N C R   S T O R I E S


 

Farm Dept wields the axe as aid dries up
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 26
The agriculture department of the state government is determined to abolish around 40 per cent posts of the circle agriculture officers (CAO), agriculture development officers (ADO), village extension workers (VEW) and agriculture inspectors (AI). The relevant information for restructuring these posts has already been obtained by the director of the agriculture department from the district offices through correspondence as well as by holding meetings of the deputy directors of the districts. The orders for abolishing nearly 40 per cent of these posts, by declaring them surplus, are expected shortly.

In a circular, issued by the director of agriculture in the first week of December, it is mentioned that there are 186 posts of CAOs in the state and these posts are to be reduced to 117; it is further clarified that these posts would exist at the block level.

Likewise, the posts of ADOs, VEWs and AIs, numbering 1,486, are to be reduced to 866. The officers in charge in the districts have also been asked to reallocate the areas of their work as per the new plan. To give a momentum to the plans, the Director, Agriculture, has convened meetings of the deputy directors at Panchkula between December 3 to 9.

In the seventies, a massive agriculture development project, aided by the World Bank, was launched in the state. Under this project, a large number of posts of the circle agriculture officers, agriculture development officers, sub-divisional officers and subject matter specialists were created and filled.

The bulk of the World Bank aid was utilised in creation of the new posts, with the intention of equipping the sub-divisional offices with the services of subject matter specialists. It was a period of so-called revolution in agriculture in the state. However, after the utilisation of the World Bank aid, the state government was expected to meet the cost of maintaining the infrastructure, which it started finding difficult to bear.

“With the passage of time, posts started falling vacant. But the state government, reluctant to take on the additional financial burden, decided not to fill up the posts. According to a retired deputy director of agriculture, 55 per cent of these posts are lying vacant. The decision to scrap the posts is expected to adversely affect agriculture graduates, who will now have to look for jobs elsewhere.

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Yet another passport office coming up
J T Vishnu
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
After the overwhelming response in the two passport centres at Delhi Police Bhawan and Shakarpur police station, inaugurated in September this year, the Delhi Police is now considering opening another centre in Pitampura in North-West Delhi from February, 2004.

The Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr R S Gupta, is understood to have sanctioned the new centre as the existing centres are swamped with passport applications from the North-West and West districts.

“The new centre will come up in the 9th and 10th Battalion situated in Pitampura in February next year as it is presently undergoing structural changes to suit the needs of a passport centre,” said an official. The Pitampura centre will be the fourth passport centre in the national Capital.

The decision was taken by the Delhi Police in tandem with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as more than 50 per cent of the passport applications received in the existing centres during the last four months were from Narela, Bawana, Rohini and its adjoining areas.

Even the existing centres, which were receiving as many as 15,000 passport applications every month, have been quick in making police verifications, responding to queries and issuing passports in the stipulated time.

“We have also started a novel method of sending self-addressed feedback envelopes to 10 per cent of the applicants picked randomly to get their response. In fact, we have received mostly positive response from them regarding the behaviour of verification officers and police staff at the centres,” added the official. “Once we received a complaint from a woman applicant that the verification officer had asked for bribe and spoke in a rude manner. The concerned officer was suspended immediately and a Departmental Enquiry is pending against him.” According to the official, the passport centres will soon boast of CCTVs; this will minimize corruption and harassment by lower-level staff and make the department more people-friendly.

“The applicants are also happy that they are no longer pestered by touts. A sub-inspector has been assigned the task of looking after the needs of the applicants. Besides, the officers have been trained and advised to be more sensitive to the needs of women and children.”
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united in death
Man, paramour found hanging
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
In a pathetic incident this afternoon, one Mohammad Moin (40) and his paramour Sunita (32) committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling in D-block, Ashok Nagar area in Mansarover Park area of North-East district.

