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| Wednesday, February
7, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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No change of guard in Gujarat: Laxman Bodies of three miners found
NRI woman killed by tenants UN forms $ 50m action plan for Gujarat Housing policy for quake-hit soon |
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Ex-UK minister suffers stroke
at quake scenes
PM to open summit
on Delhi development Paswan demands President’s rule
in Bihar 6 starvation deaths
in Orissa: Cong CPM dissidents to float new party Enron invokes Centre’s counter-guarantee VHP firm on Dharam Sansad HC order on tax cases against Jaya
Farmers, labour union hold protest India’s census operation most complex India, Poland to sign defence deal SC’s new ruling on NDPS Act Jha Bihar Samata Party chief
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No change of guard in Gujarat: Laxman AHMEDABAD, Feb 6 (PTI) — The BJP today categorically ruled out change of guard in the legislature party leadership in Gujarat in the wake of alleged failure of Keshubhai Patel government in handling the situation after the devastating earthquake. “Absolutely not. The question does not arise”, the BJP President, Mr Bangaru Laxman, said here. The Gujarat Government has handled the situation “extremely well” keeping in view the magnitude of the calamity, Mr Laxman, who is touring the affected areas, said. Ridiculing the Opposition demand for imposition of President’s rule in the state, Mr Laxman said, “It only shows that they are interested in exploiting the situation politically and are not bothered about the relief work.” After an all-party meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister to review the situation, Congress leader Amarsinh Choudhary had yesterday demanded imposition of President’s rule. |
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Bodies of three miners found PATNA, Feb 6 — The recovery of three bodies of miners from the Bagdigi Mines has doomed all hopes of the survival of the 30 miners trapped beneath ten million gallon water. The DGMS Director, Mr R.L. Arora admitted the recovery of one body but unconfirmed reports put the number at three. The mine rescue team however said that the body of a miner with light number 230, named Pritam Singh, was found floating. The new lot of Navy divers from Vishakhapatnam however so far failed to find out the rest of them. As DGMS officials maintained that the dewatering of the mine pit would take anywhere between five to seven days, the final fate of the victims remains elusive. Earlier, the mine rescue team and Navy divers from Mumbai had failed to make any breakthrough. The Vishakhapatnam divers have brought in the latest gadgets. In the meantime, the mystery over the rumors regarding the safe recovery of the miners on late Saturday night gets murkier. The BCCL officials blame it on ‘wrong signaling’ and misinterpretation of the message of one of the divers from Mumbai while the relatives and miners put the onus on the BCCL officials. Eyewitnesses said one of the divers from Mumbai, who had gone inside the mine on Saturday, came to the surface where the team of doctors was waiting. He told them, “We are Ok”. The doctors could not get the message clear and thought that the diver was saying that “they (miners) were Ok”. Doctors flashed the message above the mine to the BCCL officials to get the ambulances, medicines, warm blankets and food ready, as there were possibilities of life. The officials did not wait for the confirmation of the news flash and passed on the message wrongly to the relatives and miners waiting outside the Bagdigi mine. Meanwhile, the Dhanbad MP and Minister of state in Union Cabinet, Ms Rita Verma, accused the BCCL management of risking the lives of the miners to attain the target production. She lashed out at the BCCL and DGMS for the lapses on their part regarding the mine safety norms. She lamented that the mining maps were not updated and that was why the miners were not even aware of the dangers. Ms Verma said the accident took place because the project officer did not observe the safety norm of keeping the 75-metre barrier between the two pits. The miners informed that the gap between the Bagdigi pit and that of the adjacent Jairampur pit was reduced to only one-and-a-half metre and that is why the barrier collapsed, inundating the Bagdigi pit. It is to be mentioned here that the Project Officer has fled the site and is absconding, fearing attack from miners. The miners narrate that the officer had the information of the reduced gap of the barrier and still he forced the miners to carry on the mining. The wife of the Colliery Manager A.K. Upadhyay, who is one among the 30 trapped inside, said he had told her that the Project Manager was forcing him to continue work. |
