Chandigarh Kurukshetra Jind Panipat Rohtak Faridabad Gurgaon Bhiwani Hisar

Haryana to recruit 1800 constables
CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Haryana Government has decided to recruit 1800 constables. Mr Mani Ram Godara, Home Minister, said the process for recruitment would commence from July 1 at all district headquarters.

Zee chief’s plea dismissed

PGIMS employees robbed

‘Restore’ rebate on khadi products

Kanta Devi denies reports

Farmers block traffic

Case against 5 for killing peacocks

Plan to promote Haryana forests
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Haryana Forest Department has chalked out a comprehensive plan to promote forests under social forestry, territorial wing and community forestry projects in the state in the current financial year.

The Haryana Minister of State for Forest, Mr Jagdish Yadav, emphasised that from this year plantation along strips in compact block of at least 5 km stretch in multiple rows be raised as a measure of economy and effective protection. The social forestry wing would also take up five hectares or more compact block forestry operations on panchayat or community land. He directed the social forestry wing to take physical possession of land and raise plantation to avoid the chances of encroachment.

By introducing new varieties, the wood production of eucalyptus was expected to be raised by two to three times more than the local established eucalyptus plantations.

The minister stressed that 10 to 15 trees of pipal and neem might be planted at all bus stands, and every technical forestry official must adopt one such village for success of the groves.

The Haryana Forest Development Corporation would raise tall plants of all timber, shady and ornamental species for better planting stock and accountability. He stressed that as and when there was a sand storm or cyclone, the wind fallen trees must be removed at once to clear the roads and avoid theft.

Cong ‘may support’ HVP dissidents
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, June 3 — Mr Bhajan Lal, a former Haryana Chief Minister, today indicated that the Congress might extend support to the dissidents of the Haryana Vikas Party to form the government after the imminent fall of the Bansi Lal ministry in the state.

In an interview with TNS here, Mr Bhajan Lal claimed there was already an agreement between Mr Om Prakash Chautala and the BJP to withdraw support to the Bansi Lal government. This had been done as a condition after the INLD extended support to the BJP at the Centre.

The former Chief Minister felt that the days of the Bansi Lal government were numbered and it would fall any moment due to dissidence in the Haryana Vikas Party.

In reply to a question Mr Bhajan Lal said he would prefer to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections from Adampur if the state assembly was dissolved. Otherwise he would like to be fielded for the Lok Sabha from Karnal. Mr Bhajan Lal said there was no possibility of his contesting the Faridabad Lok Sabha seat.

Mr Bhajan Lal admitted there was groupism in the Haryana Congress but it was not to the extent of affecting the party’s poll prospects. All Congress workers and leaders were united under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi who would definitely form the government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha poll. The directions of Mrs Gandhi would be followed by all in letter and in spirit.

Referring to the campaign launched by some socalled Punjabi leaders against him, Mr Bhajan Lal said they did "not have the confidence" of the entire community. He considered himself as a Punjabi as he had migrated from Bhawalpur after Partition. No other Chief Minister had done so much for Punjabis as he had, he claimed.

Haryana to recruit 1800 constables
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Haryana Government has decided to recruit 1800 constables.

Mr Mani Ram Godara, Home Minister, said the process for recruitment would commence from July 1 at all district headquarters. The posts reserved for male constables would be filled by direct recruitment. All eligible candidates should report for registration on July 1 at any of the district headquarters.

Mr Godara said reservation against the posts of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Ex-Servicemen would be given only to the residents of the state. He added that such ex-servicemen would be eligible for recruitment who had been discharged after July 1, 1997, after obtaining the eligibility certificate from the District Sainik Board.

While enumerating the details of the district-wise breakdown of posts, Mr Godara said 100 posts each had been earmarked for Ambala, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Sirsa, Rohtak and Jhajjar, while 120 posts each for Hisar, Jind, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonepat and Karnal. Similarly, 60 posts each had been earmarked for Kurukshetra, Narnaul, Rewari and Panipat, 80 for Fatehabad, 20 for Panchkula and 140 for Bhiwani.

