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Tuesday,
October 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Majority
of farmers ‘under debt’ Luxury car
plan fizzles out HOUSE TAX Cong MLAs to keep off meeting on house
tax Training
scheme for farmers Ruchika
case: CBI to file reply on October 31 |
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Haryana Day festival begins Tehsildar
suspended for ‘taking bribe’ 7.28 cr
sanctioned for water treatment CM to inaugurate sugar mill
Martyr
cremated with honours Kalka Diary 28
pilgrims hurt Anti-polio drive from today
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Majority of farmers ‘under debt’ Jind, October 29 Mr Surjewala said the union government had reduced subsidies on fertilizers, insecticides and other items used in the agriculture sector. He said it is being widely propagated that subsidies had been reduced on the direction of World Trade Organisation. He said the decision to reduce the subsidies was taken by the union government and the World Trade Organisation had nothing to do in this regard. He said 100 per cent subsidy was being given by the American Government to its farmers. He said due to this reason agriculture production in the USA had increased and the farmers of the USA are very prosperous. Mr Surjewala said financial position of the farmers of our country had deteriorated and majority of the farmers are under debt. He alleged that a number of farmers had committed suicide due to their weak financial position and heavy burden of debt. He alleged that rate of suicides had increased in Haryana after the Chautala Government came to power in the state. He said an inquiry should be conducted into this matter by an independent agency. He demanded compensation to the dependent of those farmers who had committed suicide. Mr Surjewala said high rate of interest was being charged from the farmers while loans, were being given to other categories of loanees on very low interest. He said farmers were being imprisoned for not repaying government loans. He said injustice was being done with the farmers. He said the government should amend the law and provision of arresting the farmers in default of repayment of loan should be withdrawn. Earlier presiding over the sammelan, Mr Tejinder Pal Mann said the cost of agriculture inputs increased considerably but remunerative prices of agriculture produce were not being given to the farmers. Expressing concern over the weak financial position of the farmers he alleged that farmers were being exploited by the government. He said Chautala Government had failed to fulfil its election promises made to the farmers. He said Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had promised free power and water to the farmers but after coming to power instead of providing free power and water he increased their rates. |
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Luxury car plan fizzles
out Chandigarh, October 29 The Haryana Government, following requests made by the ministers, had initiated the process of purchasing new cars for the Cabinet members. Barring the Chief Minister, all other ministers, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) as well as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were to get these cars. It was decided that 13 Opel Astras would be purchased for the use of the 10 ministers, the CPS and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. The cars, run on diesel, would which cost Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh more than the petrol model and a couple of lakh rupees more than Ambassadors, though in the long run these would be economical as far as fuel efficiency was concerned. The state government had taken away Cielo and Contessa cars from the ministers earlier with a lot of fanfare. As ministers were given Ambassador cars, the authorities said that this was being done as part of the austerity drive of the government. Mr Chautala was the only minister who was occasionally seen travelling by his official white Mercedes. Sources said that the acquisition of new cars for ministers had figured at a meeting of the high-powered Purchase Committee of the state government held here on October 25. At that meeting it was decided to drop the idea of buying new cars for the ministers. An official claimed that the cars were not purchased as the Opel manufacturers did not want to give adequate discount to the state government despite its proposal to buy 13 cars from them at one go. Reliable sources, however, said that while the market price of each cars was over Rs 8 lakh, the manufacturers did offer a heavy discount on the cars. “ It is something else which made the state government reconsider its decision”, they said. The ministers had asked the Chief Minister to provide them with new cars during a Cabinet meeting held earlier this month. Subsequently, the Chief Minister agreed to oblige his colleagues. |
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HOUSE TAX Chandigarh, October 29 However, the pro-tax lobby in Haryana (read official sources) say the judgement is not relevant in the Haryana context. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.L. Singhal struck down Section 3 (1) of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 (as amended by the Punjab Act no. 11 of 1994) on August 27 last. The impugned section, says Mr Dina Nath Arora, a Kurukshetra-based advocate and Congress office-bearer, said the annual value of a building or land occupied by the owner “shall be 5 per cent of the sum obtained by adding the present market value of the land and the estimated cost of erecting the building less 10 per cent depreciation”. He says a similar provision has been made in the Haryana Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2001. Hence, the Haryana Act is also not legal. The petitioners in the Punjab case had contended, among other things, that the impugned Act sought to empower the civic bodies to levy house tax on the capital value of the property occupied by the owner. This subject, they said, fell within the