 |
|
|
Opposition to canal due to political reasons: CM
Bird flu: Haryana calls emergency meeting
Only-girl couples to get pension earlier
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
NSG for coordination to fight terror
Manesar (Gurgaon), February 18 Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG) A.K. Mitra yesterday lamented the absence of representatives from disturbed states of Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to attend the sixth two-day international seminar relating to facets of bombing incidents in the country.
Fed up with foul smell, residents take to streets
Women force liquor
smugglers
to flee
Students develop cough, examined
ITI students, staff submit memos
Missing sisters return home
Jal yatra flagged off
VC stresses on self-employment
|
|
Opposition to canal due to political reasons: CM
Dhidwana (Safidon), February 18 Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation of the 110-km canal here, Mr Hooda said the opposition of these leaders to the canal was motivated by the same considerations which had guided their opposition to the SYL canal. He said Haryana was constructing the canal to ensure equitable distribution of available canal water to all the districts. One area of the state had been getting more canal water at the cost of 16 districts for the past 30 years. The canal was being constructed on Haryana land and no one had the right to object to it. Mr Hooda said while he could understand the opposition of the Punjab leaders, the objections raised by Mr Chautala was surprising. He also criticised Mr Ajay Chautala, INLD MP, for threatening a civil war if the canal was completed. He said these were the leaders who talked of public service before the elections, but immediately on coming to power indulged in self-service. He also announced that the Dadupur-Nalvi canal project, which had been lingering on for several years, would start next month. A meeting of the Upper Yamuna Board had been convened in Delhi on March 1 by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to sort out the issues relating to the construction of three dams on the Yamuna, which would ensure maximum utilisation of the river water. The Haryana Assembly Speaker, Dr Raghubir Singh Kadian, said that Mr Hooda had taken a step forward in fulfilling his promise of equitable distribution of water, which he had made while addressing the Jal Yudh Rally in Jhajjar as the President of the Haryana Congress. The Finance Minister, Mr Birender Singh, said the people of this area had been discriminated for the last 30 years on the issue of distribution of water due to political reasons. Whenever the people demanded water the issue of SYL canal used to be aired to divert their attention. |
|
Bird flu: Haryana calls emergency meeting Chandigarh, February 18 The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Mr H.C. Disodia, told TNS that since Haryana was a surplus state in poultry products, no birds were imported from outside the state. Therefore, there was no serious threat of bird flu breaking out in the state. He said his department had held a meeting of its officers as early as November last to take preventive measures. The state had sufficient quantity of medicines and all necessary equipment to fight bird flu. Haryana has about 950 poultry farms, concentrated mainly in the Barwala, Palwal and Gurgaon areas. Mr Disodia said the three belts had already been cordoned off. The poultry bird population in Haryana is 1.36 crore. Mr Disodia said so far 350 samples had been analysed for bird flu and all had been found negative. The state has two main bird
sanctuaries in Sultanpur in Gurgaon district and Bhindawas in Jhajjar district, which attract migratory birds in the winter. Dr K.S. Dangi, Director, Animal Husbandry, said since the weather this February was warmer, migratory birds were already on their way back to their homes. Dr Dangi said a review meeting of the
department officers was held three days ago and no case of bird flu was reported from the state. Still, following reports of bird flu from Maharashtra, field officers had been asked to remain on alert.