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NRI woman killed by tenants SRIGANGANAGAR, Feb 6 — Apprehension of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) of the foolhardiness of leasing their property in India once again has proved to be true when an old woman was allegedly “killed” by tenants for asking them to vacate her house. German resident Gian Kaur’s desire to be among her kin in evening of her life did not materialise as her tenant and his family reportedly killed her for the “unpardonable sin of requesting them to vacate the house”. The police has arrested the tenant, Jawahar Nagar 25 N Block resident, Som Prakash Kochhar, his wife besides their son Rahul and his wife. A case under Sections 302, 323, 304, 352/34 of the IPC has been registered against them. Irate residents with the timely arrival of the cops reportedly saved the family from being lynched. The 65-year-old deceased had returned to India on January 25 along with her son, Jaspal Singh, who had agreed to start a business in the city in deference to his mother’s wishes. Tearful Jaspal told The Tribune that her mother had been planning for the realisation of her dream for the past many years and had happily agreed to forego her recently acquired permanent status. He said, “she had never felt at ease in Germany and always expressed desire to breathe her last in Sriganganagar, her hometown. Me and my two elder brothers, who are settled in Germany, decided that one of us will have to fulfil her desire and I took it upon myself to do so. She was so happy following the decision during her last days”, he added with choked voice. Sources revealed that Gian Kaur had gone upstairs to impress upon the Kochhars to arrange for alternative accommodation since she wanted to set up house here. She also told them although they had gone back on their promise of vacating the house in a year’s time but had been living there for the past many years. Upon this, the accused reportedly set upon her for her “temerity to ask them to do so”, and was shoved to the floor and bashed up. She is said to have suffered injuries as a result of which she died on the spot. The police is awaiting a post-mortem report presently. The request to vacate the house had been conveyed to the Kochhars much in advance from Germany, relatives of the deceased informed. Ironically, Gian Kaur, had even given one of the rooms in her possession on the ground floor for the wedding of Rahul, who was married some time ago. He is said to be the first attack her. Meanwhile, relatives alleged that the Kochhars had taken advantage of the lady and had “connived to take over the prime property knowing that she was unlikely to return in the near future, a fate that befalls most NRI families in the region”, they lamented. |
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UN forms $ 50m action plan for Gujarat NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — The United Nations (UN) has formulated a $ 50 million rehabilitation system involving health, food, education, shelter, water, sanitation and logistics for quake-devastated Gujarat. The action plan has identified immediate interventions that will serve as a bridge for mid-term and longer term rehabilitation and recovery activities. The overall UN strategy involves the implementation of action plan by individual UN agencies with the main focus being on the poorest and most vulnerable segments of the population, especially women and children. “The recovery phase will involve coordination mechanism in UNDP at the state level, decentralised to the worst-affected areas. These would have necessary capacity to prepare a mid-term relief and development programme and monitor and evaluate necessary activities,” the UN action plan released here today observed. Regarding shelter, the immediate action plan — spreading over a period of eight months — would lay stress on providing immediate assistance to the homeless population in the most heavily affected areas and providing family survival kits to at least 50,000 affected families. The World Food Programme will conduct an Emergency Food and Aid Programme to provide food assistance from extended delivery points distribution centres to 2,98,000 people. The focus will be on women and children and the intervention period is four months. Meanwhile the Gujarat Government has sought funds from the Planning Commission for relief and rehabilitation of quake-affected people. The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, said a fax message had been received by the commission from the state government to this effect. He, however, declined to give further details. The government is going to undertake Operation Doorsanchar campaign to tackle communication failures arising out of natural calamities in the future. Housing policy for quake-hit soon AHMEDABAD, Feb 6 (PTI) — The Gujarat Government would soon announce a housing policy for the quake affected people in the Kutch, Rajkot and Sundernagar districts and give financial assistance for this purpose from the consolidated earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction fund. “A policy on the housing front would soon be announced and financial assistance would be provided by the government, which wants the NGOs to take a lead role in this regard,” Minister of state for Home Haren Pandya told PTI.
