 |
Thursday,
May 17, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
|
IAF to raise spy plane
units Bengal Government
by May 18 Antony to form govt today Cong gears up for Punjab, J&K
poll CPM flays Cong role in
poll Manipur crisis deepens BJP may hold introspection camp |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Advani was ‘jubilant’ after
demolition Kohinoor: India must go for
kill Bhopal tragedy: PIL
against judges
‘Greater need for civil-Army liaison’ Tehelka probe hearing from June 4 Fencing along Jammu border to continue
Another year of losses for
IA No addition to terms of
reference: JPC Kapoor expresses concern over
ISI, mafia
nexus Insurance claim granted Power board to pay consumer Rs 2,500 Water problem worsens
|
|
IAF to raise spy plane units New Delhi, May 16 “The UAVs have been contracted for with Israel and deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year,” a senior IAF official said. “Some personnel, including a few pilots, have already been trained in Israel to operate the UAVs,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told IANS. The IAF has ordered Searcher-II UAVs from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), which has already supplied some 32 of the spy planes to the Indian Army under a deal concluded in 1997. At least two UAV units will be raised by the IAF, one in the western sector and another in the southwestern sector, the official said. The personnel trained in Israel will form the core of the IAF’s UAV units and they will instruct other members of the new formations. “The Army’s UAV units are capable of covering the northern sector, including the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Our primary responsibility is covering the coastal region and the western sector, including Rajasthan,” the official said. The official discounted media reports that UAVs from the IAF had participated in the just-concluded “Poorna Vijay” (complete victory) exercise in Rajasthan, during which some 70,000 Army troops and 120 IAF aircraft practiced a rapid armored thrust into enemy territory. “Our personnel are ready to begin operations but the UAV units have not yet been raised,” he said. The Army’s UAVs were first put into service during the “Shiv Shakti” war game in Rajasthan in late 1998, but the Searcher-I spy planes, which are capable of operating at altitudes of up to 11,000 feet, could not be used during the Kargil border conflict with Pakistan the following year. The Searcher-II UAV can operate at higher altitudes. There was a tussle last year between the IAF and the Army over the operational control of the UAV units, with both services insisting that they were better placed to use the spy planes, which can linger in the air for up to 12 hours, flying deep into the enemy territory to relay “real time” or instantaneous imagery to controllers on the ground. The Defence Ministry has now decided that each service can have its own UAV units, and the Navy too has projected a requirement of UAVs for surveillance along the sensitive sections of the country’s 7,600-km coastline. The UAVs are being seen as a cost-effective solution to the problem of conducting surveillance in the remote areas as India lacks surveillance satellites. India and Israel are reportedly exploring the joint production of UAVs, including the Heron, the most modern spy plane manufactured by the IAI. India has also been engaged in indigenous development of the UAV technology, with the Defense Research and Development Organisation working on Nishant, a remotely piloted vehicle for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance.