|
|
|
Woman gets pregnant with sister’s egg cells
Hisar, February 18 According to her case history, the size of her uterus was only 3.5 cm and she had never had periods. She has been married for several years and was taken for a medical check-up. In the first phase of treatment, she was given injections to develop ova for six months, but to no avail. Then, with the consent of the family, egg cells were taken from Anita’s sister and sperm cells from her husband. Following this, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique was adopted and the zygote thus developed was implanted in Anita’s uterus. Anita is now five months pregnant and her ultrasound and other medical tests show that the growth of the foetus is normal and healthy. “It can be termed a miracle of nature that after the embryo implant, Anita’s uterus expanded with its growth and has shown positive results,” says Dr Anurag Bishnoi, who is looking after the case. The doctor asserts that the success rate in adopting this technique is 30 to 40 per cent, but it is a sound procedure and can be safely followed. He claims that by adopting the embryo transfer technique, a woman can get pregnant with the help of donated egg cells even after attaining menopause. The fertility centre, at which the first test-tube baby in Haryana was delivered in May, 2002, has again achieved another milestone with this novel case. |
|
Only-girl couples to get pension earlier
Hisar, February 18 Stating this here yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar Gupta, said the trend had become alarming as according to the Census, there were 861 women against 1,000 men in Haryana. “What is even more shocking is that in the age group of 0 to 6 years, there are only 819 girls against 1,000 boys,” Mr Gupta observed, adding that the sex ratio was even more skewed in certain districts of the state. According to official figures, there are 771 women against 1,000 men in Kurukshetra, while the ratio is 788:1000 in Sonepat, 782:1000 in Ambala, 791:1000 in Kaithal and 799:1000 in Rohtak district. The Deputy Commissioner asserted that a two-pronged strategy had been adopted to check the anti-social practice. “Under this strategy, several schemes have been started to encourage the birth of girls whereas on the other hand, those involved in foeticide are being subjected to rigorous punishment,” he maintained. Mr Gupta disclosed that to encourage the birth of girls, the couples having only daughter(s) would now get the old-age allowance of Rs 300 from the age of 55 years instead of 60 years. Under the “Laadli” scheme implemented by the state government, an amount of Rs 5,000 every year for five years would be provided to parents on the birth of a second child. To strictly enforce the provisions of the PNDT Act, 2002, task forces have been constituted at the district as well as state level. Owners of ultrasound clinics or diagnostic centres found violating the provisions of the Act are liable to be prosecuted. “The licences of such clinics are cancelled and FIRs registered against the owners,” the Deputy Commissioner affirmed.
|
|
NSG for coordination to fight terror
Manesar (Gurgaon), February 18 The seminar, organised by the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) of the NSG, concluded here today. The seminar was attended by delegates from countries like the UK, Canada, Singapore and Germany, besides state police departments, the BSF, the CRPF, the ITBP, the IB, the NICFS, Delhi, the CFSL, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, the Army Bomb Disposal Unit, the Bureau of Civil Aviation, the Cabinet Secretariat, etc. The seminar dealt with contemporary issues pertaining to all facets of bombing incidents, including their detection, neutralisation and investigation of post-blast effects/incidents all over the country. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mitra said he was sorry to note that the three states did not send their representatives to the seminar. He advocated coordination and exchange of views at international level to fight terrorism. He observed that the profile of the militants had changed. They had sound technological background and were adept at manufacturing devices and explosives that, at times, were hard to detect. It posed a grave challenge for the law enforcement agencies and those involved in anti-terrorism operations, he added. He hoped that those involved in counter-terrorism operations were nimble in chalking out their strategies to be one up on their adversaries. He said flexibility of approach and strategies by the security forces was important. The NBDC has been indulging in collating, analysing and disseminating information on bombing incidents to all government agencies. |
|
Fed up with foul smell, residents take to streets