Ex-UK minister suffers stroke
at quake scenes AHMEDABAD, Feb 6
(PTI) — Distressed by horrendous sights in the earthquake-devastated Kutch region, Lord Bill
Deedes, an eminent journalist and former British Cabinet Minister, suffered a stroke and has been admitted to a hospital here. On an assignment from the Daily Telegraph, Lord
Deedes, 88, was rushed to Rajasthan Hospital here yesterday from Kutch following intra-cerebral bleeding. His condition was now “stable and much better” and he had started taking meals, according to the
ICU in-charge at the hospital Dr Balshankar Jha. Lord
Deedes, former newspaper editor and a confidant of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, visited
Bhuj, Bachao and Anjar, the worst-hit in the earthquake. Dr Jha said, “Lord
Deedes, a patient of high blood pressure, suffered an intra-cerebral bleeding on the right side of his brain with slight weakness in the left hand after witnessing the horrendous scenes.” He is expected to be discharged after two days and would be flown to London by Unicef of which he is a representative. |
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Tata institute to
help with lighting NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), a Delhi-based non-profit research organisation, will work out an action plan for Gujarat to provide lighting and energy to areas where wire, transmission lines and distribution system have been affected due to the earthquake. The TERI Director, Dr R. K. Pachauri, told TNS here yesterday that a detailed blueprint was expected to be ready by the coming week. Dr Pachauri told that TERI was holding talks with the Gujarat Electricity Board to identify areas where transmission lines are affected. He said that TERI worked in the tribal belt of Orissa after the cyclone in October, 1999. ‘‘A lot of electricity poles and trees were uprooted. We installed a biomass gasifier-based power generation system mainly in the tribal areas with the help of Gram Vikas, a non-government organisation which is active in Gujarat.’’ |
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Greece backs India on UN seat NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — Condemning terrorism, visiting Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Simitis today urged India and Pakistan to pursue their “earthquake diplomacy” for a just and peaceful solution in Kashmir on the basis of Lahore Declaration. “What is needed now is political will in both countries,’’ Mr Simitis told newspersons in an apparent reference to Pakistan’s relief assistance in the quake-hit Gujarat and subsequent telephonic conversation between the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf. The visiting Prime Minister said a similar gesture by Greece to Turkey had helped narrow down their differences substantially saying, “India and Pakistan too can try this earthquake diplomacy’’. Mr Simitis had a detailed discussion with Mr Vajpayee yesterday during which the two leaders focussed on ways to impart greater economic content to the bilateral ties. Mr Vajpayee hosted a dinner in the honour of the visiting Prime Minister last evening. In his dinner speech, the Greek Prime Minister said, “Greece positively considers the Indian inititiative for a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir” and its recent extensions. “As India plays an important regional and international role, Greece supports your aspiration to become a permanent member of the enlarged Security Council”, the Greek Prime Minister said. The two countries yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in agriculture and decided to further consolidate bilateral ties in diversified fields. The MoU incorporates cooperation in olive and citrus cultivation, food and vegetable processing, scientific research and exchange of experts. |
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29 held
for keeping fake arms licences NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — In wake of the killing of three police personnel in the Capital, the Delhi Police has arrested 29 persons, including a gun shop owner, on charges of keeping fake arms licences. Weapons have also been seized from their possession. The fake licences were allegedly issued by Rajesh, a resident of Mainpuri, who is still at large. The racket came to light with the arrest of Avdhesh Singh of Mainpuri and Nepal Singh of Etah district, the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mr Qamar Ahmed, said. The accused had his office in Etah. He provided licences to job seekers interested in securing an employment as security guard in security agencies. They were issued the licences after paying Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 to the accused. A total of 28 licences were seized of which 19 were purported to have been issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland and nine licences by the Additional District Magistrate of Udhampur, Mr Qamar Ahmed said. The youths, who were issued the licences, were employed with the leading security agencies in the Capital. “The youths do not know how to handle a gun but they are keeping the arms licence”, Mr Qamar Ahmed said. The crackdown on the racket of fake arms licences was made reportedly after a direction was given by the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, Mr Ajai Raj Sharma, yesterday in a meeting which was attended by all District Commissioners of police, Assistant Commissioners of police and Station House Officers. The meeting was called following the funeral