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Ordinance to restore Bhopal gas victims' property

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NK SINGH Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Government on Thursday promulgated an ordinance for the restoration of moveable property sold by some people while fleeing Bhopal in panic following the gas leakage. The ordinance covers any transaction made by a person residing within the limits of the municipal corporation of Bhopal and specifies the period of the transaction as December 3 to December 24, 1984,  Any person who sold the moveable property within the specified period for a consideration which he feels was not commensurate with the prevailing market price may apply to the competent authority to be appointed by the state Government for declaring the transaction of sale to be void.  The applicant will furnish in his application the name and address of the purchaser, details of the moveable property sold, consideration received, the date and place of sale and any other particular which may be required.  The competent authority, on receipt of such an application, will conduct an inquiry gi

Free rations for Bhopal gas victims

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NK SINGH Bhopal: The distribution of free foodgrain and milk to the gas-hit people of Bhopal, which commenced soon after they returned to their localities, has continued for the past four months, providing succour to a very large population distress. The Madhya Pradesh Government has already spent over Rs 6.4 crore on this. The state Government decided to distribute free food grain to affected persons on December 21 last year. According to official sources, the magnitude of this operation was so great that almost 500 officers and employees from various departments of the Government had to be mobilised to assist the district administration in organising this distribution. A large number of new ration cards had to be prepared and fair distribution ensured. In all, 212 fair price shops were assigned the distribution work and arrangements were made for supervising the work of these shops. Each individual was issued 9 kg of wheat, 3 kg. of rice, 500 grams of sugar and 500 m.1. of edible oil

MP organises dances while world mourns Bhopal victims

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NK SINGH Bhopal: The day the world will be observing 'Bhopal Day', to mourn the dead on the 100th day of the worst industrial disaster in history, the Madhya Pradesh Government Culture Department will start a celebration of classical dances. By a cruel coincidence, the State Government's Culture Department will organise its week-long Khajuraho festival of classical dances from March 12, the day the international environment groups, including the United Nations agencies, have decided to observe as Bhopal Day. The Culture Department and ifs prestigious show-piece, Bharat Bhavan, the multi-arts complex at Bhopal, was the subject of a recent controversy because of its insensitivity towards the plight of the poor illiterate gas victims. In a handout issued here on Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh Government has invited tourists from all over the world for the "most spectacular and exhilarating cultural experience of the year". Renowned dancers like Yamini Krishnamurti, Pro

1985 MP Assembly poll: BJP loses stronghold, gains in Congress bastions

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                  NK SINGH                                                       Bhopal: The 1985 Vidhan Sabha elections changed the colours in the political map of Madhya Pradesh. While the Bharatiya Janata Party has been almost wiped out of its traditional stronghold in Madhya Bharat region, it has been able to make an impressive dent in the Congress-(I) fortresses in Chhattisgarh Vidhan and Mahakoshal regions. The results may have far-reaching consequences on the future, political strategies of both the ruling Congress-(I) party, which has bagged 250 of the 320 seats in the State Assembly, and its distant rival, the BJP, which has emerged as the main Opposition party by winning 58 seats. The BJP lost heavily in the Madhya Bharat region, considered to be a stronghold of the party. It could win only 14 seats from this region this time as against 41 in the last Assembly elections. Its stalwarts like Mr. Shitala Sahay, Mr. Vikram Verma and Mr. Satya Narayan Jatiya were defeated. The per

MP Government to review reservation policy

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NK SINGH Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Government on Sunday announced that the new reservation policy would not be implemented till it was reviewed even as the three-week-old anti-reservation stir of students spread to new areas and parents also joined the agitation at Indore.  The Chief Minister, Mr Arjun Singh, announced that the government would review its new policy, providing 25 per cent reservation in jobs, promotions and admissions to professional colleges to backward communities. He also told a meeting of office-bearers of students' unions of the various universities and colleges, besides some student leaders, that the policy would not be implemented till it was reviewed: The meeting had been convened by the Government to discuss the new reservation policy, which has triggered off a wave of protest all over the State. State Govt. claim The government's assurance not to implement the new policy is not considered important because last week the high court had stayed its impl

