 |
H A R Y A N A |  |
 Saturday, November 27, 1999 |
|
No recoveries made in excise scam FATEHABAD, Nov 26 — While the officials of the Department of Excise and Taxation have been claiming that they have recovered some of the embezzled money in a multi-crore excise scam, inquiries revealed that the money deposited by the defaulting firms was for renewing the licence and permits only. KU decision on Punjabi KURUKSHETRA, Nov 26 — The Directorate of Correspondence Courses of Kurukshetra University has decided to allow the Punjabi language as the medium of examination for such candidates who have Hindi or Punjabi as their mother tongue. |
 |
|
|
Special training for Haryana cops GURGAON, Nov 26 — The Haryana police has decided to impart special training to the force to make it more efficient in doing follow-ups to crimes and raising the standard of investigations to enhance the level of prosecutions. Panel set
up on incentive to key projects CM
invites Hungarian entrepreneurs INLD
workers feel sidelined 300
km of roads repaired Haryana
CM seeks special incentives Cops
absent from duty, 4 suspended Lecturers
not paid salaries Five
held with illicit liquor Yuva
Shakti procession in Karnal One
arrested in rape case HVPN
employee ‘beaten up’ Expedition
by Army men |
|||||||
 |
|||
No recoveries made in
excise scam FATEHABAD, Nov 26 — While the officials of the Department of Excise and Taxation have been claiming that they have recovered some of the embezzled money in a multi-crore excise scam, inquiries revealed that the money deposited by the defaulting firms was for renewing the licence and permits only. The Excise Department had detected a scam amounting to about Rs 4 crore. Three liquor contracting firms — Suresh Kumar and Company, Krishen Kumar and Company and Ram Mehar and Company had allegedly duped the department of Rs 3.89 crore. An FIR was registered. Six employees of the department were suspended. However, no arrests had been made so far. The firms are reportedly owned by close relatives of a minister in the Chautala government. Till November 24, the excise officials claimed that the two firms Suresh Kumar and Company and Ram Mehar and Company had deposited Rs 1.46 crore only against the embezzled amount. However, inquiries by the TNS revealed that the said amount was not paid against the embezzlements, but was the routine monthly licence fee paid by the liquor contractors for the renewal of permits. The permits had already been renewed. The two firms have not even deposited the full monthly amount required for the renewal of the permit. For the month of October the two firms had deposited Rs 1.46 crore against the due amount of Rs 2.2 crore. Senior Excise Department officials told TNS that they were concerned only with the recovery of the embezzled amount. They could not clarify whether it was for the renewal of the permit or for the adjustment against the embezzled amount. "Whatever you think is the right answer", a senior official said. The department has already suspended six employees for their alleged connivance with the liquor firms. However, no action has been taken against the liquor firms. They continue to sell the liquor as their permits have been released. Meanwhile, the liquor
prices in the district have gone up about 20 per cent.
These two firms allegedly involved in the scandal have
complete monopoly over the sale of liquor in the
district. The general impression is that the prices have
been increased by the two firms for ensuring repayment of
the money they have to pay to the government. |
KU decision on Punjabi KURUKSHETRA, Nov 26 — In a befitting tribute to the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth, the Directorate of Correspondence Courses of Kurukshetra University, has decided to allow the Punjabi language as the medium of examination for such candidates who have Hindi or Punjabi as their mother tongue. The decision would be applicable from the academic session 1999-2000. This was disclosed here today to TNS by Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University. The Punjabi as medium of examination would be in addition to Hindi and English in selected courses offered by the Directorate of Correspondence Courses. Mr L.C. Gupta, Director of the Correspondence Courses, stated that the courses for which Punjabi as medium of examination has been allowed include BA (Part-1, II & III), MA Political Science, Economics, History, Public Administration, Diploma in Mass Communication. This decision would be applicable to the Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Education and Post-Graduate Diploma in Tour and Travel Management. Mr Gupta stated that the study material, however, would be supplied only in the language it was available with the department. He further disclosed that by another decision, the university had allowed admission to correspondence courses to such compartment candidates of 10+2 who appeared in full subjects in the supplementary examinations. Such students could seek admission to BA, B.Com, BBA, BCA and CCA. On the same pattern those students who cleared the compartment of the degree level courses in supplementary examinations are also eligible to seek admission for masters courses