of the constable, Kishan Kumar, who was killed on Sunday evening in Rajender Nagar area of central Delhi by unidentified armed persons. The Delhi Police chief was livid with the way the personnel were being killed by the criminals. Three constables and one Sub-Inspector of the Delhi Police were killed in less than one year. Sub-Inspector Vinod Kumar Yadav posted at the police station Civil Lines in north Delhi was gunned down by a resident of the Punjabi Bagh area on the night of January 7. The accused shot at the SI while he was on night patrolling duty and was checking the vehicles at Majnu Ka Tila. Constable Sanjeev and Vivek were shot dead by armed criminals on the night of January 18 while they were on patrolling duty. Constable Bhupinder Yadav was killed by an unidentified criminal at the Harkesh Nagar area of south Delhi in July last year. The accused barged into a house in Sukhdev Vihar where the constable along with his colleagues had gone for investigating a case. He had gone towards Harkesh Nagar to catch the accused where he was gunned down. The accused is still at large. |
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PM to open summit
on Delhi development NEW DELHI, Feb6 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will inaugurate a three-day summit on sustainable development of Delhi here tomorrow. The summit said to be the first of its kind is being organised by the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) and will focus on poverty: the global challenge for governments, industry, scientists and civil society. Prominent among those who will present their views at the summit are the President of the UN University for Peace, Costa Rica, Mr Maurice Strong and the Administrator, UN Development Programme, USA, Mr Mark Malloch Brown. The institute, in partnership with Action India, a forum launched by Dr Sam Pitroda, also held a workshop today on ‘Technology vision for India in the new millennium: developing a technology mindset.’ An Indo-German workshop on the energy dimension of sustainable development and technical, economic and social implications is also being organised by TERI and Research Center Julich (Germany). Sources in TERI said that the Prime Minister would also release a book titled DISHA (Directions, Innovations and Strategies for Harnessing Action). The volume has been researched and compiled by a large number of TERI researchers. The book is a sequel to a previous study which provides a shocking picture projecting an unsustainable state of the country’s natural resource base. The TERI Director, Dr R K Pachauri, said, ‘‘Our aim is to sensitise decision makers in civil society on choices confronting us. These include population and human development. We cannot ignore major increase in population. It dilutes every effort we make.’’ Dr Pachauri warned that climate change was an issue which called for a lot of concern. |
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Paswan demands President’s rule
in Bihar NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — Union Communication Minister and President of the newly formed Lok Janshakti Party Ram Bilas Paswan today demanded that the Rabri Devi government should be dismissed forthwith accusing it of failure to maintain the law and order situation in the state. Claiming that the people were living under terror perpetrated by anti-social elements and the failure of the Bihar Government to check the ever-increasing menace, Mr Paswan said he would meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajapayee soon and demand imposition of Central rule there. “There is no accountability on the part of the state government even as mass murders are taking place almost everyday...I have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to discuss these issues and to demand President’s rule in Bihar,” Mr Paswan told newspersons here. |
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6 starvation deaths
in Orissa: Cong NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — The Congress today charged the Centre and the Orissa Government with being indifferent towards the plight of people who were suffering from acute drought. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told mediapersons here that six persons had died due to starvation and thousands others had migrated from worst-affected districts of Nowpara, Bargarh and Bulangir. “Between 25 to 50 per cent population has migrated,” he said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who visited the drought affected-areas, has demanded immediate action from the Central and state governments to end the miseries of people. Mr Azad said that 556 of the 660 villages in Nowpara district were suffering from drought. Similar situation existed in other two districts, he said. |
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CPM dissidents to float new party KOLKATA, Feb 6 — West Bengal CPM is heading for a division with the formation of a new party, Democratic Samajwadi Dal, on February 20 by CPM dissidents and other like-minded people. If Mr Subhas Chakraborty, state Transport Minister, finally leaves the party as he has decided, the new party will be headed by him. Otherwise, Mr Saifuddin Chowdhury, former MP and Mr Samir Patutundi, CPM South 24-Parganas Zila Committee Secretary, will jointly lead the dissidents. Both Mr Basu and the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharya, have denied that Mr Chakraborty was leaving the party. They claimed that Mr Chakraborty would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections as a CPM candidate. But Mr Chakraborty categorically stated even today that he would not contest the next election. He, however, neither denied nor confirmed his decision to quit the party. Despite the party’s objection, Mr Chakraborty called a public rally of unorganised labour at Saheed Minar on February 19, when he might disclose his future plan. |