Panic in Bhopal Over fresh Gas leak

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NK SINGH Bhopal: Poisonous gas and acid fumes leaked again from the "killer Carbide pesticide plant here on Thursday and Monday. causing widespread panic in the city of the dead. Hundreds of panic-stricken residents of shanty towns surrounding the pesticide plant. which leaked toxic methyl iso-cyanate gas last December killing about 2500 persons. Ailed for safety on Thursday night and again on Monday morning following the leak of chlorine and chlorosulphuric acid fumes. A spokesman of the multi-national Union Carbide said the "minor leak" of chlorine. which occurred around 9 p.m. on Thursday, was immediately controlled with the help of water jets, which were swiftly turned on to neutralise the leaking gas. Three workers of the plant. including a supervisor who was admitted for first aid in the carbide dispensary on the plant premises. The leak also affected the functioning of the neighbouring railway cabin whose staff fled in panic, Fortunately, no train passed through t

MP government grilled over gas leak

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NK SINGH Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Government was hauled over the coals on Tuesday in the state assembly over its failure to protect the lives and property of citizens. The Vidhan Sabha was debating the admissibility of an adjournment motion to discuss the recent leak of chlorine and acid fumes from the Union Carbide factory here. The Government was grilled more sharply as opposition members found that The Industries Minister, Mr. Bharat Singh, in his statement had tried to parrot the Union Carbide's version of the leak, brushing away reports of panic in the locality. The minister quoted the Union Carbide version in his statement. The Government denied that any dangerous chemicals were left in the plant. It furnished a list of chemicals in the plant, which are being gradually disposed of.  The list included mono methyl amine and chlorine. chloro sulphonic acid and ACB but failed to mention other chemicals like chloroform and carbon tatra chloride. The minister was reading the repl

Breakthrough in Bhopal Gas victim treatment

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NK SINGH Bhopal: A team of medical experts appears to be heading for a breakthrough in the treatment of methyl iso-cyanate victims. About 40 patients were administered sodium thiosulphate injections, and the cure for cyanide poisoning, under controlled conditions has shown remarkable signs of improvement. Consequently, the government has withdrawn its controversial ban on the use of sodium thiosulphate. A meeting of top medical experts of the country, including the additional director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, Prof Ramachari, decided here on Sunday that sodium thiosulphate may be administered "where warranted". Prof. V. S. Narain of the G. B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi, under whose supervision the experiment is being conducted at a special 302-bed hospital for the last 15 days, told ENS, "There is reasonable evidence that patients have benefited from Sodium thiosulphate. It has certainly helped them" However, he said that he was h proceeding v

Judge issues warrant for arrest of SP; Police files FIR against Judge for "interference in duty"

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NK SINGH Bhopal: An attempt by a judge to protect civil liberty in the obscure tribal district of Jhabua has led to a confrontation between the judiciary and the police. The chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of Jhabua had issued warrants for the arrests of the SP and the DSP of the district in a case of police brutality. The Jhabua police retaliated by registering a case against the CJM for "causing an interruption in the duty of two constables". The CJM, Mr M. L. Sanghi has applied for anticipatory bail. He has also sought, ironically, police protection following a threatening letter received by him in court. Five policemen are at present guarding his residence at Jhabua. The cold war appears to be escalating into a regular tug-of-war with the Judicial Services Association and Police Association rushing to the aid of their comrades in distress. While the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Association has demanded protection for Mr Sanghi, police officers have also taken up cudge

MP excavation may reveal missing links of pre-historic culture

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NK SINGH Bhopal:  Excavation work at Atoodh Khasa in Khandwa district of MP is expected to throw light on the missing links of various cultures in the country. Atoodh Khasa, 45 km from Khandwa, is situated on the right bank of the Kaveri, a tributary of Narmada. A regular survey done some years ago has shown that the village is one of the important chalcolithic sites south of Narmada. There is an ancient mound, occupying an area of about three sq. km. It is nearly 20 metres high and the top position is encircled by the remains of a fort wall. The mound is situated at the confluence of Kaveri and Amok. Earlier, a surface exploration of the mound and the river bank site yielded microlithic blades and other activities of the chalcolithic period. Black-and-red wares, both painted and non-painted, were also collected from the cuttings and exposed sections. The core of the mound contains proto-historic and historic pot shreds and antiquities. Stone sculptures have also been found here. Apart