Both Mohammad and Sunita were already married and had families in Mukherjee Nagar and Azadpur, respectively. They had developed an illicit relationship and run away from their homes.

The duo had been staying together in a rented accommodation in Ashok Nagar for the last one month. While Mohammad, a contractor, was married to one Raiza and has six children, Sunita was married to one Suresh, a labourer, and has two children.

Sunita had brought her children to stay with Mohammad. The police said that last evening Sunita had gone to her house in Azadpur and left the children with her husband. She then came back to Ashok Nagar. Their suicide was discovered this afternoon when Sunita’s children had brought their father to the house, where the couple had been staying for the last one month.

Failing to get a response after several knocks at the door, Suresh peeped through a window and found the couple hanging from a ceiling fan with a rope. Interestingly, both were hanging from a single rope. The police said that no suicide note was found.

The bodies have been sent to the GTB Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The police have registered a case of suicide and are investigating the case.

In another incident, a 35-year-old woman committed suicide in Sultanpuri this afternoon because of acute poverty. The deceased, Premwati, a resident of Sultanpuri, is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter.

The deceased had gone to her in-laws’ house last evening in the Manakpura area for some financial help, said the police. Premvati came back without succour and was found hanging from a ceiling fan this afternoon in her residence. No suicide note was found.

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Women of DLF City leading Gurgaon initiative
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, December 26
The Women Action Forum, a voluntary organisation, has taken up the cause of overall development of the city with the administration.

The women of DLF City are leading the initiative. According to Dr Amita Singh, an Associate Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, who is a member of the forum, the organisation was acting as facilitator between the district administration and the public for expeditious development of Gurgaon city.

She was satisfied with the overall response of the administration to their initiatives. Mrs Amina Shervani, a founding member of the forum, said that in the past few months the organisation had taken up a number of issues with the administration, including removal of encroachments, stopping illegal constructions, setting up safety features at crossings, better management of vehicular movement and adequate provision of electricity in Gurgaon city.

The forum expressed concern over the rise in encroachments. It also criticised the law enforcement agencies for winking at the illegal constructions.

It pointed out that the administration must come hard on the commercial sites in residential areas. The forum alleged that in DLF City the office-bearers of various Residents’ Welfare Associations had been running commercial outfits in residential pockets in connivance with the DLF management.

The members of the forum are happy that the administration has roped in private firms for beautification of the roundabouts and crossings. They have also welcomed the decision to make the Gurgaon-Mehrauli road one-way.

The forum has also taken up with the administration the allocation of about five acres of land for keeping stray cattle.

However, the forum is sore over the power situation, especially in DLF City. The members said that it was strange that both the DLF management and the electricity department were passing the buck.

Besides, the forum has also taken up with the administration the setting up of `Peoples’ Committees’ to keep a tab on various development projects.

The forum has also been working for juvenile justice and against female foeticide.

The members, however, have one grudge. They allege that the office-bearers of various Residents Welfare Associations in DLF City, especially the DLF Qutab Enclave Residents Welfare Association, have been working against the forum.
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Faridabad welfare schemes bogged down
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, December 26
Faridabad saw the launch of many developmental schemes in 2003, but they could not see the light of the day till date.

The Financial Commissioner and Supervising Secretary of the district, Mr N Bala Bhaskar, recently held a meeting of the district officials here to discuss the progress of various schemes and issued directions to the authorities to speed up the work on the pending projects.

While the work of repairing the roads, damaged in the rainy season this year, has been unsatisfactory, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has been asked to adopt at least six badly damaged roads in the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF) area.

The MCF has so far failed to carry out the repair due to paucity of funds. The civic body and its corporators have appealed to the state government to release a special grant to tackle the problem.

The civic body is awaiting the receipt of its share in the Local Area Development Tax (LADT) collected by other departments.

The work of construction of mini secretariat for the offices of district administration is in progress at Sector-12 here.