IANS |
|
Bengal Government
by May 18 Kolkata, May 16 The CPM, as major partner, will hold the key portfolios like Home (Police and General Administration), Finance, Industries, Health, CMDA and Urban Development, Transport, Rural Development and Panchayats. Others will get less important departments: CPI — Small and Minor Irrigation and Civil Defence; RSP — PWD, Irrigation, Jail and Social Welfare; FB — Agriculture and Food and Civil Supplies; and DSP — Parliamentary Affairs. But since, unlike ’96 elections, CPM could not obtain absolute majority, RSP and FB would demand for the allocation of some major departments. However, so far, there has been no decision on the changing of the allocation of portfolios to the front partners. The new Bengal ministry will include some new faces like Nirupam Sen, Mohammad Selim, Rabin Dev (all from CPM), Amal Roy, Subhas Goswami and Nirmal Das all from (RSP), and Kamal Guha and Chhaya Bera both from (FB). The dissident, Guha, recently returned to the party’s mainstream. The rebel CPM leader, Subhas Chakraborty, who won with a small margin, may not get any berth in the new ministry. Asim Dasgupta, the Finance Minister for three successive terms, may also lose his department and be allocated some other department. Similarly, some old and aged ministers of Jyoti Basu’s Cabinet whose performances had not been “up to the mark” may also lose the opportunity of joining the ministry. Mr Bhattacharyya, said he would like to run the government with a clean image. He said his first and foremost task would be the removal of poverty and unemployment and restore absolute peace and normalcy in the state. He sought help and cooperation from all, including Congress and Trinamool Congress. |
|
Antony to form govt today Thiruvananthapuram, May 16 The invitation was extended to Mr Antony, when he called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan this morning. Yesterday, Mr Antony was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party as well as of the eight-party United Democratic Front. The 61-year-old Congress leader, known as ‘Mr Clean’, will be sworn in along with the floor leaders of seven other UDF constituents at a function on the lawns of Raj Bhavan tomorrow morning. Emerging from Raj Bhavan, Mr Antony told reporters that the process of formation of his ministry would be completed in two phases. “The expansion will be completed without any delay as the state is facing several serious issues which need proper attention,’’ he said. “My government will have a very difficult task ahead due to the severe financial crisis,’’ he pointed out, adding that the government did not have money even to pay bills and pensions. The new government would also have to repay the loans taken by the previous government. Asked whether the number of ministers in his Cabinet would be contained to 14 as in the case of the previous LDF government as an austerity measure, Mr Antony said it was not the number that mattered, but the extravagance of the ministers. He gave enough indication that it would be a larger ministry, considering the pressure from the coalition partners and also from his own party. Asked whether any of the tainted MLAs would be made ministers, Mr Antony evaded a direct reply, saying that it was up to the coalition partners to propose the names. It was Mr Antony, as Chairman of the AICC Ethics Committee, who had recommended that those convicted in corruption cases should not be made ministers. However, Mr Antony is now facing pressure from coalition partners to include Kerala Congress(B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai, KC(M) leader K. M. Mani and KC(J) leader T. M. Jacob — all facing corruption charges. Though Mr Antony did not mention the names of new ministers, it is likely that Mr P. K. Kunhalikutty (IUML), Ms K. R. Gowri (JSS), Mr Babu Divakaran (RSP-B) and Mr M. V. Raghavan (CMP), besides Mr Pillai, Mr Mani and Mr Jacob will be sworn in as ministers tomorrow.
UNI |
|
Cong gears up for Punjab, J&K
poll New Delhi, May 16 The party has set up committees of senior leaders to bolster its performances in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir which are scheduled to go to the polls by the end of this year or early next year. The party is in the process of forming a committee for Uttaranchal also. The committees would analyse the party’s strengths and weaknesses and make recommendations. The committee for Uttar Pradesh, where the party is in the doldrums, will be headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. The other members include Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, Mr Balram Jhakhar, Chaudhary Prem Singh, Mr Furkhan Ansari, Mr L. P. Sahi and Mr D. P. Yadav. The committee for Punjab is headed by Dr Manmohan Singh and includes Mr Ashok Gehlot, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Yogendra Makwana and Ms Nirmala Shaktawat. The party’s committee on Jammu and Kashmir is headed by Mr Buta Singh and includes Mr Naval Kishore Sharma, besides Mr Avtar Singh Bhadana. Uttar Pradesh has been proving to be the Achille’s heel for the Congress with the party’s performance going from bad to worse in every electoral contest. Realising that its