’s ISI and several other issues were responsible for his surrender but adds that unemployment and sense of neglect still haunts Assam and other north- eastern states. They are thus vulnerable to exploitation by certain “adversary elements”.Top

 

Asha belts out evergreen hits

MUMBAI, Nov 26 (PTI) — Scores of hands clapped in unison and hundreds more swayed under a magnetic spell as the mellifluous voice of diva Asha Bhonsle filled the air when she belted out her evergreen numbers like “Dum Maro Dum” and “Monica O my Darling” here last night.

Performing before an estimated audience of 7,000, Asha crooned her popular numbers at an evening full of excitement and nostalgia.

The three-hour live performance, which saw Govinda giving with the prima donna on stage, witnessed Lucky Ali, Babul Supriyo, Leslie Lewis and Sivamani giving her company, with fleeting appearances by film actress Kajol and dancing sensation of yesteryear, Helen.

The performance was also made colourful by dances choreographed by Ahmed Khan and music coordinated by Surinder Sodi.

Asha not only performed old-time favourites but also crooned peppy pop numbers.

She also regaled the audience with anecdotes from her personal life and a long career in the film industry. 
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Escapades of jailed VIPs worry Centre
From Santosh Jha

PATNA, Nov 26 — The Union Government has expressed concern to the Rabri Government and sought a detailed report on the alleged escapades of VIP prisoners and police inaction in this regard.

In the past few months, media has reported the “free movement” of some of the jailed MLAs. They have allegedly been allowed by the police to attend public functions in their constituencies. As a fall out of Centre’s intervention in the matter 10 policemen in the security of these MLAs have been suspended. Some more policemen may face the music as the state government will try to save its face. One such MLA, Sunil Pandey, currently in Sasaram jail, is learnt to have gone to attend an orchestra programme with his police security team. He was allowed by the court to be taken to the Patna Medical College Hospital for treatment. Once out of the jail, he, allegedly in connivance with the police, visited his constituency to watch a musical programme.

Another jailed MLA, Rajan Tiwari, is said to move freely with the police force provided to him. The state police itself accused him of escaping to his village and having committed crime. He is also often seen in newspaper offices, “denying that he moves freely” despite being in judicial custody. Munna Shukla, also an MLA in jail, too has been accused of free movement.

The Centre has asked for a detailed report on the three. The alleged intentional non-execution of arrest warrants against two former ministers and two senior IAS officers have also put a question mark on the credibility of the state police. Jay Parakash Yadav, a former Education Minister, is absconding, evading arrest for the last many months. He is wanted in connection with fake B.Ed degree scam.

Yadav has been well within the sight. Media has time and again reported him addressing crowds at his constituency.

Lalit Yadav, a former minister accused of torturing one of his employees is absconding. Their proximity with the ruling party bosses has been cited as the cause of “go slow” by the cops.

Moreover, two influential IAS officers Chintu Nayak and Sonelal Hembrom, wanted by the Vigilance Department are also at large. 
Top

 

Scientist predicts eco disaster
From Kulwinder Sandhu

DEHRA DUN, Nov 26 — The ecological balance of the world is deteriorating rapidly. There is a possible threat to human survival. The state of water systems, forests, and soil cover is worsening, atmosphere is getting polluted and variety of life forms on land and oceans decreasing. Eight million hectares of the world’s tropical forests are lost each year due to indiscriminate felling of trees. With the destruction of natural habitats 10 per cent of the organisms have become extinct or await bleak prospects in the near future.

Talking to The Tribune here yesterday, Mr Douglas C Malcolm, former convener of the School of Forestry in University of Edinburg (UK) said that there was a threat of global warming in the world due to the changes in climatic conditions around the globe. This is due to the illegal felling of trees, expansion of sea water, melting of ice on the glaciers and above all burning of fuels in the automobiles and power plants. There is a general scientific opinion that the average temperature in the United Kingdom is expected to increase by 2.5 degrees in the coming 40-50 years under the present conditions.