The authorities have now claimed that the secretariat’s building will be built by April next year, and will cost about Rs 12 crore. The work of developing Transport Nagar in Sector-58 on the outskirts of Ballabgarh town is reported to be behind schedule.

The authorities now claimed that 173 plots out of 323 had been developed. However, the project of shifting the dairies out of the municipal limits had been hanging fire.

The authorities have also announced a scheme to rehabilitate some jhuggi dwellers.

More than 20,000 jhuggis and kutcha houses have been razed in a demolition drive in the past three years to free the government land from encroachments.
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Two die in wall collapse during demolition work
Tribune News Service

The site of the wall collapse
The site of the wall collapse. — Photo by Kamal Singh

New Delhi, December 26
Two persons died and two others were injured when a wall collapsed in the Birla Textile mill on Friday morning during a demolition in the Kamla Nagar area of West Delhi.

The deceased were identified as Shankar (45) and Munna (32), residents of Varanasi, and the injured as Prabhu (23) and Sanjay. While Shankar and Munna were declared brought dead in the Bara Hindu Rao hospital, Prabhu and Sanjay were being treated for their injuries in Bara Hindu Rao hospital.

The incident occurred at 10.40 am when demolition work was in progress at the textile mill. The dilapidated building was closed since 1996. A contract was given to Hazrat Builders for demolishing the building three months ago. The police said that at least five dozen labourers were working on the demolition. This morning, a part of the mill collapsed, burying at least four people. Two of them were later rescued following swift action by the fire service personnel.
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Brrr…Capital is shivering
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
After a relatively warm interlude, the Capital was again shivering today as the city continued to be swept by chilly winds.

The dense fog continued to render driving perilous and poor visibility caused cancellation and rescheduling of several flights and trains. Many passengers were left high and dry due to changes in flight and train schedules. Delhi recorded a minimum night temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s 8.4 degree Celsius, the Met Department said. The fog would, however, persist for a few days more owing to western disturbances.
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Martyrdom anniversary of Sahibzadas observed with great fervour
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) observed the Martyrdom Anniversary of Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, which was held at Gurdwara Mata Sundri Ji this morning with great religious fervour.

The programme began in early morning with recitation of Sukhmani Sahib and Nitnem. Shabad Kirtan and Asa Di Var was performed by Bhai Harjeet Singh and Gurdeep Singh. Giani Satnam Singh Ji, Head Granthi, revived the memory of the devotees regarding martyrdom of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji, who laid down their lives fighting the huge army of Aurangzeb in the battle of Chamkaur while the two younger Sahibzada Jorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji were bricked alive at Sirhind for the freedom of religious worship.

Thousands of devotees started coming from early morning to join the huge congregation, which was attended by all the office-bearers of executive board of DSGMC, including prominent members of the managing committee.

Harinderpal Singh, member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, also attended the congregation. Jathedar Surjit Singh of Chandni Chowk performed the duties of stage secretary.

Professor Harbans Singh Chawla of Khalsa College, Delhi University, gave a detailed lecture reviving the memory of the devotees how the martyrdom started with Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Sahibzadas of Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh, Mata Gujri Ji and Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who is remembered through out the world as “SARBANSDANI” a unique chapter, which is included in the Sikh History. Free Community Kitchen was served to all irrespective of their caste, colour and creed.

Meanwhile, Secretary, Delhi State of the All India Citizens Committee, Mr Raja Singh Sethi, has demanded the government to ban transportation of goods without proper booking. In connivance with railway officials, goods without proper booking are loaded in trains.

This is illegal, he said. Mr Sethi also demanded to start new trains to visit historical Gurdwaras of five Takhts – Amritsar Akal Takht, Anandpur Sahib Kesgarh Sahib, Saboo Ki Talwandi, Patna Sahib (Bihar), Hazoor Sahib Upchar Nagar - located in different cities of the country.
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Special focus on Jhajjar/Bahadurgarh
PR department told to make VCD on
govt’s welfare works
Deepender

Jhajjar, December 26
The state government has decided to go to full stretch in its publicity drive in view of the elections season closer in the state. Keeping the role of the public relations in mind, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has shown much generosity towards the public relations department in the state by making many favourable announcement for the employees of the department.

