Bhopal, Mar 3: The Madhya Pradesh Government has opened 428 high schools and 137 higher secondary schools in the past two years. In his written reply to a question by Ms Saroj Bachchan Nayak, School Education Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar said 174 high schoolsand 50 higher secondary schools were opened in 2006-07.

Similarly, 254 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools had been opened in 2007-08 so far. No schools were opened in 2004-05 and 2005-06. A provision has been made to open up 737 high schools and 185 higher secondary schools in 2007-08 of which orders had been issued for 254 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools.

Shejwar told Premchand Guddu that the provision of board examination in class V has been removed. An order to this effect was released on February 4. Shejwar informed Girish Gautam that irregularities had been noticed in bicycle distribution to girls at government higher secondary schools at Khaira in Gangev block in Rewa district in 2006-07.

Assistant teacher Somnath has been suspended in this regard. A show cause notice has been issued to Principal Vishwanath Mishra. Forest Minister Vijay Shah told Gajraj Singh Sikarwar that 55 'ghariyals' had died in the Chambal sanctuary in Morena from 2007 due to some ailment.

Replying to another question, he said the number of tigers had been estimated to be between 73 to 105 in 2006 in the Kanha National Park.

UP not providing water as per terms

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 3: Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Anup Mishra today told the state Assembly that the Uttar Pradesh Government was not releasing water as per terms resulting in inadequate water supply to Bhind district from 'Bhander canal system'. Dissatisfied with the reply, Opposition Congress staged a walkout alleging that the government was not resolving water problems of farmers. Hamid Qazi (NCP) also joined the walk out.

Replying to a call attention notice raised by Dr Govind Singh (Cong), Mishra said Uttar Pradesh was facing water problems like Madhya Pradesh due to less rainfall. Uttar Pradesh has control over releasing water in the canal but it was not releasing water in agreed amount.

Mishra said discussions had been held between officials from the two states so that Madhya Pradesh could get water from the 58 km-long canal. Dr Singh pointed out that crops sown in several hectare land across hundreds of villages in Lahar, Raun and Mihauna tehsils of Bhind district were on the verge of being dried due to inadequate water supply from canal.

On his announcement, Congress members staged a walk out. In his written statement, Mishra said irrigation was carried out in Datia and Bhind from the canal built in 1956. The Rajghat Canal project was completed in 2004 for additional irrigation.