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Saturday,
June 7, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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SYL completion issue to dominate Kaithal rally Concessions to power consumers ruled out Rights panel team meets Harsola Dalits 3 tubewells to meet water shortage: DC Ten motors on water pipes impounded |
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SYL completion issue to dominate Kaithal rally Chandigarh, June 6 The alleged inequitable distribution of water, resulting from excess share being given to Hisar and Sirsa districts of Haryana, was an important issue at the March meeting organised by the anti-Bhajan Lal section of the Congress at Jhajjar. However, Ms Selja, a former union minister and known Bhajan Lal detractor, did not attend the rally as the demand would have jeopardised her interests in the Sirsa constituency she represents in Parliament. It is believed that Selja will come to Kaithal only if the demand for equitable distribution of water is not raised at the rally. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly and a key challenger to Mr Bhajan Lal, is also avoiding getting directly involved in the issue regarding discrimination in canal water distribution. Mr Hooda was not present at the press conference where Rao Inderjit Singh, Congress MLA from the Ahirwal area, announced the holding of the Jhajjar rally on the issue. Nor did Mr Hooda touch the issue in his speech at the Jhajjar rally. He was also not among the signatories to an adjournment notice given by nine Congress MLAs to the Speaker to discuss the issue of inequitable distribution of water in the last session of the House in March. The preferential treatment to two districts in terms of canal water distribution has the two-pronged advantage of nailing both Mr Bhajan Lal, chief of the Haryana Congress, and Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, by accusing both these heavyweights of promoting the interests of their native districts of Hisar and Sirsa, respectively, during their tenures as chief ministers. Being a contender for the CM’s office, Mr Hooda apparently fears that if he touches the issue, it will alienate the residents of these two districts. At the Kaithal rally, the issue of inequitable distribution of water is expected to take a back seat as the issue will not be as effective here as in the water-deficit southern districts. The crowd at the rally, it is believed, will be more receptive to issues such as the problem of pending power bill arrears of farmers, the state government’s strong-arm tactics vis a vis the BKU and so on.
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Concessions to power consumers ruled out Kaithal, June 6 The Chief Minister said the elections during his tenure had been held in an impartial manner and even the Election Commission had appreciated the government. He alleged that former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal had threatened and misbehaved with people and police officials during the Fatehabad byelections. In view of court orders, the Chief Minister ruled out any concession to power consumers who failed to pay their bills. Earlier at a Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme, he listened to the grievances of residents of 61 villages of the Pundri constituency He ordered the construction of old age homes, and roads, among other things. He flagged off 50 trucks carrying fodder for drought-hit areas of Rajasthan. KARNAL:
Mr Chautala said here on Friday that it was premature to think of on electoral alliance in Haryana. He said he would be going to Jodhpur on Saturday to address a rally being organised by the INLD. He denied that his government was discriminating against development in cities and rural areas. He said the state was supplying excess water to Delhi by cutting down its own share to meet the needs of Delhi residents. This was being done under the directions of the Supreme Court, he added. Mr Chautala flagged off a convoy of 40 truckload of fodder to Bikaner from here. He sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for development work in Ruksana, Achchanpur and Tharota villages. He advised farmers not to transplant “Sathi” paddy as it entailed the consumption of more power. |
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Rights panel team meets Harsola Dalits Kaithal, June 6 The team comprising Mr O.P. Vyas, Mr Madhu Sudan and Mr R.K. Gupta talked to Dalit families who have fled the village and are residing in the local Ravidas Temple. They recorded statements of the victims. According to sources, the team visited Harsola village and talked to the upper caste community. It may be recalled that in February 2003, hundreds of Dalit families had fled Harsola village following clashes with the upper caste community. Most Dalit families returned to the village after the district administration and political leaders persuaded them to do so. But some families returned to Kaithal, alleging that they were being threatened, and are residing in the local Ravidas Mandir. |
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3 tubewells to meet water shortage: DC Ambala, June 6 The power cuts are imposed in the afternoon and at night. There are several areas in the city which are getting inadequate supply of water. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, said efforts were being made to meet the demand for water and power. “In the past two days, three tubewells have been commissioned in the Ambala Cantonment area to meet the water demand,” he said. Mr Gautam said one tubewell had been commissioned near the railway crossing on the Nanhera road, another at Ram Bagh and the third at Indra Park. The situation is similar in rural areas. Most of the “johars” in the villages are on the verge of drying up. Villagers are facing problems in getting adequate water for their domestic needs and their cattle. A farmer stated that if the monsoon was delayed, the situation would become grave. Officials have noticed that villagers are using excessive number of connections on water lines. For instance, of the 350 authorised water connection points, there are 640 points in a village near the cantonment. In Munaher village, there is an acute water shortage since the past 10 days as the tubewell has become non-functional. In Naraingarh too, there is a shortage of potable water. Many social organisations are trying to help out by providing drinking water through “piaus” in the city as well as the cantonment, thus quenching the thirst of passersby. |
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Ten motors on water pipes impounded Kalka, June 6 A special meeting for this was held here on Thursday by the administration in which official of the departments concerned participated. A team was constituted to check the unauthorised use of electric motors on water pipe lines. This team which included SDO Dinesh Saini of the Public Health Department, JE R.N. Mittal, an official OF THE Electricity Department, Secretary, Municipal Committee Devinder Singh along with the police and officials of Municipal Committee and Public Health Department, was given the instructions to raid a particular zone. Consequently, three motors from Kamla Nagar and seven motors from the Basant Vihar area were impounded. Though people who were caught using motors showed their resentments, but people in general felt relieved and welcomed this step of the administration, which they felt would help them get their legitimate share of drinking water, which they were being deprived of due to installation of these illegal motors. It is reported that owners of the motors impounded would be fined Rs 1,200 each. The drive to check the illegal use of motors, which is reported to have been started on the specific directions of Deputy Commissioner, would continue in the town for about a week. |
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1,600 cops to be recruited Chandigarh, June 6 |
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G. Madhavan Chandigarh, June 6 |
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Haryana not to
hike house tax Chandigarh, June 6 An official press note said the decision to freeze house tax for three years (house tax was introduced in 2001-02) was taken after a number of delegations met Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and urged him to refrain from increasing house tax every year. |
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Jeweller foils
robbery bid Yamunanagar, June 6 |
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Two hurt in group clash Ambala, June 6 A complaint in the DDR was registered in this regard. Later, a deputation of residents of Balmiki Majri met the Executive Officer. |
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