Reservation for women demanded
BHIWANI, April 14 — A strong demand for 33 per cent reservation for women was raised at a convention held here yesterday on a call of the National Forum of Public Organisation at Kamla Bhavan.

Machine to repair potholes
SONEPAT, April 14 — The city and other parts of the district pressed into service a newly acquired potholes repair machine procured by the State Government at a cost of Rs 24 lakh.

Father accused of rape bid
ROHTAK, April 14 — Jogi Ram allegedly tried to rape his 14-year-old daughter at Gandhra village, 22 km from here, yesterday.

HVPN's special programme
CHANDIGARH, April 14 — Considering the enhanced demand and increased load of power during the ensuing paddy season, the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam has prepared a special short-term programme to strengthen the power transmission and distribution system in the State.

Forest workers demand probe
SONEPAT, April 14 — The general secretary of the Forest Department Mazdoor Union, Haryana, Mr Anand Sharma, today urged the State Government to order a high-level probe into complaints and irregularities regarding the plantation of saplings by certain officials of the department.

2 killed in bus-jeep collision
ROHTAK, April 14 — Two persons were killed following a head-on collision between a Haryana Roadways bus and a jeep near Lakhan Majra village today.

Drive to detect power theft
From Sameer Sabharwal

GURGAON, April 14 — "The Haryana Government has launched a statewide campaign to crack down on individuals and organisations indulging in theft of power," stating this to The Tribune here, Mr Ranjiv Dalal, Chief of the Vigilance Department, Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam, said that efforts in this regard had been continuing for quite some time, and the officials were working to identify and prosecute those misusing power connections.

Praising his staff for detecting incidents of power theft despite a small staff strength and sophisticated means employed by consumers, Mr Dalal, who was here to co-ordinate efforts with the newly created Dakshini Haryana Bijlee Vitaran Nigam Ltd (HVPN-South Zone), said the officials were at present focussing their efforts on industrial power theft, specially by 'seasonal industries' like rice shellers and cold stores.

At present the vigilance officials, have been targeting the large-supply and medium-supply industrial consumers and have detected several cases of power theft. Mr Dalal disclosed that a number of rice mills in the Gannaur belt had been found to be misusing their power connections, and severe penalties had been imposed on them.

"Several large-supply consumers who had to install a power transformer within their premises were found to be drawing power directly from the power lines bye-passing the meters, specially at night. At many such locations we were faced with 15 to 20 feet high boundary walls and uncooperative security staff, making the job of identifying and proving cases of power theft extremely difficult", said Mr Dalal.

The sophisticated means employed by consumers indulging in power theft was also a revelation, said Mr Dalal. He disclosed that for the first time in Haryana, remote controlled electronic devices were found to be used in meters for altering measurement of power consumption.

Mr Dalal made special mention of Sub-Inspector Mehr Singh who made this breakthrough possible by identifying and exposing the exact location of the electronic device fitted in the hampered meter of a steel plant in Yamunanagar despite repeated visits by electricity board officials being unable to find any tampering of the meter. The plant has since been imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh.

Mr Dalal explained that the sophisticated electronic circuit was fitted into the test terminal block (TTB), a hollow portion of the power meter, giving the consumer the capability to remote control the operation of the electricity meter.

Mr Dalal further disclosed that vigilance officials had recently raided all industrial sectors in Bhiwani and that 30-35 power theft cases had been registered.

He admitted that cases of the Maintenance & Protection (M&P) Laboratory officials were found to be colluding with consumers in tampering with meters and 'slowing down' meters given in the labs for testing to fight this menace, the officials had been trying to identify and take action against corrupt M&P staff, Mr Dalal said that recently the Rewari police had caught an M&P official accepting bribe, and several others across the state had also been arrested for putting 'slow counters' into electricity meters.

Further there was a move to abolish the pervasive M&P labs altogether, Mr Dalal pointed out that the cost of repairing a meter was quite high and that these might simply be replaced. He said the Karnataka Electricity board had already taken a lead in this direction and abolished M&P labs for 'routine testing'. He clarified that a few labs would be maintained at the state level for important electrical works.

