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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Tuesday, November 23, 1999 |
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7 lakh throng Kapal Mochan mela YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 22 — More than 7 lakh devotees assembled from different parts of the northern India, visited the Kapal Mochan mela today to take a holy dip tomorrow morning i.e. on 'Kartika Purnima. State commission for
women to be set up |
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Pollution poses threat to people's health SONEPAT, Nov 22 — Sonepat is the most polluted town in the state. The biggest source of pollution being the cooperative sugar mill situated on the outskirts of the city. Life
term for raping niece Three
suicides in Rohtak Coercive
'donations' condemned Plea
to make new bus stand operational Chauhan
appointed Fire
in godown: three booked |
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7 lakh throng Kapal Mochan mela YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 22 — More than 7 lakh devotees assembled from different parts of the northern India, visited the Kapal Mochan mela today to take a holy dip tomorrow morning i.e. on 'Kartika Purnima. A big rush was witnessed at the site, about 28 km from here. The main emphasises of the mela is on unity and integrity of Hindus and Sikhs. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajiv Sharma, and the Superintendent of Police, Mr K.K. Sindhu, Yamunanagar, who are camping at the mela site, said the figure of devotees was expected to touch 8 lakh by tomorrow morning because thousands of local people would visit the mela at night to take a holy dip. They claimed that it was an incident-free mela and that no untoward incident had been reported. People from different places came along with the entire family to attend the historic mela. The Deputy Commissioner stated that 2200 children were given polio drops at the mela site yesterday and six pulse polio immunization posts for children up to five years had been installed. He added that there were fire-fighting arrangements and four Fire Brigade personnel had been summoned as a precautionary measure. Proper arrangements had been made for the pilgrims and all three tanks — 'Kapal Mochan', Rin Mochan and Suraj Kund — had been cleaned. Boats were kept ready to avoid any eventuality. The North Zone Cultural Centre and sent a team to entertain the pilgrims at the mela site. Mr A.K. Verma, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jagadhri, has been designated as the mela Magistrate. The Deputy Commissioner further said that the Union Government had allocated Rs 1.5 crore for the martial arts museum, for which seven acres of land had been purchased. The SP said the mela had been divided into 10 blocks and 1500 policemen, including Home Guards, had been deputed to maintain law and order. He appealed to the people to help the administration in maintaining law and order. He stated that 60 women cops had also been deputed at the mela site. Dr Manohar Lal Dutta, who has been visiting the mela for the past 45 years, came along with 200 volunteers of the All-India Sewa Samiti (Ambala cantt). He said this year the arrangements were better than last year. He complimented the administration for providing proper civic amenities at the mela site. Malkeet Singh who introduced himself as an MLA of Barnala before the Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, said that he had brought many people of Barnala (Punjab) in 100 trucks to witness the mela. He said ‘langar’ to 15000 persons was being provided by them at the site. In 10 km area of the mela site, the employees of the Public Relations Department had provided a facility to the people who could lodge complaints of missing. The mela which has been declared a state fair has been provided about Rs 5 lakh by the state government. Mr D.P. Singh, Mela Administration and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jagadhri, said Rs 1.47 lakh had been received as toll tax till yesterday evening and Rs 47000 as Tehbazari. He further said that the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Mr Dushai Swami Raju, also had a round of the mela. A 60-year-old woman Mrs Mukhtiar Kaur also praised the administration for providing electricity and proper civic amenities. Mr Santokh Nath of Fatehabad Sahib said that he had been visiting the mela for the past 30 years and that there was a lot of improvement in the arrangements. Some of the naga sadhus, Shankar Sharan Jyati of Himachal Pardesh and Baba Santosh Dass of Uttar Pradesh, were also satisfied with the arrangements. The administration claimed that the rate of essential commodities had also been fixed. Deputed to maintain law and order. He appealed to the people to help the administration in maintaining law and order. He stated that 60 women cops had also been deputed at the mela site. Dr Manohar Lal Dutta, who has been visiting the mela for the past 45 years, came along with 200 volunteers of the All-India Sewa Samiti (Ambala cantt). He said this year the arrangements were better than last year. He complimented the administration for providing proper civic amenities at the mela site. Malkeet Singh who introduced himself as an MLA of Barnala before the Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, said that he had brought many people of Barnala (Punjab) in 100 trucks to witness the mela. He said ‘langar’ to 15000 persons was being provided by them at the site. In 10 km area of the mela site, the employees of the Public Relations Department had provided a facility to the people who could lodge complaints of missing. The mela which has been declared a state fair has been provided about Rs 5 lakh by the state government. Mr D.P. Singh, Mela Administration and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jagadhri, said Rs 1.47 lakh had been received as toll tax till yesterday evening and Rs 47000 as Tehbazari. He further said that the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Mr Dushai Swami Raju, also had a round of the mela. A 60-year-old woman Mrs Mukhtiar Kaur also praised the administration for providing electricity and proper civic amenities. Mr Santokh Nath of
