Boundaries of Punjab and Haryana
The Centre will be prepared to provide separate Governors and High Courts for the Punjab and Haryana if the Government of either of the two States (after the elections) objects to existing arrangements. But the Centre has no idea of changing the status of Chandigarh or the boundaries of the two States.
This was stated here [New Delhi] to-day [Dec. 4] by a spokesman of the Home Ministry when his attention was drawn to Sant Fateh Singh’s demands for severing the common links between the Punjab and Haryana and for inclusion of Chandigarh and some other areas in the Punjab. The Sant is to announce his future course of action at Amritsar to-morrow. The spokesman said the Government had no inclination to yield to threats of mass action or fasts. As far as control of the Bhakra Dam was concerned, the spokesman said the arrangement provided under the Punjab Reorganisation Act was the best. It could not be given to any one State because the dam was situated in Himachal Pradesh and the beneficiaries were Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Common links over bodies like electricity and warehousing corporations were transitory arrangements and a deadline had been set for each. About the separate High Court the spokesman said even when the Punjab Reorganisation Bill, was being discussed in Parliament, Mr. G.L. Nanda, the then Home Minister, had stated that if either of the two States asked for a separate High Court, the Government would accept the request. About the demand for separate Governors, the Prime Minister had said she had no objection if either of the two States asked for it, the spokesman said.
‘ From an Editorial’: Expansion of airports
Unless the major airports of India are expanded quickly, there is a danger that tourists will skip this country on their travel routes. This warning comes from the Chairman of British Overseas Airways Corporation, Sir Giles Guthrie, who has pointed out that the facilities offered at Palam airport at New Delhi will be quite inadequate in a few years when “jumbo jets” start bringing in hundreds of passengers at a time. BOAC plans to double its passenger capacity by 1970 and redouble it by 1980. Presumably the other big airlines will do likewise. If our chief airports are not ready to receive and process large numbers of passengers and their luggage, the international airlines are likely to bypass our country. While some foreign airlines are now using Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta, a few others have asked if they could operate through Madras. Hitherto, Madras has been left out out of the world routes, except by Air India. If Madras is to provide for heavy traffic of the kind anticipated, it will need a big international block at the airport. An expert from the International Civil Aviation Organisation has suggested that the Government should acquire 140 acres west of Meenambakkam village and construct an entirely new air terminal. A less ambitious programme has already been approved, but care should be taken to see that there is plenty of room for future expansion. The experience of other countries proves that it is better to err on the side of excess than to plan on a small scale. The time factor is, however, extremely important and if an entirely new plan is likely to be delayed, it would probably be wise to complete the short-term programme quickly so that the foreign airlines that seek landing facilities at Madras need not have to wait too long. The Madras Government should also note that transit hotels and duty free shops of the kind that are projected for the other major airports should be provided here.
M.S. Subbulakshmi back home
Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi and her party returned here [Bombay] this afternoon [Dec. 4] after a successful tour of the U.S., the U.K., and the Continent. She was given a warm reception by her fans and representatives of cultural and music organisations in Greater Bombay.
At Rome, the Pope gave audience to Smt. Subbulaksbmi and Mr. Sadasivam. He made kind enquiries about India and recalled his last year’s visit to Bombay. From New Delhi, President Radhakrishnan sent Mr. Sadasivam a message stating, “I am glad you are back home. Tell M.S.S. we are proud of her achievement.” Smt. Subbulakshmi and her party are leaving for Madras to-morrow morning.