The Chief Minister has held a meeting of the District Public Relations Officers at Chandigarh recently. He decided to fully activate the PR department with an aim to reach out to the masses with the achievements of the state government in the four years. The public relations department has been directed to film a video CD of the development works accomplished in each districts, and prepare a documentary, which would be telecast on television through cable operators. The government has sanctioned a budget of Rs 5,000 to every district for preparing the documentary film. Apart from this, a booklet containing the highlights of the major achievement of the government, would be printed and released soon.

According to sources, Mr Chautala has also agreed to fill the vacant positions of the PR departments at the block level. Out of total 108 blocks in the state, 8 blocks did not have any contingents. The sources told that the members have been given yet another increment. This is the second hike in the remuneration of these contract-based employees. Now, the leader of the party would get Rs 2,250 per month while other members would have a salary of Rs 1,780. Besides, every member of the party would be allotted Rs 150 as travelling allowances (TA).

The sources informed that the CM has also directed the DPROs to publicising of the welfare policies and programmes of the government should be based upon facts. The sources said that to arm the district public relations offices with the advanced equipment, digital cameras, fax machines and computer systems would be given in these offices so that the liaison with the local mediapersons could become more favourable and congenial.
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DC donates blankets to poor
Our correspondent

Jhajjar, December 26
The severe cold wave sweeping across the northern states has been taking its toll on its most vulnerable target - the poor and the homeless. But in this district, a sort of charity mission has been launched by the Deputy Commissioner, under the aegis of the District Red Cross Society, who has handed over nearly 1,100 blankets to the shivering people squatting along the roadside.

Much to the disbelief of these homeless persons wandering here and there or labourers working on the roads or the street vendors, the DC donated them the blankets whoever come across his way, to protect themselves from the chilling winds. Whenever the DC went out to visit in any part of the district, he stocked a pile of blankets in his car and halts, wherever he spotted any poor persons in want of warm cloths to save himself from the bone-chilling cold.

The Deputy Commissioner-cum-chairman of the District Red Cross Society, Mr Mohinder Kumar, has specially directed the secretary of the society that there should be no shortage of the blankets and whoever wants it should be gifted them. The secretary of the society, Mr Mahesh Gupta, said that on December 2, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in a function here distributed about 500 blankets. After that, as many as 600 more blankets have been distributed randomly. He informed that about Rs 2.25 lakh have been spent so far in purchasing the blanket.

He said that so far in the last two weeks they went to many places for various other purposes and found the needy ones who were gifted the coverlets.

At Bahadurgarh railway station, bus stand, Rohad village, Chhara chowk in Jhajjar, Akhara in Chhara village, Balor road in Bahadurgarh, near government college at Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar road in the town, near Dulhera village, Silani Gate in Jhajjar, near mini-secretariat and Rohtak road in Jhajjar and many other place, wherever they found the poor, labour class who could not afford to purchase the warm woolen clothes were distributed the blankets, he added.

The District Public Relations Officer, Mr Raj Singh Kadian, said that many needy persons has now also coming to the camp office of the DC asking for the blankets as it seems that this charity mission has gathered much popularity among the needy.

Most of the causalities due to cold are from this section of the society who have to sleep in the open even in this bone-shivering season. He informed that the DC has also visited the nomadic people camping on the Rohtak Road here and distributed the blankets among them.

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MLA submits proposal to Chautala
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 26
The Gohana MLA, Mr Ram Kumar Saini, in consultation with the prominent citizens of Gohana town, has submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister of Haryana for developing a low-lying area of nearly 25-acre adjacent to Gohana town into a tourist lake of the pattern of Karna lake of Karnal.