in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Political Science, Economics, History, Sanskrit, Public Administration, Mathematics, M.Com, MFM, MMM as well as post-graduate diploma courses in Computer Applications, Expert Marketing Management, Marketing Management, Tourism and Hotel Management, Tour and Travel Management, Translation (English/Hindi), Environmental Education, Journalism and B.Lib & Information Science. Such students, he added would be able to seek admission by paying dues with late fee up to December 31, 1999. Mr Gupta claimed that about 25,000 students from various parts of the country have sought admission to various degree courses in the Directorate. The Director further said that the admission to the M.Phil course has been closed but the admission to other courses was open up to December 31, 1999. It may be added that
most of the students who seek admission to correspondence
courses come from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and
Bihar. A large number of students have also been
registered with the Zee Education centres of Zee TV with
which the Directorate of Correspondence Courses has
collaborated. |
Phone subscribers unhappy SONEPAT: The alleged black-marketing of rationed commodities, particularly levy sugar and kerosene, by some depot-holders has caused widespread resentment among ration-card holders in this city and elsewhere in the district. Representatives of various consumer organisations have demanded a high-level probe into the racket and stern action against depot-holders and officials who are in league with unscrupulous depot-holders. The Residents' Welfare Association has also urged the Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala, to appoint a senior officer for making a thorough probe into the racket and punish erring officials in the Food and Supplies Department. Many consumers alleged that the depot-holders had been putting pressure on them to fill application forms for new ration cards. If they do not comply with the demand, they are not provided rationed commodities on the old ration-cards. Some residents alleged that most of the depot-holders kept the commodities stored in their godowns and sold them at profit in the market. * * * * Officials of Haryana Roadways and the police have failed to curb overloading in private buses and jeeps as it poses a serious danger to the lives of passengers. Most passengers going to their place of work during peak hours are often seen travelling on the rooftops. This is because, roadways buses are hardly seen on certain routes and the commuters are forced to travel in the private buses and jeeps. The commuters complain that the private bus operators are the worst offenders as there is no check whether the driver is trained. Moreover in the absence of fixed duty hours drivers are compelled to work for long hours causing fatigue and this results in accidents. * * * * Widespread resentment prevails among telephone subscribers against the non-acceptance of cash payment for telephone bills at the Department Telegraph Office (DTO) counter. Only cheques and bank drafts are accepted. Acceptance of cash payment was discontinued after an incident of looting cash from the incharge of the DTO, some time back. After the incident, this counter was closed. Later, the local authorities of the telecom department directed the incharge of the DTO to reopen it. But he was instructed to accept only the cheques and bank drafts. Meanwhile, the authorities have extended working hours of this counter from three hours to seven hours a day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. * * * * Despite the lifting of prohibition, smuggling of liquor in this district is still continuing. Sonepat is surrounded by U.P. and Delhi and thus smuggling is easier. Wine contractors promote smuggling in order to get cheaper wine from smugglers. In several villages
under Baroda police station, illicit liquor is distilled
by the liquor Mafia. Many people sell illicit liquor with
the connivance of some influential persons. |
Special training for Haryana
cops GURGAON, Nov 26 — The Haryana police has decided to impart special training to the force to make it more efficient in doing follow-ups to crimes and raising the standard of investigations to enhance the level of prosecutions. This was stated today by the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Gurgaon Range, Mr Ranjiv Dalal. The decision was taken following an informal study carried out at the level of the Director-General of Police, Haryana, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, on issues relating to the level of criminal investigations in the state. The police chief said the need of the hour was for the force not to be "constabulary" but "officer"-oriented. The concept has been formulated in the context of making the force technology and computer-friendly, for which measures have been initiated at various quarters. Referring to the proactive measures initiated by the police in Gurgaon Range, covering the districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari and Mahendergarh in south Haryana, he said the village tours by the police had been reactivated. The exercise was conducted during winter. Officers of the rank of SP and above visit the villages