The Tribune...Haryana

H A R Y A N A

Tuesday July 7, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Road repair work
affected
ROHTAK, July 6 — Road repair work in Haryana has been badly affected following the paralysing of the functioning of hot mix plants for the past one month...

Names for power panel
chief's post sought
ROHTAK, July 6 — Haryana has requested all state governments in the country to suggest names for appointment of Chairman and members of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission. Similar requests have also been sent to the NTPC, the NHPC, Power Finance and Power Grid.

Poor drainage causes misery
HISAR, July 6 — While the rain has brought relief to most of the people in Hisar, it has brought misery for the people of some localities .Rain water has accumulated on the roads in the absence of a proper drainage...

Beopar mandal for abolition of octroi
HISAR, July 6 — The Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal has demanded abolition of octroi in the state...

Custodial death: SHO suspended
JIND, July 6 — Residents of Jind town and Barsola village took out a procession and held a demonstration here today to protest against the death of a youth, Raja allegedly in police custody...

College teachers to go on mass leave
GURGAON, July 6 — The teachers of government and private colleges of Haryana will go on a mass casual leave on July 21 in support of the call given by the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation...

District diary

Road repair work affected
From Bijendra Ahlawat
ROHTAK, July 6 — Road repair work in Haryana has been badly affected following the paralysing of the functioning of hot mix plants for the past one month.
Nearly 35 hot mix plants in the state have reportedly been 'sealed' on the orders of an environment court following a report submitted by the State Pollution Control Board.
The pollution control board had issued notices to the 'hot mix' plants being run by the state Public Works Department (PWD) a few months ago after the special environment court at Faridabad asked the board to explain what action it had taken against these plants which were highly polluting.

The differences between the state government and the state pollution control board reached its climax when the state government dissolved the board ending the tenure of its Chairman, Mr R.A. Goel even before completion of his one year in the office.
Out of a total 35 hot mix plants, 30 are reported to be in the private sector, while five belong to the state government. The suspension of work at these plants has led to the paralysing of road repair work of about 25 km a day.
Hot mix plants start functioning in a particular area where the PWD allot the contract for the supply of the mixture (gravels with bitumen) for the road work. But due to the mon-implementation of the measures to bring down the level of poisonous effluents from these plants, the work has been hit. The department has reportedly failed to comply with the rules.

According to prevailing rules, a hot mix plant cannot be set up near a populated area. It requires atleast two-and-a half acres of land covered with vegetation. It has been made mandatory that it should be set up atleast 5 km away from national highway and atleast 1.5 km away from a residential area or state highway. It should also not exist within 50 metre limit of an approach road of a village.
Accroding to the chiefe of the Haryana Hot Mix Plant Contractors Association, Mr Sripal Agarwal, the conditions set by the board had been extremely difficult to follow. He said plants were mobile and getting two-and-a half acres of land temporarily was not possible. Morevoer, the present scheme of dividing the state in only two zones was not feasible and it was hampering their work.
The association's decision not to apply for tenders of work till the withdrawal of some conditions has also caused concern.

Names for power panel
chief's post sought
Tribune News Service
ROHTAK, July 6 — Haryana has requested all state governments in the country to suggest names for appointment of Chairman and members of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission. Similar requests have also been sent to the NTPC, the NHPC, Power Finance and Power Grid.
The Haryana Electricity Reforms Act, 1997, which received the President's assent on February 20 provides for the constitution of the electricity commission, restructuring of the electricity industry, rationalisation of generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and avenues of participation of private entrepreneurs in the electricity industry.
Although the Act was notified on March 10, 1998, it has not been made effective so far. Under the provisions of the Act, the commission will be established within three months of its coming into force. The commission will have three members in addition to the Chairman.
The state government, as per Section 4 (1) of the reforms Act, has already constituted a selection committee under the chairmanship of Lt-Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) Vice-Chancellor, Maharshi Dayanand University, to select persons for appointment as members. The committee is yet to initiate the process.
Meanwhile, the 25-MW liquor-based power plant set up near Manesar (Gurgaon) by Magnum is likely to start generation any day. The HSEB Chairman, Mr Ranjit Issar, told TNS this mini-power plant would generate 4.5 lakh units every day and its entire generation would be purchased by the state Electricity Board.
Mr Issar claimed the 220-MW sixth unit of the Panipat thermal plant would start generation by March 2000. The project costing nearly Rs 634 crore is being set up the HSEB engineers.

Poor drainage causes misery
Tribune News Service
HISAR, July 6 — While the rain has brought relief to most of the people in Hisar, it has brought misery for the people of some localities. Rain water has accumulated on the roads in the absence of a proper drainage system, thus flooding the area.
Urban Estate Phase II has been the worst hit. According to the residents, the problem is as old as the colony which has been developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). No proper drainage system built there.
Recently, HUDA started work on the drainage system, giving hope that residents' long-pending problem may be solved. But instead things

complicated for them. As the construction work was started as late as June, it could not be completed before the monsoons.
As the rains lashed the town, the people in Urban Estate had a harrowing experience The earth dug out for the construction of drains blocked the roads and led to the accumulation of rain water. The residents complained that the rain and dirty water seeped into their houses. They also alleged that the material used in the construction of the drain was substandard.
In a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, the residents have demanded that an inquiry be conclucted into the whole episode and the material used in the construction be checked.
According to Mr Budh Singh, a resident, the government had claimed that the entire drainage system would be completed in 1997.