Yamunanagar, February 18 There are at least 88 points in the twin townships from where garbage and other solid waste material is directly flowing into the sewerage. The two municipal committees of Jagadhri and Yamunanagar have failed to install proper ‘screening chambers’ at the points and hence solid waste directly goes down the sewer system. The MC, Yamunanagar, needs to construct at least 60 screening chambers and the MC, Jagadhri, has to set up 28 chambers. Sources in the two committees cited shortage of funds as the reason behind not setting up the chambers. Residents of Bhatia Nagar, bus stand area, those living on the rear side of Sant Nishcal Singh School and Sarojni Colony have also been facing problems of choked sewers and foul smell every now and then. Sewer lines often get clogged in the Industrial Area here. On Thursday residents of Dashmesh Colony first reached the Public Health Department and later the Municipal Committee’s office and raised slogans. Sources said that it had also been found that some of the Class four employees broke the existing screen chambers so that they could directly put the solid waste into the system and hence save themselves from additional labour of dumping garbage at proper places. Earlier, Mr K.K Jain, Executive Officer, MC – Yamunanagar, had said that his department was conducting a survey to identify spots where there was requirement of screening chambers. He said the matter was being taken up on priority basis. Executive officer of MC, Jagadhri, Mr Jagdish Lal Batra, had said that the committee had already constructed 22 screening chambers and more chambers would be set up very soon. Mr Prem Singh, Executive Engineer of Public Health Department said his department was promptly removing blockages in case of complaints. According to him, it is only the solid waste and garbage from outside that is choking the sewers. |
|
Women force liquor
smugglers
to flee
Yamunanagar, February 18 On several occasions, complaints were made to the police and other authorities but illicit liquor continued to flow in the village. Villagers said liquor was being sold at three places. The smugglers used to bring liquor in a van and sell it to villagers. “The smugglers were spoiling our children,” complained Ms Ramvati. According to Ms Shyamo, several complaints were made to the police but no action was taken. On Thursday, around 50 women from the village, armed with sticks and carrying kerosene cans gheraoed the van and threatened to burn the vehicle. The smugglers somehow managed to calm them before fleeing. They also promised that in future they would never come to the village. |
|
Students develop cough, examined
Yamunanagar, February 18 There are reports that a large number of children of Government High School in the neighbouring Mandar village have also developed cough over the past few days. The doctors have advised the students to abstain from school for three or four days. The blood tests and X-ray reports of the students revealed that they were suffering from an infection of the upper respiratory tract and there was nothing to panic. Dr B.R. Deshwal, child specialist, said about 15 students were suffering from bronchitis and the rest had normal cough which would be cured with medicines. Sources said all 45 children of the school had developed cough over the past 15 days. |
|
ITI students, staff submit memos
Karnal, February 18 Terming the statement of Haryana Industrial Training and Vocational Education Director as misleading, the employees of ITI Karnal continued their protest against setting up of a society to look after its day-to-day functioning. District general secretary of Haryana Industrial Training Technical Employees Welfare Union, Naresh Jain, and its vice-president Suresh Dhanda said that setting of the society was a first step towards privatisation of ITIs. Union leaders said the technical staff of all the 78 ITIs in the state would boycott the proposed exhibition at Ambala on February 20. |
|
Missing sisters return home
Hisar, February 18 The girls’ father, Mr Gauri Shankar, who is a BSNL employee, had lodged an FIR at the Mill Gate police post, alleging that his daughters had been abducted. Some local residents and BSNL employees had been staging a dharna for prompt action. However, it later turned out that the girls had gone to their uncle’s house at their village located in Hoshiarpur district. On getting information in this regard, a police team was sent to the village to bring back the girls. On being questioned by the police, Rekha, (15) and Jyoti, (14) stated that they had gone to their village by train themselves. After getting their statements registered in the presence of a Magistrate, the police handed over the girls to their parents. |
|
Jal yatra flagged off
Sirsa, February 18 He was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the beginning of Jal Swaraj Yatra at Dhaulpalia village under Ellenabad subdivision of the district here late last evening. The yatra, which is slated to cover 250 villages falling under Hisar division, was flagged off by the Divisional Commissioner, Mr R.R. Fuliya. A number of youths are taking the message of water conservation to villages on bicycles as part of the yatra being organised jointly by the Nehru Yuva Kendra, district administration and District Rural Development Authority. |
|
VC stresses on self-employment
Hisar, February 18 He said with the declining job opportunities in the public sector, it was imperative for the students to make their way either into the private sector or go in for self-employment. Dr Katyal was addressing students of the university yesterday for the first time after taking over as Vice-Chancellor. Dr Katyal, who was earlier Deputy Director General (Education) at the ICAR, maintained that the employment prospects had never been gloomy for agricultural graduates even though the challenges in the agriculture sector persisted for the past over hundred years. Earlier, the Director of Students Welfare, Dr R.S. Balyan, welcomed Dr Katyal on behalf of the students. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