It has been highlighted in the proposal that this would not only beautify the ancient town and attract tourists, but also would put a check on the illegal encroachments of the land by unscrupulous elements. The area, which has converted into a large pond, is located on the Panipat-Gohana-Rohtak National Highway.

Though the area is not so deep, but it remains waterlogged during winter and the migratory birds also take shelters in the pond during winter season.

The entire area belonged to the government and its best possible use can be developed into a lake, the proposal suggests.

According to Mr Saini, the CM has been very liberal in granting various development works for the town and area and this proposal is also likely to get favourable response from the CM.
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Banks asked to provide hassle-free loans
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 26
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, asked bankers to provide hassle-free loans to the needy persons.

Addressing a meeting of bankers here yesterday, he called upon them to achieve the loan distribution targets set by the government, particularly regarding the loans to be given to the educated jobless youths for starting business and trade.

He also asked them to see that such loans were distributed in hassle-free environment. He warned that action would be taken on complaints received against officials in this regard.

Mr S. L. Arora, Lead Bank Officer of the Punjab National Bank, stated that the bank had advanced Rs 203.64 crore as loans under the government sponsored schemes.

He also disclosed that the banks had sanctioned loans totalling Rs 314.86 crore to 66,966 farmers holding agricultural credit cards in this district during the current financial year. The banks, he said, had so far achieved 90 per cent target in this regard. He also claimed that the banks had given priority to the farmers and the weaker sections in granting loans while implementing the government schemes.

Mr S. S. Sharma, an officer of the Reserve Bank of India, also lauded the functioning of the commercial and cooperative banks and asked the bankers to implement the programmes and policies of the government.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner honoured a number of bank managers, including Mr S. L. Arora, Lead Bank Officer of the PNB, and the officers of the District Industries Centre (DIC) for their contributions in implementing the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojna and granting loans to the educated jobless youths during the current financial year.

Mr V. P. Chaudhary, Regional Manager of the PNB, also presented the ‘Samriti Chinh’ to the Deputy Commissioner on this occasion.

Man beaten up

A youth reportedly threw spices in the eyes of a shopkeeper at Gohana town, 35 km from here late last evening and tried to escape with valuable garments from the shop.

According to a report, some shopkeepers chased him and apprehended him. He was given a severe beating. Subsequently, however, he managed to escape. The police have not yet registered any case in this connection.

Procession in support of Saddam

Large number of people, mostly from the rural areas and affiliated to the Ramakrishana Khel and Shikhsha Samiti, took out a procession here last evening in protest against the arrest of the former president of Iraq, Mr Saddam Hussain.

According to a report, carrying placards and raising anti-US and British slogans, they marched through the main bazars of the city. Later, a rally was held and the speakers strongly condemned the arrest of Mr Saddam Hussain and demanded his immediate release.
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DELHI DIGEST
Blankets distributed at night shelters
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
The Social Welfare Minister, Mr Yoganand Shastri, on Thursday night distributed monkey caps and extra blankets in the night shelters he visited to take stock of the arrangements there.

Besides the 12 night shelters that are open round the year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Department of Revenue have set up 25 new night shelters this winter.

The Social Welfare Secretary, Mr A. K. Patandi, the Additional Director, Mr K. J. R Burman, the Additional Commissioner (MCD), Mr Bhuvneshwar Singh and the Additional Commissioner of Police, Mr Amod Kanth, accompanied the Minister.

At a night shelter in Fountain Chowk in Chandni Chowk, the inhabitants complained about the shortage of blankets and inadequate arrangement of light.

Besides directing the officers concerned to make available extra blankets, the Minister distributed monkey caps among the inhabitants to beat the cold wave that is sweeping north India.

The Minister told mediapersons that 3000 persons were living in the night shelters; additional space for another 5000 persons has been kept in readiness.

