Bhopal, Mar 17: Urban Development Minister Narottam Mishra today announced in the Assembly that irregular allotment of housing plots in Town Improvement Trust Colony near Morena town would be cancelled. He gave this assurance in reply to a call attention notice in this regard brought by Gajraj Singh Sikarwar.

Mishra admitted that houses had been constructed on 62 plots out of total 429 plots developed in the colony, the development of which was given to the Morena municipal committee after TIT's merger with it in 1994-95. Sikarwar alleged that influential people had encroached upon land earmarked for parks and playground and its layout changed.

Mishra denied change of the layout and said no application had been received so far for registering ten to 20 plots in the name of an individual.

Hike in medical college fee raised in Assly

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 17: The main Opposition Congress in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today raised the matter of increase in collection of fee from students of a private medical college in Ujjain and demanded an immediate discussion over it. Raising the matter during the Zero Hour, Ms Devi said students were staging agitation against the fee hike affecting health services of the college.

Speaker Ishwardas Rohani assured that a discussion would be carried out in the House over the matter tomorrow. Arif Aqueel (Cong) demanded a discussion over alleged illegal extortion of money from transporters by administrative officers in Gwalior, Bhind and Morena districts.

During the Zero Hour, Rajnarayan Singh (Cong) trooped into the well of the House while making some comments about the problems of boatmen in Omkareshwar town and demanded a discussion. The Speaker advised the member to return to his seat and assured him that a discussion would take place. Later, the member returned to his place.

RS nomination papers found in order

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 17: All four candidates' nomination papers were found to be in order today during scrutiny for biennial elections to three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh. Scrutiny was undertaken by Principal Secretary (Assembly) AK Payasi who is also the returning officer. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is 1500 hrs on March 19. Polling is scheduled between 0900 hrs and 1600 hrs on March 28. Bharatiya Janata Party Vice-President and its Mahila Morcha state incharge Maya Singh, BJP Secretary Prabhat Jha and senior leader Raghunandan Sharma submitted their papers on March 15 for the seats falling vacant next month.

There are four candidates for three seats, the fourth being Congress-supported independent Vivek Krishna Tankha, a former Advocate-General. The BJP nominees submitted two sets of papers each while Tankha submitted three.

The BJP - having a strength of 166 in the 231-member Assembly, including one nominated - is facing a shortage of 8 votes to ensure the third candidate's victory. With three vacancies at present in the Assembly, the Congress has a strength of 41, Samajwadi Party 8, Gondwana Ganatantra Party 3, Rashtriya Samanta Dal 2, Bahujan Samaj Party 2, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Janata Dal (United) 1 each and independents 2.