He said there was a dire need to preserve our bio-diversity to face the challenges of the future. Research is going on in the Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh on how to manage the ever-growing release of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere. Two Indian scientists are engaged in this research.

To a question Mr Malcolm said the United Kingdom was also making efforts to re-establish forests in the country which were lost during the past two centuries. At present, the UK has only 12 per cent of forest cover most of which is in Scotland and Wales. It is worth mentioning that the UK is the second largest importer of timber in the world next to Japan. Eighty per cent of its need is met from the imported timber. But during the past two decades, with afforestation projects in the UK the situation has come to normal and there is no reduction in the forest cover area. Efforts are on to preserve the native trees of the country.

He said the University of Edinburgh had carried out many research projects in assistance with the forest officers and scientists of India in the forest sector to preserve the bio-diversity. School of Forestry, University of Edinburgh has close proximity with the Forest Research Institute of India as both these premier institutes are among the oldest forest research institutes in the world set up by the British.

Imperial Forest School (now known as Forest Research Institute) was established in 1884 at Dehra Dun. On similar pattern, British established School of Forestry, University of Edinburgh in their country in 1888.

Mr Malcolm is presently engaged in research work of genetic variations in silviculture and forest soil science. This mainly deals with the study of adaptive variations in selecting superior trees with DNA tests. He is of the opinion that in the coming years with this research, there will be improvement in the productivity, quality of timber. But he is giving more stress on developing the native species of good quality.

He was in the city to know about the research projects going in the Forest Research Institute of India and have better interaction with the scientists on his subject of research.
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41 to donate bodies for research

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (UNI) — As many as 41 persons pledged to donate their bodies after death for research purposes at a function organised today by the Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti at Maulana Azad Medical College.

Speaking on the occasion, the Regional Director of WHO (South-East Asia), Dr Paletha Abeycoon, emphasised the importance of “body donation” after death.

He said even in the USA, 15 persons were dying everyday because of the non-availability of transplantable organs and every 16 seconds one more person was being added to the list of persons needing human organs.
Top

 

Elephant crushes woman to death
From Our Correspondent

DEHRA DUN, Nov 26 — A woman was reportedly killed by a wild elephant in the Garhwal region last night.

According to the sources of the Forest Department, Mrs Sarjati Devi of Haldukhat of village was attacked by wild elephant in the lawn of her room house. After hearing a sound she went out of her room to see whether the paddy lying in the lawn was safe. Suddenly, a wild elephant first threw her away and then crushed her under his feet.
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Transferred staff not accepted

PATNA, Nov 26 (PTI) — The fate of over 100 employees of the Bihar Legislative Council, transferred to the newly created Jharkhand Assembly, hangs in the balance as the Jharkhand Government has refused to accommodate them.

However, the employees were denied permission to join as Assembly staff by the Jharkhand Government on the plea that there was no provision for a bicameral legislature in the state.

Mr Hussain has asked the Bihar Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary to take up the issue with the authorities concerned.
Top

 

Four killed as trucks collide
From Our Correspondent

MEERUT, Nov 26 — Four persons died and two injured in an accident on the Meerut-Delhi bypass on the outskirts of the city last night.

According to the police sources, a Tata Truck collided a truck coming from the opposite side. Both vehicles were at a high speed. The deceased and the injured were occupants of the Tata truck.