Civic bodies accused of abetting unauthorised constructions

The general-secretary of ‘Akhil Bhartiya Nagrik Samiti’, Mr Pramod Arya, alleged that unauthorised construction was going on in unauthorised colonies in connivance with the MCD officers and others civic bodies.

He said that construction in unauthorised colonies was violation of the Delhi High Court order, which had directed the department concerned not to allow any construction in such colonies.

He alleged that in Mahendru Enclave, which falls in Civil Lines Zone, the Engineering Department was responsible for the ongoing unauthorised construction.

Besides, builders have encroached upon prime lands and had constructed shopping centres in Gujranwala Town (Part–I) and Model Town.

Moreover, builders have disposed of land in Mustafabad, Khajoori Khas, Kardampuri, Jafrabad and Chauhan Bangar in Trans-Yamuna area, Jamia Nagar, Jaitpur, Meethapur area, Badarpur and Sangam Vihar in South Delhi.

Residential buildings were being constructed by individuals or builders in connivance with the local police in these areas.

The police have reportedly fixed ‘rates’ for construction of unauthorised buildings. He said huge flats were being constructed in Jamia Nagar area.
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NCR Briefs
INLD accused of wasting funds
Our Correspondents

Jhajjar, December 26
Accusing the ruling INLD government of wasting funds meant for the development of the NCR, the senior vice-president of Haryana Vikas Party, Mr Man Phool Singh, said the people of Haryana were fed up with the false promises made by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

The HVP leader alleged that most of the development funds were being used for “useless purpose” such as for installing statues of the late Devi Lal.

During the meetings organised by his party in 8 villages, such as Rultana, Baproda, Asanda, Matan, Dulhera, Bupania, Kheri villages, it was clear that the people were angry with the daily problems faced by them, including the acute shortage of power and water.

Housewife beaten up

Sonepat: A young housewife, Mrs Anita, was allegedly beaten up and injured by her brother-in-law at Chhinauli village, about 15 km from here last evening.

It is stated that the victim tried to prevent the accused from selling the property of her husband. The woman’s husband was a drunkard who did not have the sense to prevent his brother from selling the building materials that had been provided to him by the government. When she resisted, her brother-in- law beat her up.

Sheila meets Haj pilgrims

New Delhi: The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, on Friday interacted with the first batch of 290 Haj pilgrims at the Indira Gandhi International Airport before they emplaned for Mecca.

The Development Minister, Mr Raj Kumar Chauhan, and president of Delhi Haj Committee, Mr A. S Salmani, were present on the occasion. Ms Dikshit said a new Haj House would be built near the airport soon.

Biotechnology exam on March 22

The CBSE has clarified that the date for conducting the examination for Biotechnology for Class XII has been scheduled for March 22, 2004. It was earlier scheduled for March 5, 2004. TNS
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Armed youths planning to loot passers-by held
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 26
The CIA staff foiled an attempt to loot passers-by and arrested four armed youths during a surprise raid at their hideouts near the Railway flyover here last night.

According to a report, the arrested youths were identified as Pawan of Arya Nagar, Sunil of Vishal Nagar, Rakesh of Sardaronwali gali and Phool Kunwar of Prabhu Nagar mandi. The police also seized a loaded pistol, two knives and some iron rods from the possession of the arrested youths. The youths had assembled under the Railway flyover and were planning to loot passers-by. Further investigations were in progress.

The police have registered the case under various sections of the IPC and the Indian Arms Act.

Cantor cleaner killed

Kishan Yadav, a cleaner of a cantor, was seriously injured when it overturned on the G T Road near Ganaur, about 25 km from here last night.

According to a report, the injured cleaner was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The police have registered the case and sent the body for the postmortem examination.
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SPEAKING OUT

 DO YOU HAVE A GROUSE?

Do you have a grouse against the apathetic attitude of the authorities? Are you fed up with the dilly-dallying tactics of officialdom and the stranglehold of red tapism?