aims of dislodging the BJP-led government at the Centre were heavily dependent on Uttar Pradesh which accounts for over 85 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress seems to have finally woken up to the task of revitalising the organisational set up in the state. Party insiders say the task of rebuilding the Congress in UP could begin in the earnest only after the PCC is announced. Aware of its limitations in UP, the Congress has also begun the task of forming a suitable alliance to fight both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party. Sources say that the party is trying to get Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh to its side though he has given indications of joining hands with the BJP. In Punjab, the committee would not only have to devise suitable ways to effectively counter the ‘sangat darshan’ programme of the ruling Akali Dal, it would also have to sort out internal squabbles among the senior leaders of the state. Though the party has the advantage of anti-incumbency factor in the state, only a forward-looking programme and clear thinking by the central leaders would get the party electoral dividends. |
|
|
CPM flays Cong role in
poll New Delhi, May 16 Talking to mediapersons at the Politburo meeting, CPM General Secretary H.S. Surjeet said, “We will treat the Congress in a manner that it has treated us.” The party’s highest decision making organ — the Politburo — met for the first time after the recent elections to analyse the party’s performance in the assembly elections and the current political situation in the country. Mr Surjeet’s comment came in the wake of the election results in Kerala and West Bengal, where the Congress and the CPM have been adversaries. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF defeated the CPM-led Left Front and in West Bengal, the latter gave a crushing blow to the Trinamool Congress-led alliance in which the Congress was a partner. The Congress spared no efforts and means to defeat the CPM in Kerala and West Bengal, Mr Surjeet said, adding that the Sangh Parivar “transferred” its votes to the Congress in Kerala. |
|
Manipur crisis deepens Imphal, May 16 To break the BJP-led rival camp, which has 35 MLAs in the 60-member House, the Chief Minister today called a Cabinet meeting and discussed the crisis. He also discussed the summoning of the fifth session of the seventh Manipur Legislative Assembly in order to seek a vote of confidence in the Koijam ministry. However, the matter was deferred by the Cabinet. Meanwhile BJP state president M. Bhorot Singh and leader of the BJP Legislative Party R.K. Dorendra Singh have asked the party high command to permit them to extend outside support to the Koijam ministry, for the time being. In a letter faxed to party national President Jana Krishnamurthy yesterday, the two leaders said the state unit of the party objected to the “dictatorial, deceptive and dubious” decision taken by the Chief Minister to drop six ministers belonging to the BJP and the Federal Party of Manipur. The BJP was publicly humiliated by this action, that followed the merger of the 18-member Progressive Manipur State Congress Party with the BJP, raising the party strength to 26 in the state Assembly, they said.
UNI |
|
BJP may hold introspection camp New Delhi, May 16 Alarmed at the poor performance of the BJP in the assembly elections and in the Lok Sabha byelection at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP High Command has been thinking of holding a Virar-style “chintan shivar (introspection camp)” in July this year either near Virar in Maharashtra or at Jhinjholi in Haryana, sources said. The camp, which is likely to be attended by the top BJP and RSS leadership, would analyse the stagnation which has set in in the party. The recent Tehelka revelations would also be taken up during the camp. |
|
Advani was ‘jubilant’ after demolition New Delhi, May 16 She told the commission that it was ‘‘planned’’ and the BJP leaders were ‘‘jubilant’’ over the demolition, with Mr L. K. Advani even describing it as ‘‘historic’’. Giving an eye-witness account of the happenings on December 6, 1992, Ms Ruchira Gupta, who had gone to cover the event for Business India magazine, told the commission that when Mr Advani saw some kar sevaks climbing up the domes of the mosque, he had said, “Unko upar nahin chadhna chahiye. Dhancha to girne hi wala hai. Unko chot lag sakti hai (they should not climb up. The structure is soon to fall down. They might get hurt).’’ Mr Advani had appealed to the kar sevaks to come down, but nobody listened and more people climbed up, she said. After that, BJP leaders Uma Bharti and Acharya Dharmendra made similar announcements, added Ms Gupta, who was present at the terrace from where the BJPleaders were overseeing the event. When the first dome fell, Ms Bharti hugged veteran BJP leader and “master of the ceremony’’ Vijaya Raje Scindia was “weeping with joy”. Sadhvi Ritambhara told Mr Advani, “Sarkar to girne hi wali hai to sasuri masjid ko kyon bachayen (when the government has to go why save the mosque).’’ Ms Scindia, who was standing nearby, agreed with it and said, “You are right’’, Ms Gupta told the commission.