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Enron invokes Centre’s counter-guarantee MUMBAI, Feb 6 (PTI) — In a fresh turn to the Enron controversy, US energy giant promoted Dabhol Power Company (DPC) today invoked for the first time the Central Government’s counter-guarantee to claim outstanding bill of Rs 79 crore (about $ 17 million) for November 2000 due from the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB). DPC’s fresh move comes after Maharashtra Government’s failure to pay the dues even after its guarantee in favour of DPC had been invoked. In addition, an amount of Rs 152 crore (about $ 33 million) under the December bill is also overdue and therefore the DPC decided to once again invoke the government guarantee to cover the December payment, DPC said in a statement. DPC president Neil McGregor said: “We are disappointed that this decision had to be taken”. State Finance Minister Jayant Patil said the state was firm on
withholding payment as the power purchase agreement (PPA) with Enron was detrimental to its monetary interests. “The non-payment does not mean we don’t have the money”, he said. The state has now seven days to make the payment to the DPC while the Centre has 30 days to do so. Union Power Minister Suresh Prabhu said tonight the Centre expected the Maharashtra
Government to come out with a concrete proposal to resolve the issue of default on payment of dues to the Dabhol Power Corporation. |
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VHP firm on Dharam Sansad DEHRA DUN, Feb 6 — The VHP is firm on its stand to hold a Dharam Sansad at Tehri on February 15 to protest against commissioning of the Tehri Dam project. The dam is likely to be commissioned by the end of year 2002. Talking to this correspondent yesterday, Mr Ashok Singhal, president of the VHP, said the VHP would not allow the government to commission the hydroelectricity project as it had larger ramification on life and environment of the region. He said taming the flow of the Ganga river would hurt religious sentiments of a large section of the society. By collecting the water of Ganga in the dam it would lose its esoteric significance. Meanwhile, Mr Sunderlal Bahuguna, an environmentalist met senior leaders of the VHP and the ruling BJP in New Delhi last week to discuss the issue after a statement issued by the Prime Minister that the government might review the project. He stressed upon the scientific management of the project by reducing its capacity to a level which would not have affect on the environment. Sources close to Mr Bahuguna said he would take part in the Dharam Sansad of the VHP which aimed at protecting the area from environmental hazards. On the other hand, Mr Bhagat Singh Koshiyari Minister for Power in Uttaranchal, held meetings with the Tehri Dam development authority on Saturday to review the progress of work going on in the construction work. However, when asked about the details of meeting the minister said it was a routine meeting to know latest about the work. In reply to a question he said he had not yet received any communication about the review of the project from the central government but they were prepared to discuss the issue at all levels with the central government. |
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HC order on tax cases against Jaya CHENNAI, Feb 6 (UNI) — The Madras High Court today directed the Economic Offences court in Egmore here to dispose of within eight months, the income tax and wealth tax cases pending against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalitha and her close friend Sasikala Natarajan. Mr Justice K. Natarajan gave the above directive and dismissed as withdrawn, the petitions filed by Ms Jayalalitha and Ms Sasikala seeking to quash the proceedings in the five income tax and wealth tax cases pending against them. The counsel for Ms Jayalalitha and Ms Sasikala sought to permit him to withdraw the petitions and to raise objections before the Economic Offences court. |
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Farmers, labour
union hold protest HANUMANGARH, Feb 6 — The All-India Kisan Sabha and the labour union yesterday held a demonstration in front of the office of the Chief Engineer, Irrigation. The demonstrators were protesting over the issue of availability of canal water and other demands. Labourers gathered in front of the irrigation office and closed the gates. Addressing the demonstration, the regional president of the sabha and former MP, Mr Shopat Singh, said the state government has failed in the management of irrigation of water and the tenure of three-and-a-half day water supply from the canals was harming the crops. Mr Sopat Singh and a former MLA, Mr Hetram Beniwal, declared that as the farmers had installed the tubewells on their own so this would not pay irrigation fee. They said if the government did not take any decision in this regard then the cultivators would gherao the collectorate. The demonstrators also protested in front of the telecom office. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, was handed over to the telecom officer. |