If so, please write to us. We have a full half page every week reserved just for you. The letters should be clearly marked, Speaking out, NCR Tribune, First Floor, Dyal Singh Library Building, 1 Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg, New Delhi-110002.

The complainant was allotted a Plot No 743 Sector 23 Gurgaon in 1985 which did not exist. In 1993, a complaint was filed before the DCDRF about the non-existence of the plot.

The DCDRF Gurgaon decided on an alternative plot with 18 per cent interest on the deposited money till its possession.

Till 2000, the complainant wrote a number of letters both to HUDA Gurgaon and the DCDRF Gurgaon. However, HUDA would not give possession without greasing the palms of officials, similarly DCDRF would not execute the order.

Ultimately the complainant addressed the whole case to the Chief Secretary Haryana who intervened and payment of interest till 1998 was released in 2000.

The matter was then taken up with the DCDRF Gurgaon who came up with the plea that old file had been lost.

Corruption is rampant in executive departments like HUDA, but now even quasi-judicial institutions are not lagging behind.

MRS RAJ KINRA, Bhiwani

The two greatest healers are God and Time

Principal Madhu Chandra in the article. “The Tick-Tock of Time Management” (NCR December 15 ), has rightly observed: “As the hands of a clock tick on, we realise that time truly does not wait for anyone and the winners are the ones who can make best use of time for work and pleasure.”

In this connection, I would like to share with the NCR readers, the views of eminent writers, philosophers and wise men about ‘Time’.

* Time is life. Wasting time is wasting one’s life.

* The two greatest healers are God and Time.

* Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear. Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice.

* Time creates and time destroys. Time is the fire and time the extinguisher. Time is God of good and evil. Time brings everything: Being and non-being, pleasure and pain.

Time cuts down and time creates something new. Time is awake when all things sleep. Time stands straight when all things fall. Time shuts in all and will not be shut. Is, was and shall be, are all time’s children.

ANUP KUMAR, New Delhi

Copying a curse in exams

A student copies in exam to pass or get good marks. He copies as he does not want to work hard. This way, he only spoils his future. A student can make his life better if he learns to work hard and will only mar his life if he depends on the crutches of copying. Students will have to change their thinking and mindset regarding copying in examination. Sanctity of examinations should be maintained at all costs. Students should not worry about a failure or two. Failures are the pillars of success. If a student works hard from the very beginning and maintains the pace, he would surely pass with flying colours. It is the hard work that pays in the long run, not copying. Copying is a curse.

A teacher plays a great role in conducting examinations.

He can stem the rot of copying by his grit and determination. A good teacher wants that his students should be successful in life. Keeping this idea in mind, he tries to teach his students sincerely and diligently. He tries to inculcate good habits and encourage them to do hard work in life. A good teacher becomes a role model of his students.

The education board and the university authorities should take such measures which may discourage students from adopting unfair means and encourage teachers to discharge their exam-duty honestly, efficiently and fearlessly. It is the teacher who can with the cooperation of parents/guardians and education board authorities put a stop to the menace of copying.

KARAN SINGH BAWWA, Rewari

Mini secretariat needed in Panipat

It has been published more than once in the esteemed columns of The Tribune that a mini secretariat in Panipat, opposite Tehsil Office on G T Road, will come up very soon, but nothing has happened so far. The government of Haryana has also informed the public in the press that dispute with the military authorities has since been settled, land acquired and possession taken

If this is correct, then what is the reason for delay in the construction of the secretariat.

It may be mentioned that the Government of Haryana is paying a huge amount in the shape of rent to the private building owners for various government offices functioning from such buildings.

Moreover, most of the government offices in rented buildings are located across the GT Road in Model Town. Industrial Area and other localities are on this side of the city whereas Tehsil Office, State Bank of India, Income Tax office etc are functioning on GT Road. All this creates a lot of difficulties to the general public.