The minister said the candidate should be aged between 18 and 27 whereas a five-year age relaxation would be admissible to the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes. The height of general candidates should be 5'-7" and chest measurement should be 33 inches (without expansion) and 34½ inches (after expansion). One inch relaxation in height and chest would be given to the candidates belonging to SC and ST. The minimum qualification for the general candidates would be matriculation, whereas the candidates belonging to the SC and ST communities should have passed their middle standard examination.

Mr Godara said only those candidates who pass the prescribed physical tests would be called for interview.

Drive against land grabbers intensified
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, June 3 — The district administration has decided to intensify its campaign against encroachments in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Krishan Kumar, told TNS yesterday that all subdivisional magistrates had been asked to focus on the mafia and land grabbers who had encroached upon panchayat lands. Also, the authorities concerned had been directed to come down heavily on encroachers in the township.

According to him, the drive which started against encroachments in Gurgaon recently, was showing positive results.

The administration’s campaign against encroachments was due to several complaints to it. As the value of land in the township was higher in comparison to other districts, the mafia and miscreants were tempted to go in for illegal occupation of land.

Referring to the power situation in the township, Mr Krishan Kumar claimed that works relating to augmentation of some existing sub-stations and setting up of about eight new ones were in progress. Also, double circuit line from Magnum power plant in Sihi Sikanderpur village to here would be in place shortly. The plant, set up by a private company, generates 25 MGW. Presently, the supply from the plant is linked to the Samaipur grid in Delhi. On account of technical snag in the grid, the supply of power was disrupted.

According to him, soon 358 transformers would be augmented and 118 new ones set up.

He further said that a major drive had been launched against power thefts. So far this year, about 2000 theft cases were spotted and about 1350 criminal cases registered. A sum of Rs 250 lakh was imposed as penalty. So far about Rs 47 lakh had been procured.

With regards to the roads, he said that in the current year more than Rs 42 crore would be spent on laying down new roads and on repair works of other existing roads. A stretch of 30 km road would be laid down and a stretch of about 1,000 km road would be repaired, he added.

Power slab system costs Rs 40 cr

BHIWANI, June 3 (UNI) — The Haryana Government has incurred an expenditure of over Rs 40 crore on the implementation of 'slab system in power tariffs based on the depth of tubewells to agriculture sector' after the present government took over three years ago.

Stating this here today, the Chiairman of the Haryana Cooperative and Development Bank, Mr Narinder Singh, said the fourth slab of Rs 30 per HP for tubewells with more than 200 ft depth was implemented as soon as the legal hindrances were removed.

The farmers of desert-prone areas of the state would benefit from the slab system, he said, adding that prior to 1996, the slab system consisting of three tiers was applicable only in Mahendragarh, Bhiwani and Rewari districts whereas now it had been extended to all districts.

Mr Narinder Singh who is also an MLA from the Badhra constituency said the Bansi Lal Government had lowered the power tariff to Rs 30 per HP for desert-prone areas, even lower than the demand of farmers, and provided special relaxation to the farmers by waiving surcharge and interest on the long-outstanding bills.

He advised the farmers to make judicious use of power for irrigation purposes as scientists were of the view that if tubewells were operated for more than eight hours a day then in a few years people might face the problem of drinking water scarcity.

Mr Narinder Singh said the state government had spent Rs 5 crore on the construction of new waterworks in seven villages — Beejna, Paldi, Kalali, Ghasola, Adampur Dadi, Syamkalan and Govindpura in the past three years.

In addition 11 more villages would get potable water from these waterworks.

As many as 32 new deep tubewells were bored at a cost of Rs 2 crore in 30 villages of his constituency in the past three years where underground water was found fit for drinking purposes.

Consequently, the number of borings in the Badhra region had gone up to 54, he said, adding that apart from this, new pipelines at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore were laid in several villages.