under this exercise. Mr Dalal, who took over the present charge recently, admitted that the districts in south Haryana had become vulnerable to crime. The police had identified more than two dozen villages in Gurgaon district where youths had taken to crime in a big way. The police was in the process of preparing dossiers on such youths. Special note was being taken of youths and families who had connections in bordering state of Uttar Pradesh. Mr Dalal claimed that the gun culture had come into Haryana from Uttar Pradesh. He stated that there were a number of cases which proved that petty criminals who were sent to jails as undertrials blossomed into hardened criminals. One way to remedy the situation was to expedite their trials and to punish them in proportion to their crimes. There was a dominant feeling at the higher echelons of the Haryana police that the social dimension had to be kept in mind while taking administrative decisions and in the administration of jurisprudence, he added. He said a few days ago, the police nabbed members of a gang involved in car thefts. This gang indulged in more than 35 cases of thefts in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari and Rajasthan. The police was keeping a vigil on suspicious sale and purchase of vehicles, he claimed. The police in the range
was focussing on networking the police stations with
computers to anticipate crime and prevent if and to
initiate follow-up action at the earliest, he added. |
Panel set up on incentive to
key projects CHANDIGARH, Nov 26 — The Haryana Government has constituted a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for customised package of incentives and concessions to be provided for prestigious projects having investment of Rs 30 crore or above. Stating this here today the Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S. Verma, said the committee had been constituted within two weeks of the announcement of the new industrial policy. The state government would take the initiative to introduce modern management practices in its departments through extensive use of information technology to concurrently change its administrative processes in step with the modernisation in the private sector. Mr Verma said a system of deemed clearance or approval for speedy implementation of projects was also being adopted in line with policy guidelines. A time schedule had been fixed for various departments for giving necessary sanctions or approvals to reduce time frames for project completion. Most of the departments had delegated powers to field functionaries. The state government would encourage self-regulation. The inspection of an industrial unit would henceforth be done after prior intimation to the Deputy Commissioner concerned. The help of industries associations would be taken in compliance of the law. Mr Verma, who was also the Chief Secretary in the Bansi Lal Government, admitted that the policy of auctioning industrial plots initiated by that government was "harsh". The industrial sickness in the state had increased from 5 per cent to 10 per cent in the past decade. He said the present
restrictive procedure of transfer or leasing of
industrial plots in industrial areas was being simplified
to achieve optimum utilisation of industrial
infrastructure. |
CM invites Hungarian
entrepreneurs Chandigarh, Nov 26— The Ambassador of Hungary in India, Mr Andros Dallos, who called on Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, here today, discussed with him the possibilities of setting up joint ventures in the field of power, food processing, agriculture and animal husbandry in Haryana. Mr Dallos said that Hungary was prepared to share its technical know- how with Haryana in the areas of software, automobile and pharmaceuticals. He pointed out that Hungary was already a significant buyer of industrial products of Haryana and had good market for Maruti cars being exported from the state. Similarly, the pharmaceutical products being produced in Haryana were finding good market in Hungary. Mr Dallos said as he had been much impressed with the steps taken by Haryana to create a congenial atmosphere for the development of industry, he would impress upon the entrepreneurs in Hungary to set up their ventures in Haryana. Hungary, being a major producer of sunflower and edible oils of high quality, would share its knowhow in this area with Haryana to improve the production of sunflower. He said he would suggest the Agriculture Minister of Hungary, who is to come to India next year, to visit Haryana and see for himself the developmental strides made by Haryana in agriculture. Mr Chautala apprised Mr Dallos of the new industrial policy of the state and offered the state help to the Hungarian entrepreneurs to set up their ventures in Haryana. Earlier Mr Dallos called
on the Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad. Mr Dallos told the
Governor that the aim of his visit was to identify
different areas of cooperation between the business
communities of India and Hungary. |