Fatehabad Sahib said that he had been visiting the mela
for the past 30 years and that there was a lot of
improvement in the arrangements. Some of the naga sadhus,
Shankar Sharan Jyati of Himachal Pardesh and Baba Santosh
Dass of Uttar Pradesh, were also satisfied with the
arrangements. The administration claimed that the rate of
essential commodities had also been fixed. |
State commission for women to
be set up CHANDIGARH, Nov. 22 — The Haryana Government will set up a state commission for women to improve the status of women. A decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here today. The commission would act as a consultative body to advise the government on legislative and developmental policies concerning the women. It would undertake necessary steps at the level of the Government and public to protect constitutional and legal rights of the women in general and the poor amongst them in particular. It would also inspect police stations, lockups, sub jails, rescue homes or other places of custody where women are kept so as to find out the facilities available and treatment given to them. It would also seek remedial action, if any, required from the appropriate authorities. It would also conduct public interest litigations on behalf of groups of women and in special individual cases of women who suffer injustice or discrimination. The commission would approach and wherever necessary assist the family courts on behalf of the women to ensure justice in matrimonial disputes. The commission would have three members and the majority of them would be women with distinguished service for the welfare of women and experience in the field of women development. The other members would have experience dealing with the problems of women and expertise in the fields of law, education, public administration, economic development, social welfare and women welfare. The Director, Women and Child Development, and the Director General of Police would be its ex-officio members. The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Town and Country Planning Department to transfer six old mandis from the Department of Colonisation to the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board. These mandis are Ateli, Kanina, Mahendragarh, Uchana, Safidon and Satnali. The Cabinet also agreed to transfer free of cost the building and land of Nabha House at Kurukshetra measuring eight kanals and 16 marlas to the Kurukshetra Development for development purposes. The proposal of the Town and Country Planning Department to amend the zoning regulations in controlled areas of the State was also approved. The amendment would enable the government to install microwave towers or stations, seismic centres and telecommunication centres etc, in the agriculture zone. It would also enable the government to provide public utility services like transmission and communication lines, water supply and sewage lines in the statutory green belts along the national highways. The most important outcome of the amendment would be that from now on three-star or even five-star hotels can be constructed in residential zones on land measuring between two to five acres with certain conditions. The Cabinet also granted
permission for the setting up of small restaurants and
motels along the national highways in the agriculture
zone. An official spokesman said here today that this
would provide better amenities to the road users besides
catering to the needs of the medium and low-budget
tourists. |
Lake dying slow death PANIPAT: Hali lake, a beautiful picnic spot named after famous urdu poet Altaf Hussain Hali, has fallen on bad days. What was once a paradise for newly married couples who could be seen enjoying paddle boating, has now turned into a pond of rubbish and polluted water. Residents of this area are witness to the painful death of this beautiful lake. Hardly 200 yards from the camp office of the Deputy Commissioner of Panipat, the lake has reached this condition due to the negligence of the administration and the indifferent attitude of the local public. Water in the lake stinks so much that none dares go near it, what to speak of boating and other activities. According to a local resident, water is so polluted that it has shopped breeding fish. Even pelicans shun this water feature. On the other hand, animals, especially buffaloes, have made the lake their permanent abode. It is learnt that apart from the highly polluted coloured water from dye factories, sewage from adjoining colonies has been flowing into the lake since long, polluting this once-popular picnic spot. Morning walkers who frequent this area are perhaps ignorant that they are inhaling polluted air. It is high time the
district administration, social organisations NGOs and
residents of this area make concerted efforts to prevent
the lake from dying a slow death. |
Pollution poses threat to people's
health SONEPAT, Nov 22 — Sonepat is the most polluted town in the state. The biggest source of pollution being the cooperative sugar mill situated on the outskirts of the city. Pollution of air, water and noise pose serious threat to the health of the residents. The city has a large number of small, medium and big industries like engineering units. Industrial turnover of Sonepat is reported to have crossed over Rs 100 crore per year and the number of industrial workers is around 30,000. Pollution Control Board officials said that air pollution caused by the sugar mills is dangerous and the authorities have been directed to take steps to check it. Officials said that the problem was of the dust and high amount of ash contents in the air and this had led to the spread of asthma, bronchitis aggravated tuberculosis. Diesel vehicles are also polluting air with exhaust fans. Water of tubewells installed by the Public Health Department near Murthal village, 8 km from here, which is said to be fit for drinking with conventional treatment, does not remain fit for drinking after flowing through the main reservoirs