After the large and medium-supply industrial consumers, the vigilance officials would also be focussing their efforts on consumers of commercial and domestic supply. Mr Dalal said that of 33 lakh electricity consumers in the state, 26 lakh were those subscribing to commercial or domestic power connections.

Mr Dalal hoped the menace of power theft would soon be minimised if not entirely removed easing the burden of high power tariff on the genuinely honest consumer. He expressed confidence that positive steps taken by the state government in respect to power generation and distribution would pay huge dividends for the state.

FARIDABAD (TNS): The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam has detected 253 cases of power theft here during a special drive launched on April 10, according to Mr G.R. Sharma, Superintending Engineer of the Nigam.

As many as 225 domestic consumers, 17 non-domestic and 11 by small consumers were found to stealing power. A penalty of Rs 25.60 lakh was imposed on the defaulters, out of which Rs 8 lakh had already been realised.

Mr Sharma said a special scheme had also been started here for taking the correct meter reading by deputing 60-ITI trained personnel to ensure correct billing. This scheme would ensure reduction in the consumers complaints regarding incorrect billing.

Punjabi leaders back Hooda
Tribune News Service

HANSI, April 14 — In a significant development, various Punjabi leaders from Haryana today accepted Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda as leader of the Pradesh Congress Committee and resolved to seek their due share in the ticket distribution. These leaders known for their loyalty towards Mr Bhajan Lal, including Lachhman Das Arora, Dharamvir Ghabha, Amir Chand Makkar, Subash Batra, and several others said, Ms Sonia Gandhi was their leader and whosoever was appointed by her as PCC president, was acceptable to them.

The Punjabi Sabha, Haryana, which has reactivated itself in the past six months had so far claimed to maintain an equal distance from Bhajan Lal and Bhupinder Singh Hooda. However, the Punjabi leaders today in unambiguous terms accepted the leadership of Mr Hooda, giving a major setback to Mr Bhajan Lal.

Today’s meeting here, was second of its kind as part of a statewide programme to mobilise the Punjabi community for fighting for its due share in the economic and political spheres. The first was held at Rohtak on March 28. The third meeting will be held at Kaithal. The Punjabi leaders, without mentioning any names criticised the traditional leadership for ignoring the interests of the Punjabis. They alleged that Punjabi leaders till now had been working for "self aggrandisement and promoting their personal interests" at the cost of the interests of the community.

A unanimous resolution passed today urged the Punjabi community to unite and fight for the interests of the community.

The resolution extended greetings to the people on the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa.

Reservation for women demanded
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, April 14 A strong demand for 33 per cent reservation for women was raised at a convention held here yesterday on a call of the National Forum of Public Organisation at Kamla Bhavan. The convention was jointly organised by the SFI, the Sarv Karmachari Sangh, the DYFI, CITU BEFI, Khet Mazdoor Union and Kiln Mazdoor Union, under the chairmanship of Ms Sunita Jindal, treasurer, Janwadi Mahila Samiti.

The women participants were told about the decision of the apex court regarding sexual harassment, exploitation of women in government offices. Creche facilities in offices and restoration of reduced holidays were also demanded.

The convention demanded the immediate implementation of the decision of the Supreme Court regarding exploitation of women.

Council plea to HVPN Chairman
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 14 — The Ambala Cantonment Citizens Council has expressed concern over the "malfunctioning" of the Babyal sub-station of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, which caters to the power requirements of over 50,000 population of Mahesh Nagar, Gobind Nagar and part of the Ambala Sadar area.

In a statement issued here today the General Secretary of the Council, Mr Ajay Jain, alleged that staff of the sub-station was indifferent towards consumers whose complaints were not being attended to for days together.

He said the electricity bills were being prepared and issued without proper meter reading, which resulted in over-billing. There was complete lack of coordination between officers and the staff of the sub-station. Many officers showed disinterest in their work for they wanted to be transferred to some other station.

Mr Jain alleged consumers had to pay for the repair and maintenance of the system. He urged the Chairman of the nigam to bifurcate the sub-station so that the civil area of the cantonment could be separated from bulk consumers like the MES, the defence establishments and the Railways.

Machine to repair potholes
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 14 — The city and other parts of the district pressed into service a newly acquired potholes repair machine procured by the State Government at a cost of Rs 24 lakh.