UNI |
|
|
Kohinoor: India must go for kill New Delhi, May 16 According to the Nayar, the general opinion at the first meeting of a committe overseeing the bicentennial celebrations of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Punjab who owned the gem, was that India “must go for the kill and it was up to the Tony Blair government to take the hint.” Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee “assured the first meeting of the celebrations that India would create conditions that would embarrass the British Government into returning the Kohinoor,” Mr Nayar, who initiated the campaign for returning the Kohinoor, told IANS. Ranjit Singh was the final owner of the majestic gem that now adorns the crown of the British queen mother. Mr Nayar, India’s former High Commissioner to the UK, however, said New Delhi would not make a formal request to Britain for the return of the Kohinoor. “It is a sensitive issue which our government does not want to get into. In fact, a Central Minister asked me not to raise this issue in the Budget session of Parliament.” Returning the priceless relic would not be easy for the British Government, Mr Nayar conceded, saying several other countries would then lay claim to pieces of their history that enrich British coffers. “But there is no harm in trying really hard,” he remarked. In which case, India could settle for several undisclosed treasures and documents, which have never seen light of day till now — a point, which figured at the meeting with the Prime Minister. “I am told that only 5 per cent of the Indian booty collected in the basement of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London was displayed 40 years after they were taken by the British,” Mr Nayar said. “The sepia-tinted documents and maps in the India Office Library were also of value. They should at least give us a photocopy of these documents,” he added. The demand for the return of the 109-carat diamond was raised during the winter session of Parliament by a group of lawmakers cutting across party lines. Mr Nayar initiated the campaign after Mr Blair reportedly had set up a committee to consider the possible return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece. Jewish relics worth millions are also being returned to Israel. The British took the Kohinoor after the second Anglo-Sikh War of 1848. Dalip Singh, the minor son of Ranjit Singh, gave the diamond to the British as part of a treaty signed between the two sides. The diamond has changed so many hands in its known history spanning two centuries that any diplomatic victory that India may score by retrieving it from Britain is likely to be followed by a fierce custody battle. Currently lodged in the Tower of London, the gem has been reduced in weight from 186 1/16 carats to 106 1/16 to fit into the state crown.
IANS |
|
|
Bhopal tragedy: PIL
against judges Bhopal, May 16 The public interest litigation (PIL), moved by the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan and a local lawyer B.L. Malaviya, have named as respondents the Government of India, the Madhya Pradesh Government, the Welfare Commissioners (Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster), the Registrar (Bhopal Gas Leak) and all Additional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners numbering 48. Notices to the central and state governments and the Welfare Commissioner were issued on May 11. The petitioners have prayed that they be permitted to deliver the notices by hand to other respondents to save time. The high court will hear arguments on their prayer tomorrow. The petition delineates the conditions here in the aftermath of the disaster on the night of December 2, 1984, the enactment of the Bhopal Claims Act in 1985 by Parliament through which the Union Government took upon itself the responsibility of ensuring justice to lakhs of persons affected by the gas leak, the detailed scheme chalked out for processing the claims as per the provisions of the Act and clarifications and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court from time to time. Over 40 claims courts started functioning in the early nineties with a Deputy Commissioner as its presiding officer. Some Additional Commissioners were appointed to see that the Deputy Commissioners disposed of the cases strictly as per the provisions of the Act and the Scheme. The whole set-up was headed by the Welfare Commissioner. The petition says in a vast majority of cases, all of them not only acted contrary to the provisions of the Act and the Scheme but also cared little for the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court with the result that there had been a miscarriage of justice in a large number of cases. The petition seeks a directive from the high court for hearing afresh the cases of all those who feel aggrieved by the verdicts of the claims courts. The arbitrariness of the functioning of the claims courts can be seen from an instance given in the petition. The claims court for Ward No 99 transferred 400 claims cases to the claims court for Ward No 17 on January 5, but did not inform the claimants. By the time most of the claimants came to know of the change, it was too late and their cases rejected in their absence. |