It would be proper if the Government of Haryana orders the construction of the mini secretariat in Panipat without delay to save a lot of revenue spent on rents.

A. N. BHANDULA, Panipat

Vulgar portrayal of women

It is a matter of great satisfaction that Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad is seriously considering censoring of music videos and film promos as nudity has crossed all limitations. See any album on Star TV or any other channels, models flaunt their vital statistics in such a vulgar manner.

This has been revealed in the survey conducted in Delhi on the projection of women in media. People have agreed that there was a need to improve the portrayal of women in the media.

I fail to understand why women/models agree to unreasonable/objectionable demands of directors of concerned shows. After all, they have duties and responsibilities towards society to maintain decorum. One can be shown attractive even in full dresses.

SUBHASH C TANEJA, MDU, Rohtak
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CRIME
 

Man attacked with swords, rods, admitted to hospital
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 26
Suresh Khurana, a resident of Prem Colony, was seriously injured when he was attacked with swords and iron rods by armed youths while he was travelling in his car on the old DC road near Durga Mandir here last night.

According to a report, Mr Khurana sustained multiple injuries and his car was badly damaged. The alleged assailants had reportedly fired shots in the air to scare Mr Khurana, and thereafter assaulted him with swords and iron rods. On receipt of the information, the parents of Mr Khurana arrived on the scene and rushed him to the nearby hospital for treatment.

The police have registered a case in this connection and further investigations were in progress. However, the alleged assailants were still at large and a hunt was on to apprehend them.

Purse containing jewellery, cash snatched

In another case, two motorcycle-borne unidentified youths, snatched the purse of a young housewife, Mrs Seema, containing jewellery and Rs 200 near Canara Bank in the Model Town area here last evening.

According to a report, the woman was returning to her house on a rickshaw after purchasing some household articles from Ashok Nagar (kutche quarters) area.

When the rickshaw reached near the bank, two youths on a motorcycle snatched her purse.

Though the woman raised an alarm, the miscreants managed to escape on the motorcycle.

It is stated that the miscreants were trailing her from Ashok Nagar area itself. The woman reported the matter to the police for investigations. However, the police have failed to trace the miscreants.
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Suicide

Sonepat: Mystery shrouds the death of one Joginder, a resident of Rajpur village, who reportedly consumed sulphas tablets in his house last evening.

According to a report, the police seized the body and sent it for the postmortem examination. The police are still investigating into the case. OC
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BUSINESS
 

This mall promises cutting edge infrastructure with ultimate retail ambience
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
Scheduled for completion by last quarter of 2004, the ‘East Delhi Mall’ is said to be North India’s largest mall, spread over 3 lakh square feet, of which about 2 lakh square feet is available for retail. An innovative merchant mix that includes big box retailers and category retailers under the same roof as well as department stores and mall shops are planned.

In addition, the mall will have an entire floor devoted to a food court and entertainment, with three screen multiplex and amusement areas for children.

Fine dining restaurants with multi- cuisine options are planned on a separately designed floor.

An ideal venture for retail investments, the mall is very strategically situated, very close to the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), Anand Vihar, and the upcoming Metro railway hub. Designed to cater to the shopping and entertainment needs of over 45 lakh East Delhi and the NCR residents, the mall is just a few minutes walk for the Kaushambi residents.

The East Delhi Mall will boast of cutting edge infrastructure and the ultimate retail ambience when complete. Furthermore, an atrium with amphitheatre style seating is being designed to facilitate promotional activities.

The mall, which is being constructed on freehold land that promises low operating cost, is unbeatable. Designed by an internationally renowned concept architect, an attempt is being made to create a relaxing and an inviting atmosphere, with the use of earth tones and a variety of textures including glass, stone, concrete and painted metals. Highlights will include a red sandstone building facade, a 60-meter illuminated spire as a landmark to the location, along with granite stone flooring and porcelain tiles on the mall concourses.
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