'Union Govt should raise allocation: Chief Minister 

RAIPUR 

TAKING into consideration  the rise in price index and other factors, the Union Government  should increase the total allocations for the tenth five year plan (2002-2007)  from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crores. In the last two years of the tenth plan, it should disburse atleast a sum of  Rs 8,500 crore. The Chhattisgarh administration furnished details of the revised plan at a Planning Commission meeting and would like the Government at the Centre to sanction the same, said Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh talking to mediamen after chairing a Cabinet meeting at his official residence.

He was referring to the presentation made by the State delegation before the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman at Montek Singh Ahluwalia at Lucknow. Another major issue, raised before the Planning Commission, that agreed to consider it favourably, pertained to payment of royalty of minerals to be calculated on the basis of their current marketing price and not on weight basis. The Central Government is presently making payments to the states on the basis of weight of the minerals.

The Chief Minister said he also pointed out to the Planning Commission that the Central Government has not given Chhattisgarh a special status. Now at least it can increase State’s  grant and loan from 30 per cent to 50 per cent. Dr Singh demanded that the drawing limit of the State from the banks should also be increased and the present loan of Rs 9000 crore should be waived looking at the State’s performance.

He emphasised that the total loans allocated to the State by different central agencies should be rationalised according to the present conditions and the targets set that way by the Union Government in its future plan in every sector including power, agriculture, industries and forest.

The State administration also raised the important issue  that though Chhattisgarh had maximum forest cover in the State according to the national standards, yet sufficient funds for its upkeep were not being made available to it and there is an imperative need for a substantial increase in this segment, the Chief Minister felt.

Bus services between C’garh, MP to commence from Dec 1 

RAIPUR

INTER-STATE bus services between Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh would start from December 1, 2004.  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Additional Chief Secretary Transportation R P Bagai and Chief Secretary Transportation of Madhya Pradesh M K Rai was signed on Friday. 

Both the states would issue temporary and permanent bus permits on the non-nationalised routes.  It was mentioned in the MoU that permit of those routes which pass through Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh like Raipur-Allahabad would be issued only after joint meeting of three state officers. Both states agreed that if any route is left over and formulation is done, the permission given to the vehicle on the route would be considered as part of the agreement. The only condition is that State Transport Department Chief Secretary and Secretary should agree on it.

50.17 acre of land handed over to AAI for runway extension  

RAIPUR 

REVENUE Secretary R C Sinha handed over advance possession of 50.17 acres of land to Senior Aerodrome Officer of Airports Authority of India (AAI) M Nanda Kumar, for the extension of existing runway. 

The AAI had demanded the land from State Government.  Advance possession of 27.95 acres of Government land and 22.22 acres of private land is given to AAI.  

Sinha informed that the demarcation of land has been done. The process of land acquisition is over.

Senior Aerodrome Officer Nanda Kumar of Indian Airports Authority Mana informed that the present length of the runway is 6400 feet. 

After allotment of land the length of runway would be extended to 7500 feet which is minimum standard length of Runway as per the direction of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines. The problem with the existing runway appears with the change of season.  In summer the temperature of the airport goes so high that the load carrying capacity of the flight decreases. Which leads to cut down the number of passengers from the reservation chart.  Which sometimes irritates the passengers who are in important official tour.  In winter and rainy season the poor visibility due to fogs and heavy rainfall results diversion of flight to Nagpur or delay in landing.  This problem can be solved by installation of Instrumental Landing System. This will allow to overcome all the existing problems occur with the change of season. 

The thousand feet expansion of runway will provide enough thrust to the fight to overcome the problem raised due to higher degree of temperature during summer.

Approach Lighting System would also be installed to make night landing convenient.

The Revenue Officer informed that the Khasra number of land is 91 area 50.17 Acre.  Khasra number 72 is of 22.22 acre which is private land and Khasra number 19 is of 27.95 acres Government land. 

The AAI officers also saw the areas. The advance possession of land belongs to Baroda village, Patwari Halka number is 72/15, Revenue Inspection Board Mandir Hasaud, Tehsil Arang district Raipur.

Probe ordered into youth’s suicide case 

Staff Reporter

RAIPUR, Nov 18 

THE State administration on Thursday ordered an enquiry into suicide by a youth Suresh Shinde at the Takhatpur police station premises. Takhatpur Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ms Ifat Aara, designated as enquiry officer began her job immediately.

An official release stated that the deceased consumed some poisonous substance in the police station premises and was rushed to the Primary Health Centre by the police after he fainted. Sadly, the youth died during treatment at the PHC.

The authorities later shifted the body to Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) Hospital for post-mortem. 

When contacted, the Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) B S Maravi told this reporter on telephone that the deceased Suresh Kumar Jwala Prasad Shinde (18) of village Dhania was brought to the police station Thursday morning for interrogation. 

Maravi said that he was spotted at the Guru Nanak Dharmashala near Takhatpur bus station with a girl Poonam Vishwakarma from a nearby village Pali.

During  night patrol duty, four police constable learnt about presence of Suresh along with a girl in the Dharmashala room. The constables asked the Nepali watchman of the Dharmashala to bring them to the police station on Thursday morning.

Accordingly, the watchman escorted them to the police station and left. The duo was asked to sit on a table in the police station compound. 

During interrogation, the youth Suresh told the police that Poonam was his sister. The girl aged 19 years however told the police that she had an affair with Suresh and that they left their respective homes on Wednesday to get married in some temple, defying family opposition. The girl hailed from another village and the two were classmates.

Even as the police were trying to obtain more details, Suresh sought permission to go out and ease himself. After returning, Suresh fainted. He was immediately rushed to the PHC, where he died during treatment.

It is suspected that Suresh consumed some poisonous substance. The police located the shop from which Suresh had bought the substance.  The body was shifted to CIMS Hospital. Poonam was now in SDM Ms Ifat Aara’s custody. She is likely to be handed over to parents after her statement is recorded.

Maravi said that he personally sought all details relating to the incident and did not learn that the police personnel beat up the youth during interrogation.

The police also recovered a letter from the duo in which both Suresh and Poonam jointly stated that they may end lives if stopped from getting married.

GCF exports IFGs to Nepal

Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) Jabalpur has started exporting Indian Field Gun (IFG) to Nepal. IFGs are traditional product of GCF which has been further developed. GCF has been supplying 105 mm IFGs to Army since long. This gun was also supplied to Border Security Force (BSF) following the demand for advanced guns to cater to the needs of BSF.

Now, besides roaring during battles, IFG developed by GCF would also safeguard the borders of neighbouring country. It may be mentioned that targeting capacity and range of IFG has been improved by GCF. The range of this gun with better targeting capacity is up to 20 Kms.

Sources informed that GCF is also exploring the possibilities of exporting IFGs to other foreign countries as the capacity of gun is up to the mark.

The export of IFG to other countries would not only add Philip to the reputation of this oldest defence installation of the city but also be helpful in establishing other products of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).