|
|
‘Greater need for civil-Army liaison’ New Delhi, May 16 Lieut-Gen Surjit Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, while pointing out that the Capital was becoming more vulnerable, said to fight such threats, sharper and focussed coordination between the civil and military authorities was called for. Addressing the annual Civil-Military Liaison Conference inaugurated by Lieut-Governor Vijay Kapoor here today, General Surjit Singh said the ISI gameplan appeared to be to make inroads not only in the border areas, but also to take militancy to the hinterland. The day-long conference assumed significance in view of the spate of bomb blasts in the VVIP areas in the Capital and the recent attack on Army installations in the Red Fort. Drawing attention to reports of growing fundamentalism and threats from settlement of migrants in the capital, General Surjit Singh stressed on the need to take legislative and administrative steps to stop such conditions from developing which, he said, aided the ISI in spreading its tentacles in the city. The meeting attended by senior Army and police officers focussed on working out modalities for shoring up security in high-security zones. Striking a similar note, Lieut-Governor Vijay Kapoor said there was growing threat to military premises, especially in the light of the Red Fort incident and the recent blasts near army headquarters in North Block. He said there was a need to decide on modalities of intervention by the police and other civil authorities in such circumstances and for greater military and civil interaction. Those present at the meeting included Chief Secretary Delhi, Commissioner of Police, other senior police officials, DVB, DDA, DJB members and senior civil and military officials. General Surjit Singh pointed out the need for greater cooperation between the civil and military authorities in dealing with disaster and calamity situations. “Disaster management cannot be left to last minute measures,” he said, adding that frequent practise of the drills would ensure prompt and appropriate response in the time of need. He also offered the support of the Army in development activities in the city. Responding to the concerns expressed by the Army on disaster management, the Lieut-Governor said a “Chemical Disaster Plan” had been formulated with the help of experts for the Capital. According to the plan, three control centres would be set up at fire stations in Laxmi Nagar, Nehru Place and Rohini which would aid in mobilisation of help from the concerned authorities during crises, he said. |
|
Tehelka probe hearing from June 4 New Delhi, May 16 “The commission will begin its hearing from June 4. There will be preliminary hearing on the first day. The commission will come out with a notice that anybody can appear before it on June 4,” Justice
Venkataswami, retired Supreme Court Judge heading the one-man panel, told newspersons here today. Besides Mr Paul, the SIT would include a Deputy Commissioner of Police and an Assistant Commissioner of Police. Although the commission had all members in place, including the investigation team, it had to yet appoint a Deputy
Secretary. Mr Paul, who was present during Justice Venkataswami’s interaction with
mediapersons, refused to elaborate the manner in which his team would conduct its probe. However, he said the SIT would closely examine the Tehelka videotapes to assess whether they were doctored and compare the tapes provided by the Tehelka and the footages shown in other television channels which had been submitted to the commission. |
|
|
Fencing along Jammu border to continue New Delhi, May 16 A Home Ministry spokesperson said fencing was already on along the Jammu-Sialkot part of the international border as the area in question was “part and parcel’’ of India. “Fencing within Indian territory will continue,’’ he added. Describing as incorrect the reports that the government had decided to stop the fencing work following protests by Pakistan, the spokesperson said India had told Pakistan that it had a right to construct any defence structure that might be required to stop infiltration and smuggling from across the border. The Border Security Force had discussed the issue with the Pakistani Rangers at the recent bi-annual meeting at Jalandhar. The issues that were taken up also included trans-border terrorism, inadvertent border crossing, problems of stray cattle and smuggling. The Pakistani Rangers referred to Jammu international border as ‘working boundary’ and insisted that the area in question was a ‘disputed territory.’ However, the BSF reiterated its factual position as international border asserting that the area in question was “part and parcel of India.”