The driver of the Tata truck Ikhlak of Hardwar, Mukesh Kumar and Budhu of Roorkee died on the spot while Govind also of Roorkee was seriously injured. He was admitted to the civil hospital here where he is said to be out of danger.
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Ramzan begins tomorrow

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (PTI) — Ramzan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims, will start on November 28. This was announced by the Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid here today. According to a spokesman of the Hazrat Maulana Mufti Mukaram Ahmed Saheb, the “new moon” of Ramzan was not sighted today.
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Rebel JD (U) MPs boycott meeting

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (PTI) — All three dissident JD (U) MPs, including Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, who is floating a new party, today boycotted a meeting of the party’s national executive where Dal chief Sharad Yadav was authorised to take a decision on disciplinary action against the dissidents. The day-long meeting, which decided to elect the party’s national president on January 28, saw Yadav loyalists expressing “strong unhappiness” over the rally convened by Mr Paswan on November 28 where the Communications Minister is expected to float a new party, JD (U) General Secretary M. Raghupathy told reporters.
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Samata secy quits

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (UNI) — Bihar Samata Party secretary Vijay Kumar Singh resigned today, protesting against the “double standards” of the party, which was “playing hide and seek with Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav”. In a statement issued here, Mr Vijay Kumar Singh said he would join the rally organised by Communication Minister Ram Vilas Paswan here on November 28.
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NATIONAL BRIEFS

Liquor mafia kingpin held
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The kingpin of the liquor mafia, who was involved in the series of hooch deaths in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts recently, was arrested at Nagercoil in Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. According to top police sources, the kingpin, Manichan, was nabbed around 7.30 a.m. when he was on his way to Thiruvananthapuram from Nagercoil. His brother, Kochani, who was said to have supplied the illicit brew to Hayaraunnisa, a local vendor of Kalluvathuckal, where the first hooch deaths were reported, had surrendered about two weeks ago. — UNI

Unearthed skeleton kicks up row
MIDNAPORE (WEST BENGAL):
Tension ran high in Pingla as a human skeleton was unearthed from a tank in Paschimchak village on Saturday. It was later identified as that of Srikanta Singh, a CPM activist of the area, who had been missing since June 30 after being allegedly kidnapped by Trinamool Congress supporters, the police said. The village tank was being dug up in apprehension of unearthing more bodies as there were similar cases of abduction where the victims could not be traced. 
— UNI

Couple, infant commit suicide
RAJAHMUNDRY: Frustrated by the financial crisis, a couple, along with its infant child, committed suicide allegedly by consuming poison in a lodge here on Saturday night, the police said. The dead have been identified as P. Somayya (30), owner of a rice mill, his wife, Rani (26), and one-year-old son Surya Krishna. In a suicide note, Somayya said the couple was resorting to this extreme step to escape financial problems. — PTI

Cop’s wife poisons kids to death
NEW DELHI: Meena, wife of Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar Guliya, allegedly poisoned six-year-old Sahil and two-and-a-half-year-old Gudiya and later committed suicide at her police colony residence in Shalimar Bagh on Friday, the police said. Acting on a complaint by Meena’s father, the police has arrested Guliya on charges of dowry harassment. The couple was married in 1992. — PTI

15 Naxalites surrender
KARIMNAGAR: Fifteen Naxalites, including four women, surrendered before Karimnagar SP Nalin Prabhat on Sunday. Mr Prabhat said the Naxalites, 14 of them belonging to PWG and one to Janashakti, had surrendered as they were disillusioned with the ideologies and barbaric methods of the outlawed extremist outfits. — UNI

UP CM rules out ‘downsizing’ ministry
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh today ruled out the possibility of “downsizing” his jumbo ministry often criticised by Opposition as containing “criminal elements”. Talking to PTI here, Mr Rajnath Singh said that he could “expand and reshuffle” the present council of ministers when required. Asked whether a huge ministry was not a drain on the state exchequer at a time when the state was experiencing a poor fiscal situation. He said that the size of the ministry was not going to make any big effect on the state’s financial health. — PTI

148 tehsils declared drought-affected
BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Government has declared 148 tehsils of 31 districts as drought affected as per anawari based on kharif crop cutting experiment. In all, 21,670 villages are in the grip of drought in these tehsils and a sum of Rs 14.80 crore has so far been allotted to the collectors concerned at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per tehsil for generating employment for the needy. — PTITop

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