INLD workers feel sidelined FARIDABAD, Nov 26 — Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) workers of Faridabad who sided with the party when it was out of power are reported to be resentful at being ignored by the leadership and the administration. Party sources, who did not want to be identified, said the main cause of their resentment was large-scale induction of workers from the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) of Mr Bansi Lal who are dominating the INLD at the cost of the old guard. It is also alleged that persons of criminal background have found their way into the INLD. Party workers claimed that some INLD leaders had motivated the induction so that they could pressurise the administration. Another party worker said some top leaders, who never missed an opportunity to visit their area to address meetings when the INLD was in the opposition did not have time to do so now. Signs of resentment were out in the open when Mr Ajay Chautala, MP and son of the Chief Minister recently visited Faridabad and these leaders complained to him. The local leaders have
also brought their resentment to the notice of the party
high command. |
300 km of roads repaired PANIPAT, Nov 26 — The Public Works Department has launched a drive to fill up pot holes in 372-km- long damaged roads of the district by November 30 this year at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. The department has engaged over 400 labourers and the repair work is being supervised by four sub-divisional engineers and 10 junior engineers. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sandeep Garg, said the department had already repaired about 300 km roads and the remaining work was likely to be completed by November 30. The repair work was being executed on a warfooting on 13 roads, including the Israna-Seenk, the Brahaman Majra-Diwana, the Neoltha-Pulthala, the Samalkh- Israna, the Madloda-Bhuslana, the Madloda-Bal Jattan, the Madloda-Alu Pur, the Madloda-Atawala, the Madloda-Lohari, the Nimbari-Sanjholi, the Samalkha-Hath, the Wala-Pastna Kalan-Bhalaur and the Bapoli-Sanoli roads. The Deputy Commissioner said the department had also taken up new constructions and widening task of roads at an estimated cost of about Rs 4.90 crore, in the district during the current financial year. He claimed that nearly 70 per cent of repair and construction works, 50 per cent of widening and strengthening works and over 75 per cent work of new constructions had already been completed so far. These works are to be completed within the current financial year. He also said the repair
of service lanes on both sides of National Highway 1 in
the town had also been started. |
Haryana CM seeks special
incentives CHANDIGARH, Nov 26 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today urged the Central Government to give special incentives like subsidy and larger share of power out of unallocated share of power to those states that were making a significant contribution of foodgrain to the Central pool. The Chief Minister, who discussed various issues concerning power with the Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mr S.L. Rao, here today also urged him that keeping in view the low budget of the states, the Central Government should itself set up large thermal as well as hydel power projects near the source of power generation like coal mines and rivers so as to produce electricity. Mr Chautala pointed out that the efficiency norms of the Central power generation units had not been reviewed for the past eight years. These norms should be reviewed at the earliest to reduce the cost of power by enhancing the plant load factor requirement from the existing 68.5 per cent to 80- 85 per cent. Mr Rao said the power position would be stable in the country by the end of next year as 2000 MW of surplus power would be available to the northern states. He appreciated the steps taken by the state government to improve the availability of power. The Chairman of the
Haryana Power Regulatory Commission, Mr V.S. Ahlawadi,
said with the commissioning of gas-based power plants,
the cost of power would come down considerably. |
Cops absent from duty, 4
suspended ROHTAK, Nov 26 — Mr John V.George, Inspector-General of Police, Rohtak Range, accompanied by Mr P.K. Agrawal, SSP, conducted surprise raids at various police stations in the district last night and found several cops absent from duty. The IG has ordered the suspension of four cops and a departmental inquiry against the others. During the raid at the local police lines, 15 cops were found absent from duty. A large number of police employees were found away on one pretext or the other. Hardly 20 employees out of a total of 100 were present at the police lines. The raiding party also found the cop on gate duty at Meham police station sleeping. The IG ordered an
inquiry against the erring cops. |
Lecturers not paid salaries FATEHABAD, Nov 26 —Lecturers of the local Manohar Memorial Colleges have not received their salaries for the past three months. The state government gives 95 per cent grant to all private college affiliated to any of the universities of the state. The salaries of lecturers, clerks and other staff members is paid from this grant. A lecturers of the college said that a deputation of the Haryana Private College Teacher Association had met the Director of Higher Education Haryana in October to apprise him of problem. The director had assured the deputation that the government would release the grant soon. But the college has not received the grant till date. According to sources,