UNI |
|
|
ED questions Salman Khan Mumbai, May 16 Salman has been listed by the police as a star witness in the case, being tried by a special court set up under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). He is the second actor after Sanjay Dutt to be grilled by the ED in the case. Noted financier Bharat Shah, producer of the film Nasim Rizvi and his assistant Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh have been booked under MCOCA for alleged links with the underworld. The police has filed a charge-sheet against Shah, Rizvi and Abdul Rahim, all of whom are in custody. The ED has also interrogated Rizvi and Shah on several occasions in the past. Rizvi claimed that “Chori Chori...” was his film while Shah urged that he had financed the film. The police has recorded telephonic talks between Shakeel and the accused, which indicate that the film was financed by the Karachi-based gangster. Rizvi also confessed that Rs 15 lakh had been paid on his behalf to Shah, which was passed on to Shakeel through a hawala transaction by a Dubai-based businessman. The police has also recorded statements of heroines Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee, who acted in the film. The ED is trying to ascertain how and from where the finance was provided to the film.
PTI |
|
|
Another year of losses for
IA New Delhi, May 16 The Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav, told the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, which held its meeting in Manali yesterday, that the Indian Airlines had suffered a loss of Rs 177 crore in 2000-01 as against a profit of Rs 28.75 crore, previous year. As an alternative, the minister suggested that the Indian Airlines should consider leasing 50-seater turbo-prop aircraft to connect the feeder routes and tourist destinations. This would not only help in reducing the operating losses but help connect more destinations. The minister informed the committee that the losses were primarily due to a hike in input cost like increase in sales tax on aviation turbine fuel, rise in the landing and navigation charges and additional expenditure on sky marshalls, which amounted to an additional burden of over Rs 300 crore. On the other hand, the financial performance of Air-India was “steadily improving” with operating revenue showing a 12.3 per cent growth from Rs 3,896.4 crore in the last fiscal year to Rs 4,377 crore this year. He said Air-India’s non-operating revenue had also risen from Rs 143.89 crore to Rs 288.05 crore in the same period, while the passenger load factor and the overall load factor also showed considerable improvement. Similarly, the financial performance of Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited also continued to show improvement with the net profit rising to Rs 53 crore and the total revenue being recorded at Rs 183.97 crore in the last fiscal year. However the Hotel Corporation of India, whose stakes are being divested along with those of the Indian Airlines and the Air-India, suffered a net loss of Rs 20.30 crore in the last fiscal year. The minister pointed out that the loss was primarily because of the wage revision, which became due in January, 1997. On the other hand the Airports Authority of India made a post-tax profit of Rs 217 crore as against Rs 197.40 crore in the previous financial year. The minister, while stating that developed communication and navigation facilities would be installed at Bhuntar airport near Kullu by next year, said a plan to resurface and extend the runway there by diverting river Beas would be taken up soon at a cost of Rs 32 crore, an official note said. He, however, said there was no proposal to build an airport at Kaza in Spiti valley and the expansion of Shimla airport was also not feasible in view of the non-availability of sufficient land at Jubbar Hatti. But the upgradation of runway and other facilities at the Kangra airport had been carried out earlier this year. |
|
No addition to terms of reference: JPC New Delhi, May 16 “As a rule, terms of reference are not questioned when a JPC is formed. Otherwise, there may be allegations of irregularities in many other transactions and this way it can keep on increasing. Basically, the terms of reference are not questioned,” JPC Chairman Prakash Mani Tripathi told reporters at the end of the third day of the technical briefing of the committee. On keeping out members who have corporate involvement, Mr Tripathi said other than Mr Amar Singh, no member had drawn the attention of the JPC in this regard. |
|
|
Kapoor expresses concern over ISI, mafia
