Round The States

New Delhi, 23 November 2006

Desperate Moves In U.P.

MULAYAM MAY PREPONE ASSEMBLY POLL

By Insaf

All political eyes are now on Uttar Pradesh and its Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Even though the term of the present State Assembly ends only in May next, new desperate moves are on for the crucial poll. In an attempt to cut his losses, Mulayam Singh is said to be actively considering dissolution of the Assembly for an early poll, possibly in February. The move is prompted by several factors. More than anything else, his Government is increasingly under attack by his main rivals, the BSP, BJP and the Congress, following the ruling Samajwadi Party’s dismal  performance in the recent civic polls. The CM also feels unnerved by the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi’s recent statement that free and fair elections are not  possible in U.P. under Mulayam Singh’s Government.

Adding to Mulayam Singh’s concern is Governor T.V. Rajeshwar’s report to the Centre on poll violence and rigging by the Government machinery in the recent local body elections.  This has created in the minds of the Samajwadi Party leaders an apprehension that the UPA Government at the Centre is perhaps preparing to clamp President’s rule on the State.  However, a section in the ruling party rubbishes such a possibility and wants the Assembly to complete its full term.  This would give Mulayam Singh enough time to draw lessons from the civic poll and consolidate his Muslim and Christian support.  He has already decided to move a resolution in the Assembly calling on New Delhi to bring the dalit Muslims and Christians under the ambit of reservations. The CM has felt encouraged to do so by the Sachar Committee report on the plight of Muslims.

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Bonanza To Punjab Farmer

The Congress Government in Punjab, led by Amarinder Singh, has blessed the State’s farmers with a bonanza in the run-up to the Assembly polls. A new land acquisition policy that provides big relief to them has been finalized.  It gives more rights to the farmers and bars official acquisition of land on “whimsical” grounds.  Rehabilitation of farmers whose land is acquired by the Government for any “public purpose” has been made mandatory. Importantly, compensation for the land has to be at the market price.  Guidelines have also been laid down on what constitutes “public purpose”. No forcible acquisition of land will be allowed to urban development agencies or improvement trusts. All requests for acquisition of land for developmental projects will have to be made at the State level through the State Land Acquisition Board.  Any intention to acquire land will have to be announced through a notification spelling out the public purpose.

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W. Bengal Congress Remains Divided

The West Bengal Congress continues to suffer acutely from what has facilitated the Left Front to remain in power in the State for 27 long years: divided leadership and weakened cadres. The party is divided once more over the selection of the PCC President. While Information and Broadcasting Minister P.R. Dasmunsi has thrown in his hat for the coveted position, in addition to his assignment at the Centre, as many as ten MLAs and 12 district chiefs of the party have visited Delhi and tried to convince Sonia Gandhi of the need to have a “full time” Pradesh Chief. They told her candidly that “unless you have a chief totally committed to State politics, the Congress has no hope in West Bengal.”  They have pitched for former PCC Chief Somen Mitra who, they claimed, had a record of good electoral performance during his earlier tenure between 1992 and 1998.

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Transforming N-E Into Exports Gateway

A move is on to transform the north-eastern region of the country into an exports gateway to the world. Union Minister for Development of North-East Region (DONER), Mani Shankar Aiyer announced this at a two-day meet of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) in New Delhi last week. He disclosed a slew of proposals on the anvil in this regard. These include the development of international access corridors to Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, access to the proposed Asian Highway and strengthening and expansion of Land Customs Stations that function as authorized trade routes.  Proposals have also been made on high priority basis for improving air connectivity within the region, as also with other South Asian countries.   Commodities with high export potential from the region will be identified and policies reoriented to make the north-east region truly an exports gateway.

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Crime Control In Nitish’s Bihar

Derided as the Columbia of the East not so long ago because of kidnapping crimes, Bihar is now turning “a new leaf.”  Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made this claim on Friday, November 24 as he completed one year in office.  He has attributed this improvement in the State’s law and order situation within one year to proactive judiciary, initiatives taken by the State police and non-interference by the political leadership.  Criminals used to be easily let off the hook for various reasons. But, as the CM has stressed, that is not the case any more. He has claimed that speedy convictions have become the order of the day and there have been cases in the recent past when criminals have been convicted within two or three days. It is officially stated that in less than one year 4,730 criminals were convicted.

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Azad’s Formula To Raise Funds

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has found a formula to raise money for the State exchequer: sell the illegally occupied Government land to the people at a concession. It is estimated that about 2.5 lakh acres of Government land is under illegal occupation for decades.  At the current market price this land costs about Rs.25,000 crore---an amount more than the annual budget of the State for the past ten years.  The State Cabinet decided last week that those who would buy the land and pay its cost within three months will be entitled to 30 per cent discount. Those who pay within six months will get 15 per cent off and those who do it in one year will get 10 per cent concession.  Azad hopes to sell the entire illegally occupied land within one year and help his J&K Government pocket a major windfall.

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Himachal Ground Water Act

Himachal Pradesh is the first State in the country to legislate the use and regulation of ground water.  The State Government, led by Virbhadra Singh, has passed the Ground Water Act and rules have been framed for its implementation from early next year.  Under the rules, the State Government will set up a Ground Water Authority (GWA) to monitor and control the use of depleting ground water. It will also notify critical areas where no withdrawals will be permitted or restrictions will be imposed on existing users. Also, all contractors and drilling agencies engaged in the job will have to get registered with the GWA which will give or cancel permission to draw ground water. The falling water table in Hamirpur, Kangra, Bilaspur and Shimla districts is causing increasing concern to the State Government.

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Raje Walks The Ramp

Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan’s vivacious Chief Minister, has earned another first. Incredibly enough, she walked the ramp at a fashion show in Jaipur the other day to showcase the international fashion designer Bibi Russel’s khadi collections.  Her mission? Popularise khadi in the State and stop the slow but sure decline in khadi production in the State over the last few years.  Rajasthan produced khadi worth Rs. 40 crore through one lakh weavers in 1996-97. But during 2005-06, khadi production slumped to about Rs.20 crore and the number of weavers associated with the cottage industry came down to about 60,000. Simultaneously,. she has got the Khadi and Gramodyog Board to draw up a plan to improve the quality of the fabric and boost its sales.---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)