Row over Dean’s appointment
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, June 3 — The appointment of an official of Maharshi Dayanand University as officiating Dean, College Development Council, has ballooned into a controversy following "differences" between the Vice-Chancellor and the Chancellor on the issue.

According to university sources, the Vice-Chancellor, Lt Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd), had ordered the appointment of Mr K.C. Dadhwal, Deputy Registrar, Colleges, as officiating Dean, College Development Council, on March 26 in addition to his own duties.

The order had said the arrangement would remain in force till further orders. But it is learnt that the office of the Chancellor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, objected to the appointment as Mr Dadhwal did not fulfil the requisite qualifications for the post. It is reported that only an academician (Professor) with at least 10 years' teaching experience could be appointed against this post.

It is learnt that an office order from the office of the Registrar was issued, which said, "Since the honourable Chancellor had annulled the office orders issued on March 26, 1999, vide endst no-11/99/p-363/3308/3492 vide which Mr K.C Dadhwal, Deputy Registrar, Colleges, was ordered to officiate as Dean in addition to his own duties as conveyed by the Secretary to the Governor-Chancellor vide his letter dated 11.5.99, Mr Dadhwal will cease to officiate as Dean, College Development Council, with effect from May 11, 1999. A copy of this letter was forwarded to all heads of teaching departments, Principals of all affiliated colleges, all branch heads of the university and the PA to the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-VC the Registrar and the Controller of Examination for information. The post of the Dean, Colleges, had fallen vacant following the retirement of Mr Kapoor Singh on February 28.

But the Vice-Chancellor refused to accept the order of the Chancellor and issued an order on May 24 that the earlier order through which the appointment of Mr Dadhwal as Dean, Colleges, had been withdrawn had been cancelled. The copy of this order was sent to all authorities concerned, including the Secretary to the Governor and the Chancellor. No communication has been received from the office of the Chancellor — since then in response to the decision of the Vice-Chancellor.

Phone bills to give details
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, June 3 — The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will start providing detailed billing of the STD and ISD calls to all telephone subscribers in Haryana shortly.

This was stated by the state Chief General Manager, Telecom, Mr I.K. Mangla, after inaugurating a customer service centre at the telephone exchange building here yesterday.

Mr Mangla said the detailed billing facility was being provided at a few revenue district headquarters in the state earlier but the reason for not extending it to the remaining revenue districts was departmental limitations.

Talking about the extension of telephone services in rural areas, Mr Mangla admitted that the department could not maintain better services in rural arrears due to shortage and tripping of electric supply, but said the services were likely to be improved after June 30, if electric supply was maintained as repeatedly declared by the state government. Besides, optical fibre would be provided in the rural telephone exchanges by 2001.

On providing wireless telephones to subscribers enabling them to communicate within municipal limits by using cordless instruments, Mr Mangla said this facility had been provided in Panipat on an experimental basis and if found successful would be extended to other districts in Haryana.

He said the department was likely to lose Rs 2 crore during the year due to the introduction of new telephone call tariff introduced from May 1.

Speaking on the occasion, the General Manager, Telecom,Karnal Circle, Mr A.K. Nagpal, said the local telephone exchange would be expanded by adding 5,000 new lines while the telephone exchanges at Ladwa, Pehowa and Shahabad would be provided 1,000 additional lines each during the current financial year. Similarly, 500 to 1,000 lines would be added to the rural telephone exchanges in Karnal, while 19 rural telephone exchanges including Jhansi would be attached to Kurukshetra. Besides, computerised fault repair services would be introduced at Ladwa, Pehowa and Shahabad during the year, he added.

He said the customer service centre here would provide all types of information to the subscribers regarding booking of new telephone connections, shifting of telephones, issue of duplicate bills and their deposit etc.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.N. Roy, inaugurated a C-DoT card repair centre and centralised operation and maintenance control room for rural exchanges. This would help the department to avoid public complaints by repairing faulty cards of all C-DoT exchanges locally.

BJP's Kargil handling draws flak
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Haryana Congress today accused the BJP-led Central Government of "mindless handling" of the sensitive situation in the Kargil sector which had led to martyrdom of several military officers and jawans.