nexus New Delhi, May 16 While addressing the Civil Military Liaison Conference, the Lt-Governor said, “mischievous efforts of the ISI are growing here and mafia dons are also posing security threats”. Security and administrative issues of mutual interest at the macro level were also discussed at the conference. “There is also threat to military premises”, Mr Kapoor said. Besides Chemical Disaster Management Plan set up by the government, three disaster management centres had been set up in East, South and North-East Delhi. “Laxami Nagar, Nehru Place and Rohini are places where mobilisation of disaster management can take place, he said. Mr Kapoor suggested that the Army should get itself “fully informed” about the structure of these centres. |
|
|
Insurance claim granted Hanumangarh, May 16 Nikkuram of Pally filed a case in the consumer court. He stated that his truck was insured from the United Insurance Company, Churu. The truck met with an accident on July 23, 1998. The expenses incurred on repair amounted to of Rs 1,29,613. Nikkuram repeatedly requested the company to pass his claim He also submitted papers desired by the company, but on February 25, 1999 his claim was deferred. The claimant moved the consumer court and filed a case dubbing the delay as a fault in services of the company. He appealed to the consumer court to order the company to pay him the amount spent on repair of the truck and Rs 10,000 as compensation. The court ordered the company to pay the amount spent on repair as well as 12 per cent interest from December 19, 2000 to the time the amount is paid and a fine of Rs 3,000 to the claimant as compensation. |
|
|
Power board to pay consumer Rs 2,500 Hanumangarh, May 16 According to the details available, Vidya Devi of Nohar had filed a case in the consumer court stating that she had a tubewell in her field in Chak I NHR but as the electricity meter was not installed at the tubewell, so she was paying a monthly bill of Rs 430 at flat rates. On her request in January 1996, an electricity meter was installed, but the board kept sending the bills at flat rates. On March 10, 1997, she filed an application in the office of the Assistant Engineer, Nohar, requesting to send the bill on the basis of units consumed. Then in August, 1997, the board cut off the electricity connection of her tubewell without any prior information. Vidya Devi approached consumer court and demanded a compensation and the excess amount deposited on the flat rates along with interest. The consumer court referred the case to the regional coordination committee of the board but both the parties did not reach any agreement there. During the proceedings, the board said the electricity connection of the tubewell was cut because an amount of Rs 4,106 was pending against the claimant. Considering it a mistake on the part of the board to cut the connection without prior information, the court ordered the board to reinstall the tubewell connection without taking any charges within 15 days of the payment of the pending amount by the claimant to the board. The board was also ordered to pay a compensation of Rs 2,500 to the claimant within a month. The court has asked the department that the amount can be collected from the guilty Assistant Engineer of the department posted at
Nohar. |
|
|
Water problem worsens Hanumangarh, May 16 According to information, only 55 cubic water was supplied from Punjab in Bhakra Canal on Monday. The canal authorities tried to get supply from the link head built over the Indira Gandhi Canal. However, their efforts were unsuccessful. Official sources said on Sunday the Superintending Engineer briefed the Regional Commissioner of the situation and requested him to keep supply to canals of Bhakra from the 496.7 link head of the Indira Gandhi Canal. The Commissioner asked him to talk to the District Collector over the matter. In the absence of the District Collector, the SE contacted Mr Hanuman Singh Shekhawat, acting District Collector, who expressed helplessness as the water supply in the Indira Gandhi Canal was low to the extent that there was no water even for drinking. According to sources, the Additional Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Mr J.S. Setia, contacted the Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department of Punjab and requested him to regularise the supply in the Bhakra Canal. Meanwhile, residents of Dhaban village of Sangaria tehsil held demonstrations outside the office of the Collector and the irrigation Department. |
|
|
Changchun to meet Jaswant
today New Delhi, May 16 Mr Changchun, who arrived in Mumbai on May 12 at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister on a seven-day visit, will also call on President K.R. Narayanan tomorrow. |
|
|
Bail for CBEC chief’s co-accused New Delhi, May 16 In his order, Special Judge R.L. Chug said K.Vijay Pratap and Shravan Kumar, allegedly involved in bribing B.P. Verma in the A.K. Enterprise case, were released on bail.
UNI |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