the pending grants of Manohar Memorial College alone have
shot up to Rs 14.7 lakh and there are at least 100 such
colleges in the state. The college teachers are facing a
lot of hardships. On the first of every month they are
told that their salaries would be released next month but
every time it proves to be a false promise. |
Five held with illicit liquor FARIDABAD, Nov 26 — The police yesterday arrested five persons from different places and recovered 210 pouches of country-made liquor from them. The arrested persons are Rajesh, wife of Netrapal, Bhupendra, Tej Ram and Hardayal. Ashok Kumar of Palwal was booked for consuming liquor in public. Sonu and Arjun, both
brothers, and Chhedi Lal were arrested under the Gambling
Act. |
Yuva Shakti procession in
Karnal KARNAL, Nov 26 — The Yuva Shakti Sangh led by Mr Manoj Gupta took out a procession yesterday in Karnal to protest against the anti-youth policies of the Haryana Government. The processionists, raising slogans started from Kamboj Dharamshala and passed through Sadar Bazar, G.T. Road, Karan Gate, Subzi Mandi to reach the office of the Deputy Commissioner. A memorandum was submitted to the DC for its onward transmission to the Governor of Haryana. The memorandum demanded that more employment avenues should be opened for the youth in the state. It regretted that at present youth in Haryana was disgruntled because of less job opportunities. Even technically trained youth were roaming in the streets. There was every possibility that the youth might go astray if he was not provided satisfactory job opportunities. The memorandum criticised the government for raising prices of articles of daily use. It decried the shortage of water and power in the state this shortage was affecting not only the domestic consumers but also the farmers. The processionists were
garlanded by citizens at a number of places. A minor
confrontation between the police and the processionists
took place. The police allegedly canecharged the
processionists. The processionists complained about the
behaviour of the police to the Additional Deputy
Commissioner, Karnal. |
One arrested in rape case YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 26 — The police here has arrested a person today for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl, according to Mr K.K. Sindhu, Superintendent of Police, here. Mr Hukam Chand of Tirath Nagar had lodged a complaint on November 20 that his daughter, who was mentally disturbed, was missing since November 9. The body of the girl was found in the Yamuna, whose post-mortem report indicated that she was stangulated. The complainant suspected Shri Chand, who is residing in the same colony, to be involved. A case has been
registered under Sections 376, 302 and 210 of the IPC.
The accused has admitted the crime. |
HVPN employee ‘beaten
up’ ROHTAK, Nov 26 — An employee of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) was beaten up allegedly by another employee of the organisation while he was on duty. The police has registered a case in this connection. According to police sources, the victim, Jagbir Prasad, working as an assistant lineman (ALM) in the Nigam, had gone to disconnect power supply at a house in Model Town following complaints of irregularities. The house reportedly belonged to another employee of the nigam. When the accused, Jagbir presently posted at Pundr in Kaithal district, came to know about the disconnection, he went to the office of the nigam and allegedly thrashed up Jagbir Prasad after a heated argument. A case under Sections
232 and 353 of the IPC has been registered. |
Expedition by Army men AMBALA, Nov 26 — An adventure expedition being organised by the 65 Engineer Regiment to commemorate its silver jubilee was flagged off by the General Officer Commanding, 2 Corps, Lt-Gen G.S. Sihota, here today. The expedition includes cycling, trekking and white-water rafting. The 12-member team peddled out from the Kharga stadium on the first leg of the expedition to Jagadhari. The unit's Commanding Officer, Col K. S. Rao, said in the expedition there were two officers and four JCOs. While two officers, Lt Abhishek Pokharial and Lt P.P.S. Kochhar would be a permanent part of the team, all officers of the unit, including two female officers, Capt Charoo Mundepi and Lt Poonam Joshi would participate in various legs of the expedition. The cycling part of the expedition will involve a distance of 657 km over 16 days, moving from Ambala to Roorkee and then to Rishikesh. Rafting will be undertaken over a 25-km stretch from Rishikesh to Shivpuri and back. The team will cycle 53 km to Devprayag from where it will trek for 40 km to Pauri before cycling for the return leg through Satpauli, Lansdowne, Hardwar, Dehra Dun, Paonta Sahib and Nahan. En route, the team members will also interact with ex-servicemen and war widows to spread awareness about various welfare schemes and also hold presentations on career prospects in the armed forces to motivate the youth. The expedition will be
flagged in at Ambala on December 31. |
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