Disclosing this, Mr P.K. Mahapatra, Deputy Commissioner, told mediapersons here today that the machine was being used for the first time in Haryana. Instead of heating coal tar, the system of amalgamation of coal tar had been adopted and the repair work could be easily carried on even on wet days. He said 70 to 80 potholes could be filled in a day by the machine and the "bajri" of 10mm size, could be mixed with a great speed and potholes filled within that period. The use of rollers and carpeting was not required as the new machine could do all work systematically, he added.

He said in the past, the repairing of potholes and pits on the roads required a lot of labour. But under the new technology developed in foreign countries, the potholes repair machine was manufactured which performed many odd jobs like cleaning of potholes on the roads, cutting of stone material and sprinkling of coal tar on the roads automatically.

The Deputy Commissioner said the performance of the new machine had been quite satisfactory and the cost of the repair work had been decreased considerably.

Father accused of rape bid
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 14 — Jogi Ram allegedly tried to rape his 14-year-old daughter at Gandhra village, 22 km from here, yesterday.

According to a complaint lodged by the girl, Jogi Ram attempted to rape her when she was alone in the house. She said he threatened to kill her, if she told anyone about it.

It is reported that the accused had tried to rape her on several occasions earlier also and was one of the reasons behind the alleged suicide of the mother of the victim about a year also.

The police has registered a case under Sections 376, 511 and 506 of the IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

HVPN's special programme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 14 — Considering the enhanced demand and increased load of power during the ensuing paddy season, the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has prepared a special short-term programme to strengthen the power transmission and distribution system in the State.

Mr Attar Singh Saini, Minister of State for Power, said here today that the HVPN planned to commission 10 new sub-stations and augment the capacity of 11 existing sub-stations before June 30 next at a cost of about Rs 65 crore. The programme had been finalised in such a manner that there would be no hold up in meeting the khariff requirements. A special emphasis was being laid on the paddy growing areas of the State.

Mr Saini said an ambitious project comprising three 132 KV sub-stations and a 66 KV sub-station was at the completion stage in Kurukshetra district. One of the 132 KV sub-stations had already being commissioned at Pipli on April 10, while , the 132 KV sub-station at Pai and the 66 KV sub-station at Jathalana would be commissioned during May and June respectively. The project was being completed with the financial assistance of Rs 26.25 crore by the Overseas Economic Cooperative Fund (O.E.C.F.) of Japan. The other new sub-stations to be commissioned before June 30 in the paddy belt included a 220 KV sub-station at Sonepat, a 66 KV sub-station at Barnala and 33 KV sub-stations at Kabri, Kohand and Uplana.

The sub-stations which are to be augmented during that period include 220 KV sub-stations at Pehowa and Nissing, 132 KV sub-stations at Mahendergarh, Hansi, Rania, Narwana and Bahadurgarh, 66 KV sub-stations at Hodal and Jharsetli and 33 KV sub-stations at Ram Nagar, Bhatla and Mundhal.

Forest workers demand probe
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 14 — The general secretary of the Forest Department Mazdoor Union, Haryana, Mr Anand Sharma, today urged the State Government to order a high-level probe into complaints and irregularities regarding the plantation of saplings by certain officials of the department.

Addressing employees at Rai, 15 km from here, alleged that crores of rupees were being misappropriated by persons involved in the racket.

He also charged the State Government with adopting an anti-worker attitude and alleged that the employees of the department were being harassed by the authorities concerned.

He said a two-day annual conference of the union would be held on June 19 and 20 at Kaithal to chalk out a programme for launching a statewide agitation.

Meanwhile, the indefinite strike launched by the union in support of its demands entered its fifth day today.

2 killed in bus-jeep collision
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 14 — Two persons were killed following a head-on collision between a Haryana Roadways bus and a jeep near Lakhan Majra village today.

The deceased have not been identified so far. The Meham police has registered a case against the bus driver.

In a separate incident, certain youths of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh robbed Phool Singh of Mokhra village of Rs 79,000 today.

The Meham police has registered a case under Sections 323, 392, 395 and 506 of the IPC.