Another resident, Mr Vir Singh pointed out that the construction of the train water drainage system along Dayanand College Road was started last year and was supposed to be competed before the monsoon last year. But, according to the officials, "The work is still in progress."
Although there have not been heavy rains yet, a number of localities have already come under water. They include Shanti Nagar, Dhani Jai Dev, Krishna Nagar, Jat College Road, Rishi Nagar, Hosing Board Colony, Auto Market and Multani Chowk.
The plight of the shopkeepers and residents on the Railway Station road is bad. Last year, the government raised the level of the road to prevent water logging. Now the water runs into the houses and shops. The government is yet to construct a proper drainage system there.

Beopar mandal for abolition of octroi
Tribune News Service
HISAR, July 6 — The Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal has demanded abolition of octroi in the state. A meeting of the mandal held here under the chairmanship of its president, Mr Bajrang Garg criticised the state government for its "all-round failure".
Members felt that the government had backed out from its poll promises. The BJP had promised that it would abolish octroi in the state. They also reminded the party of its promise to make the sales tax uniform in all northern states.
The Mandal criticised the hike in the power tariff and bus fare in the state and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

Custodial death: SHO suspended
From Our Correspondent
JIND, July 6 — Residents of Jind town and Barsola village took out a procession and held a demonstration here today to protest against the death of a youth, Raja (allegedly) in police custody. Raja was arrested in a theft case.
According to the police, Raja was ill and he was admitted to the local general hospital for treatment. Later, he was shifted to the medical college hospital, Rohtak, where he died.
Mr Ranbir Sharma Superintendent of Police, has appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police, Safidon, to inquire into the cause of death of Raja. He has suspended Station House Officer (SHO) of Sadar Police Station here and an Assistant Inspector in connection with the death.
Mr Sharma said the inquiry report and the post-mortem examination report would reveal the actual cause of his death.

College teachers to go on mass leave
Tribune News Service
GURGAON, July 6 — The teachers of government and private colleges of Haryana will go on a mass casual leave on July 21 in support of the call given by the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation to press for acceptance of the recommendation made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) by the Centre.
In a statement issued here, the president of the Haryana Government College Teachers Association, Mr Kulwant Singh, said that the teachers would also take to the street on August 4 in support of the demand. In case the government did not accept the demand, they would go on indefinite strike from August 11.
The decision to extend support to the call for agitation was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of the Haryana Government College Teachers Association last evening.
There are 51 government colleges and 96 private colleges affiliated to Maharshi Dayanand University and Kurukshetra University of the state.
The teachers’ demands include acceptance of the pay scale recommended by the UGC to the Centre.

District diary: Violating traffic
rules with impunity
From D.S. Nandwal
HISAR: A large number of unauthorised vehicles are plying between Hisar and Hansi. According to information, about 200 jeeps, Matadors and other vehicles are plying on various roads in the district illegally.
While some owners are plying their vehicles under the "Maxi cab" scheme of the Haryana Government, others have just painted "Maxi cab" on their vehicles and are plying them without permit or permission.
There seems to be no control of the administration on the plying of unauthorised vehicles.
In their bid to carry as many passengers as possible, the drivers of these vehicles violate all traffic rules by loading more than twice the prescribed number of passengers.
These vehicles have been involved in most of the accidents in the recent past.

* * *

In spite of the expansion of the town, its roads have not received due attention of the authorities concerned. Unfortunately, the busiest and important roads, particularly the Delhi Road, on which industries, shopping complexes, banks and other establishment are situated, are in poor state.
From the Jindal Strips level crossing to the Satroad bypass, which is one of the busiest sections, the whole road is badly damaged and full of potholes. Residents of the area have repeatedly complained to the administration but till date no action has been taken. This has created resentment among the villagers and the industrialists.
The condition of other roads in the walled city is also not better. During the rains the roads turn into small steams in the absence of proper drainage. The affected localities are Mill Gate, Auto Market, Prem Nagar, New Sabzi Mandi, Old Anaj Mandi, Multani Chowk, Dogran Mohalla, Indira Nagar, Sant Nagar, Maharaja Agarsen Colony, Dhani Sham Lal, Professor Colony, Shanti Nagar, EBS Road, etc.

* * *

Recently there has been a spate of theft cases, leading to panic among the residents. The thieves have stolen cash and ornaments worth lakhs of rupees from different parts of the city.
There has also been an increase in the theft cases of vehicles.
In some cases thieves also manhandled and beat up businessman.
The president of the Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal, Mr Bajrang Dass Garg has demanded immediate action in this regard.

* * *

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, organised an environmental awareness cycle rally here in collaboration with the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. More then 60 cyclists took part in the rally.
A seminar was also organised to mark the occasion.
Addressing the seminar, Mr Gulab Singh, Judge Environment Court, Hisar, explained various aspects relating to the preservation of environment. He underlined the need for creating awareness among the people about environment.
The Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.L. Johar, pointed out that with the advancement of technology, the environmental problems had increased.

* * *

"Prayas" a folk art and cultural forum has revived theatre activities in the city by producing a play, "Phir Kab Miloge"
This satirical comedy, written and directed by theatre activist Sudhir K. Sharma, was selected by Akashvani, Rohtak, for a stage presentation on International Day.

* * *

The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) plans to release 15,530 connections in the Hisar Operation Circle during the current financial year, thereby increasing the total number of such connections in the circle to about 3.66 lakh.
To improve the power supply position in Hisar, the HSEB plans to construct three new substations at a cost of about Rs 10 crore.