In a joint statement here today the President and General Secretary of the party, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Dr Ram Prakash, respectively, and Mrs Kartar Devi, acting Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, alleged that by issuing self-contradictory statements the trio of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr L.K. Advani and Mr George Fernandes had made a mockery of the situation and also gave a clear indication of their "mindless handling" of the sensitive matter.

While Mr Fernandes absolved the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, and his government of the responsibility of sending intruders into the Kargil sector, Mr Advani blamed Mr Sharif for the intrusion. Similarly Mr Fernandes promised a "safe passage" to the intruders, Mr Vajpayee said a proposal in this regard could be considered.

Demanding immediate action against Mr Fernandes for persistently issuing statements which tended to demoralise the Indian forces, the Congress leaders urged the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, to review the situation and take appropriate steps to lead the nation at this critical juncture when the Lok Sabha did not exist.

Meanwhile, Mr Hooda has directed the party units and functionaries to attend the cremation of the martyrs who laid down their lives in the defence of the country in their respective areas. The partymen have also been directed to extend all possible help and assistance to the bereaved families.

Mr Hooda criticised the HVP-BJP Government of Haryana for not announcing special help and assistance to the families of the martyrs of the Kargil sector as had been done by the other states.

Recognise ayurvedic docs: NIMA
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, June 3 — The local Unit of the National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA), consisting of ayurvedic doctors today urged the Haryana Government to recognise its members as qualified "integrated medical practitioners".

At a meeting of the general body of NIMA’s local unit, members expressed concern over the restriction on them from practising allopathic medicine. The restriction was imposed on them by the state government even though the Supreme Court had given a ruling in their favour.

The President of the local unit of NIMA, Dr S.D. Sharma, claimed that almost all states, had withdrawn the restriction, but the ‘regressive’ measure continued in Haryana.

In a separate resolution NIMA demanded creation of a separate cadre and setting up of special directorate to handle all matters related to BAMS doctors, as was the case in Tamil Nadu.

The association raised objection to the imposition of certain taxes on setting up of private clinics and hospitals under the present Act. A demand was also made for abolishing the Punjab Shop and Commercial Establishment Act 1958.

It lamented that the election to the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicines, Haryana, had not been held since its inception in 1970. Due representation should be given to NIMA in all state government bodies concerning medical practitioners, it was demanded.

In another resolution NIMA sought that "integrated graduates" be treated on a par with allopathic graduates in terms of pay scales and services.

Hooda ridicules Chautala
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 3 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President, Haryana Pradesh Congress (I) Committee, has ridiculed Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, for blaming the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, for the intrusion of Pakistan-trained infiltrators and foreign mercenaries in the Kargil sector of the Kashmir valley.

Mr Hooda said Mr Chautala appeared to be speaking so irresponsibly, perhaps, to please the BJP leadership for seeking its help to secure tie-up in the coming Lok Sabha elections so that his party, the INLD, could have some gains. The present scenario and the writing on the wall clearly suggested a total wipe out of the INLD, the BJP and of course, the latter's alliance partner in Haryana, the Haryana. Vikas Party, due to utter failure of the alliance government's three year misrule and the ever-changing, clandestinely, stand of Mr Chautala to befool the people of Haryana.

Mr Hooda asked Mr Chautala to be reasonable and honest while assessing the total failure of the BJP's foreign policy while dealing with Pakistan which has never been friendly and had thrust two wars on India.

4 HAU college students suspended
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, June 3 — Four students of College of Agriculture of Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) were today placed under suspension by Dr R.D. Sharma, Dean, College of Agriculture, on the charge of unauthorisedly entering girls hostel of Home Science College last night.

Those who were suspended were Neeraj, Sudama, Sanjay Deswal, and Punit Nagar. Dr Prashar said the matter had been send to the central disciplinary committee for further action.

Earlier, the girls students of College of Home Science of the university this morning staged a dharna in front of the Administrative Block of the university and raised slogans to demand action against the students who entered Gangotri Hostel last night at about 1.30 a.m.