even with conventional treatment. Monitoring of ambient air-ground water, soil, irrigated by the Drain No.6, has shown an alarming picture in this city. Consumption of vegetables grown in such soil poses a health hazards. The Sonepat Municipal Council, the Public Health Department and the Pollution Control Board are said to be responsible for the pollution in this city. According to Pollution Control Board officials, the main cause of the pollution in this city is the domestic sewage which is discharged into the drain no. 6. The Sonepat Municipal Council has not set up any treatment plant. The drain no. 6 which earlier used to carry the rain water, now carries sewage. Burning of rice husk by industrial units and the rice shellers is another source of pollution. Burnt rice hust is stocked on the main roads and this causes eye ailments. Authorities concerned have never bothered to challan the industrial units and rice shellers which cause such type of pollution. The discharge of the effluents on the roads outside the factories has caused damage to the roads in the industrial area as well as the nearby agricultural land. The focal points are in the industrial area of Sonepat, Jahri village and the Sonepat-Murthal road near Haryana Breweries. The Sonepat-Kakroi road near a rice sheller is another point where the situation has worsened. Effluents keep stagnating on the roads as a result of which big pot holes have occurred and it is difficult for the vehicles to pass through these roads. The Atlas Cycle Industries had installed its own treatment plant but some of other units are discharging the effluents direct into the sewerage system in violation of the laws. All this is happening in connivance with the authorities concerned. Roads get damaged before these are repaired. Cost of repair of these roads rises every time. The Pollution Control Board Authorities have failed to prepare any action plan for tackling the problem of pollution in the city. There is no proper
outlet for the sewage and it is being desposed of at a
number of places without being treated. Similarly, the
garbage requires to be disposed of in a proper manner. |
Life term for raping niece SIRSA, Nov 22 — District and Session Judge, Nirmala Yadav sentenced to life and fined Rs 750 an accused in a rape case. According to information
Jagga Singh of Sangrur district in Punjab was accused of
raping and stabbing his niece in Mallekan village in the
district. The girl had died . The police had arrested the
accused on the complaint of Bhola Singh, father of the
dead girl, Jagga Singh was arrested the next day. The
court found him guilty and awarded the punishment. |
Three suicides in Rohtak ROHTAK, Nov 22 — At least three persons committed suicide in the district in the past 24 hours. According to information, a labourer, Hoti Lal, consumed pesticides in the Garhi Mohalla locality. In other incidents, two students committed suicide by consuming poisonous substance at Shastri Nagar here and at Samchana village. Meanwhile, in another
incident, a youth and his father were booked for attempt
to murder. |
Coercive 'donations' condemned ROHTAK, Nov 22 — Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister has condemned the alleged forced donation by the Red Cross Society on National Highway-10. In a statement here today Mr Hooda alleged that the police was intercepting vehicles at Jakhoda village, near here, and forcing occupants to donate to the Red Cross Society. He alleged that his car was stopped by some policemen at the village yesterday and he was directed by the cops to donate a specified amount to the Red Cross employees sitting beside the road. He said at the time Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, was present at the Gaurayya Tourist Complex (Bahadurgarh) just 5 km from the spot. Describing the action as
'official dacoity' Mr Hooda demanded a probe into the
incident and stern action against the 'erring' officials. |
Plea to make new bus stand
operational CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — A former MLA of Ambala contonment, Mr Bhagwan Dass Sehgal, has demanded that the new bus stand in the cantonment should be made operational immediately. In a statement issued here today Mr Sehgal said the bus stand was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, a few months ago but so far it had not been made operational despite the government having spend crores of rupees on its construction. He said over 500 buses touched Ambala cantonment daily. The passengers had to face a lot of problems because the bus drivers generally stopped the buses on the roadside. Many a time their luggage was lost or stolen. Urging the Chief
Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to issue instructions
to the authrorities to make the bus stand operative, Mr
Sehgal said a deputation of citizens had met the Deputy
Commissioner about a month ago in this connection. The
officer had assured the delegation that the bus stand
would become operational within 15 days. |
Chauhan appointed CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — A former MP, Mr Prithviraj Chauhan, has been appointed as Chairman of the Haryana Congress Pradesh Election Authority for the ensuing organisational elections. A party spokesman said
here today that Mr Chauhan's appointment has been made by
the Central Election Authority of the AICC headed by Mr
Ram Niwas Mirdha. |
Fire in godown: three booked SONEPAT, Nov 22 — The city police yesterday registered a case under the Explosives Act against Mohan Lal, Ram Lal and Yashpal, owners of a godown in Raj Mohalla, of the city where a fire broke out on Saturday evening reducing goods worth several thousands of rupees to ashes. According to official sources, action will be taken if it was proved that the fire was caused by the explosion of the crackers stored in the godown. Another report says that
the police, made surprised raids at various places in the
bazars of Ganaur town yesterday and seized 50 kg of
crackers and other explosives from a shop. The shopkeeper
was handed over to the police. |
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