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India’s census operation most complex CENSUS 2001 is historic, being the first such exercise in the new millennium. It will be a unique exercise as it will provide benchmark data on the state of human resources of this vast and diverse land, the demography, culture and economic status at a juncture marking the transition from one century to other. The Registrar-General and the Census Commissioner of India J.K. BANTHIA throws light on the single largest administrative exercise beginning on February 9, given the linguistic and cultural plurality and the sheer size of the population in an interview to S. SATYANARAYANAN. Q: How different is the Indian from those undertaken in other countries? A: Though it is the second most populous country in the world, the scope of the Indian census is bigger than the Chinese one. Developed countries have a good mailing address system and the people are literate. So, one can mail the census schedule. In India, this cannot be done as we do not have a proper postal address or house numbering system and the literacy rate is still not good enough. Therefore, we have to adopt the system of sending enumerators to each household to collect vital data. Our census process is also different as even in China, not more than one or two languages are used by the enumerators. But we are conducting the enumeration process in 16 languages. Obviously, there is a major difference...I don’t think in any other country in the world this sort of an exercise is conducted. Q: The method of complete enumeration for the census requires the appointment of a large number of enumerators across the country. What kind of special training has been imparted to them this time? A: We have appointed over 17 lakh enumerators and a little over 2.5 lakh supervisors. We also have a reserve of 10 per cent enumerators and supervisors. So, the total number of people involved in the process will be between 22 lakh and 23 lakh. The enumerators are usually government employees, of which, a majority are teachers. The reason is that 70 per cent of the Indian population lives in villages and we have to look for a local enumeration agency. As far as training is concerned, we have imparted three rounds of training to our enumerators and several new approaches have been adopted this time. The standard form of training is the “blackboard and chalk approach”. In addition, we used audio modules, LCD projectors, computers, slide projectors and overhead projectors to make the training interesting. In Punjab and Haryana, we have trained enumerators by audio and video cassettes. A novel approach being adopted this time, which I am sure would not have been used anywhere anytime, is mass training through radio programme. From February 1 to 9 everyday, one-hour each in the morning and evening we are airing through the All India Radio the same training programme for enumerators through the help of Indira Gandhi National Open University. Q: How much money will be involved in completing the entire census process? A: According to the initial estimates made by us last year, the expenditure will be over Rs 1,000 crore. The exact amount will be known two to three years down the line. Q: What about the census in militancy-hit areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the North-Eastern states? A: The census in Jammu and Kashmir has already been completed. In the North-Eastern states, we do not foresee any problem as the first phase of the Census — houselisting operation — was
successfully conducted there. Q: There was a controversy on the caste-based classification in the census. Your comments. A: We continue to collect data on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. There is no question of any controversy. The government has taken the decision and we will be following its direction. Q: How do you propose to collect data of shelterless people in the country? Will the people who have been rendered homeless in the devastating quake in Gujarat be categorised in the shelterless category? A: The census of shelterless people will be done on the last day of the process i.e. February 28. Last year, the district administration across the country was asked to look for places where a large number of people were living in the open. So, already places with such shelterless population has been identified. It has been further verified this year. Wherever a large number of people are living in the open, special squads will be formed to go to such places and collect vital details about the shelterless. As far as the quake-hit people are concerned, in it is unfair to treat them as shelterless as today they might be shelterless and living in camps. But we have not yet decided on it as we are still closely watching the situation in Gujarat. Q: How will you conduct the census in the quake-hit districts of Gujarat? A:
We are assessing the situation in the four quake-hit districts and will decide whether the census requires a rescheduling because it is a little premature right now since the focus is on relief work. Q: The Election Commission has announced byelections for vacant assembly seats in different states on February 19. Will that have any impact on the enumeration process as they also bank on the services of teachers for election duties? A: We can’t stop other activities for one thing. Everybody makes some adjustment. The Election Commission must be having some good reasons for holding the elections. So, the respective district administrations are coping with it. If they find it difficult, they will come out with a specific request. Q: What kind of special training have you imparted to the enumerators in Haryana and Punjab, which are agriculture-based states? A: People in these two states are aware of their rights and are now more literate. So we do not foresee any problem in the collection of data. But greater emphasis has been given on training of the enumerators there, especially keeping in view the lower level of economic activity participation reported for women during the earlier censuses. |