They alleged that no immediate steps were taken by the authorities though the matter was brought to them immediately. The securityman posted at the time was also informed but he also did not take any action.

The girl students also criticised the functioning of Dr Umed Singh Dahiya, DSW, who according to them did not take the matter seriously. The dharna was lifted later on following an assurance given by Mr Viney Kumar, Registrar of the university.

Zee chief’s plea dismissed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 3 — Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a writ petition filed by Mr Subhash Goenka, Chairman of Zee Telefilms, praying for quashing a criminal complaint against him by former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhajan Lal.

The complaint against Mr Goenka is pending in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Chandigarh.

In his complaint, Mr Bhajan Lal had stated that Mr Subhash Goenka and two more had intentionally broadcast a news about a raid on his house at Mandi Adampur and Hisar on October 20, 1996, with a view to defaming him.

The other two accused in the criminal complaint are the News Editor and the News Reader.

Case will come up before the Chief Judicial Magistrate for further proceedings on June 5, 1999.

Kanta Devi denies reports
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 3 — Despite the fact that she was not available to those who visited the secretariat in the past several days and was reportedly at some undeclared and unknown destination, the Haryana Minister of State for Ayurveda, Mrs Kanta Devi, today took exception to the reports appearing in a section of the press today that she was sent on 'Bharat darshan'.

She clarified that last week she remained in Chandigarh and Jhajjar and in the present week she visited her Assembly constituency Jhajjar only for two days, where she heard public grievances and ordered officers concerned to resolve them. While in Chandigarh, she claimed that "she had attended to the official matters and met the public regularly".

She said she had nothing to do with the dissidents' activities.

PGIMS employees robbed
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, June 3 — Three unidentified youths armed with knives robbed employees of Pt. B.D. Sharma post-graduate Institute of Medical Sciences of a cash amount of Rs 3.27 lakh today.

Two employees, including a cashier, sustained knife injuries in the incident.

According to information, the miscreants who were standing a few yards away from the gate of the State Bank of India, at Civil Road attacked Amar Singh and Om Parkash who were going after withdrawing the cash from the bank. They took away a bag containing Rs 3.27 lakh and fled away.

Farmers block traffic
From Our Correspondent

JIND, June 3 — Farmers of Kila Zafrgarh village in this district blocked traffic on the Jind-Rohtak road for about two hours today to protest against the inadequate" supply of canal water.

The farmers alleged that they had not been getting adequate water for irrigation for the past about six months and their crops were withering.

The protest ended after the district authorities assured them they would get adequate water in future.

‘Restore’ rebate on khadi products
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, June 3 — Secretary of the northern region of the Bharatiya Khadi Gramodyog Sangh and president of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Mahesh Dutt Sharma has urged the central government to restore concessional facilities on the sale of khadi products of the units linked with the sangh.

According to Mr Sharma, the government has withdrawn this facility from the beginning of the current financial year and the decision might render lakhs of artisans jobless.

He stated that the khadi gramodyog was providing employment to more than 56 lakh rural craftsmen of about 2.50 lakh villages in the country and at present khadi production had reached a level of Rs 4519.31 crore.

Demanding 5 per cent concession on general sale throughout the year and additional 10 per cent special concession on the Gandhi Jayanti, Mr Sharma said it would safeguard the employment of lakhs of artisans.

Case against 5 for killing peacocks
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, June 3 — Mr B.K. Panigrahi, Deputy Commissioner, yesterday directed the police to register a case against five persons of Dungarpur village for killing three peacocks, the protected national birds.

The Deputy Commissioner took the action after residents of the village complained to him at a khulla durbar here today. The arrest of the accused and confiscation of their weapons had also been ordered.

The accused are Rudhar, Zakhru, Nabab Mohammed, Maulana and Ashraf. They shot the peacocks in temple of Kishorepur village.

The villagers also beat up two of the accused, but they escaped.

The villagers alleged that so far 40 peacocks had been killed by the hunters.