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India, Poland to sign defence deal NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — In a significant development, India and Poland have agreed to cooperate in defence production with Warsaw offering joint production of its mini naval AWACS as well as its STOL (short take off) civil version aircraft. The two countries are likely to sign an agreement in Bangalore which could lead to the manufacture of the M28 Skytruck, a monoplane which, in its military version can be used as a small airborne warning and control system (AWAC). Poland has also evinced keen interest for joint ventures with India for the manufacture of defence hardware like anti-aircraft guns and military communications systems. The other types which are being tipped for joint production include maritime reconnaissance, economic civil traffic craft to link up tourist destinations and cargo as well as medical relief aircrafts. Speaking to reporters, the Polish Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Romuald Szeremietiew, said here new possibilities had emerged where his country and India could cooperate. The Skytruck is a non-pressurised, braced highwing 19-seater monoplane which as a military utility vehicle can be used for surveillance, coast guard duties and commando operations. In its civilian role it will be an ideal plane for regional use, the minister said before leaving for the Aero India-2000 show at Bangalore where the Skytruck is being displayed. The Bryza, the name given to the Skytruck’s military version, evinced big interest during the NATO exercises, Mr Szeremietiew said adding that the plane as an AWAC could fly five to six hours. The agreement to be signed between Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze, Mielec and Hindustan Aeronautic Limited will investigate ways and means to cooperate in the areas of customisation, modification, certification, production and marketing of the Skytruck. It will also look into ways of reaching an understanding for the design and production development of various equipment, accessories manufacturing and marketing and modernisation and upgradation for military training as well as civilian use of aircraft. The minister said the Skytruck being brought for the air show will be left behind in India for relief work in Gujarat where a Polish team has already set up a hospital. Mr Binay Kumar, President of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce, said during a visit last November of a Defence delegation from Warsaw a survey revealed that at least 200 Skytrucks could be manufactured and sold in India and other countries in South Asia for use as regional transport. The aircraft has an average yield per km of Rs 610, average cost per seat is Rs 34 and a total yield of Rs 34,000 per hour. It has a payload of 2,000 kg. SC’s
new ruling on NDPS Act NEW DELHI, Feb 6 (UNI) — The Supreme Court has held that as per the mandate of Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act, 1985, no person accused of an offence punishable for a term of imprisonment of five years or more under the Act can be released on bail unless the conditions mentioned in sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of clause (b) are satisfied. “The precondition for application of clause (b) would be that the offence is punishable for a term of imprisonment of five years or more. A plain reading of the clause makes it clear that in a case where the person is accused of an offence punishable for a term of imprisonment of five years, he cannot be released on bail unless the conditions mentioned therein are satisfied,’’ the court added. The ruling was given by a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice M.B. Shah and Mr Justice S.N. Variava while allowing an appeal by an Intelligence Officer of the Narcotics Control Bureau and setting aside an order by the Calcutta High Court granting bail to a person accused of possessing 18.7 kg of “ganja.”
Jha Bihar Samata Party chief NEW DELHI, Feb 6 (PTI) — The month-long crisis in the Samata Party on the issue of election of Bihar unit chief threatening to split the party ended today with Union Minister and senior party leader Nitish Kumar nominating Raghunath Jha for the post. Mr Nitish Kumar, who had been authorised by the party’s state council at Patna on January 5 to nominate a leader of his choice, said here that he had nominated Mr Jha for the post. Rebels within the party, opposed to Mr Nitish Kumar’s proposal for merger of Samata Party with Janata Dal (United), had held a parallel meeting at Patna on January 5 itself and elected Mr Jha as Bihar unit president and a split appeared inevitable in the party. The development snowballed into a major crisis before the party’s national council meeting at Mysore in mid-January when Mr Nitish Kumar resigned from the Union Cabinet though his resignation letter was rejected by the Prime Minister.
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