exclusive domain of Parliament under Entry 86 of the Union List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. The pro-tax lobby points out that the high court, while striking down the impugned section, had held that though the criteria laid down in the amended Section 3 (1) for the determination of the annual value of the land or building occupied by the owner for the purpose of levy of house tax was based on its capital value, “in substance and effect, it is a tax on land or building and not on the capital assets of the owner”. This lobby points out that under the Punjab Act, different criteria were laid down for the properties rented out to tenants and those occupied by the owners themselves. The court struck down Section 3 (1) (b) as being “discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution” because it held that two criteria could not be laid down for properties occupied by the owners and those rented out. The pro-tax lobby says under the Haryana Act, only one mode for assessing the annual value of property has been laid down for all types of property. Moreover, a specific provision has been made in the amended Act that “if the annual value exceeds the amount of rent payable in respect thereof then the tenant shall be liable to pay the difference between the amount of the tax levied upon the owner and the amount which would have been levied upon the owner if the tax were calculated on the amount of rent payable to him”. Mr Arora, however, says that in case a tenant fails to pay tax, the civic body will recover tax by attaching the rent. Sub-section 4 of Section 94 further says that “the sum so recovered from the occupier shall be deemed to have been paid by the occupier to the owner”. Mr Arora says this provision will lead to unnecessary litigation between tenants and owners because an owner will have to move the court for recovery of that part of the rent which will be attached by the civic body. Meanwhile, a former president of the Haryana Congress, Mr Harpal Singh, claimed here today that “there is a wave in favour” of the “shehar bandh” call given by his party for November 2 to protest against the new house tax policy of the government. The RPI MLA, Mr Karan Singh
Dalal, has announced his decision to boycott a meeting of MLAs convened by the Urban Development Minister, Mr Subhash Goyal, here tomorrow to discuss the house tax issue. Mr Dalal said if the government was serious about finding an amicable solution to the problem, it should bring the issue for a debate in the Assembly, which would meet on November 8. A House committee should visit other states to find out the best option available in this regard. The house tax policy should be framed only after the receipt of the committee’s report.
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Cong MLAs to keep off
meeting on house tax Ambala, October 29 Talking to mediapersons, he said the Haryana Congress would oppose changes in the basis structure of house tax. He said the Congress was of the view that the old structure of house tax should have continued. He added that if the Congress came in power in the next Assembly election, it would implement the old house tax policy. He said the presidents of beopar mandals, Mr Luxmi Chand Gupta and Mr Bajrang Lal Garg, and the president of Haryana Sabji Mandi Association had also assured their support for the proposed bandh on November 2. He said Congress MLAs would raise voice against the implementation of the new house tax formula in the Assembly session commencing November 8. Without naming any political party, he said some persons had been persuading shopkeepers to keep their shops open on November 2. He said if the shops were made open forcibly, Congress workers would strongly oppose it. He alleged that Mr Subhash Goel had summoned the meeting of urban MLAs to scuttle the proposed Haryana bandh of the Congress. Replying to a question, he said the visit of Ms Sonia Gandhi to Hisar had not been finalised yet. Three days back, a former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, had told mediapersons that Ms Gandhi would visit Hisar to address a public meeting, for which the date would be announced soon. Mr Hooda said the HPCC was not aware of any such visit of Ms Gandhi to Haryana. He announced that Dr K.V. Singh had been appointed chairman of the Haryana Congress Media Cell. Mr Hooda criticised, Mr Ram Bilas Paswan for taking political benefit out of the Jat reservation issue. Replaying to a question, he said the announcement of DCC presidents would be made
soon. The General Secretary of the HPCC, Ms Kiran Bala Jain, District Mahila Congress chief, Ms Amarjit Kaur Sodhi, a former minister, Mr Phool Chand Mulana, and a Youth Congress leader, Mr Bhrahm Pal Rana, were also present on the occasion. CHANDIGARH A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting held at Ambala today. Those who attended the meeting included Dr N.C. Jain, president of the Ambala Cantonment Traders Federation; Mr R.P. Gupta, secretary of the Ambala Cantonment General Merchants Association; Mr Pradeep Kumar, president of the Electrical Dealers Association; Mr Vishwa Prakash Walia, president of the Hoteliers Association; Mr G.C. Aggarwal, president of the Scientific Apparatus Manufacturers Association; Mr Sanjay Lal, General Secretary of the Ambala unit of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr Raj Kumar, a former president of the Electrical Dealers Association; Mr Ajay Jain, advocate and general secretary of the Ambala Cantonment Citizens Council; and Dr M.K. Dutta of the Indian Medical Association. While criticising the new house tax policy of the state government, the resolution said the old formula to calculate the house tax should be retained. Referring to the new policy, the resolution said the house tax assessment had been done by unqualified and non-technical officials, with no consideration of the existing court orders. Moreover, municipal records pertaining to various buildings in existence since decades were not considered by these officials. The meeting said it would be unfortunate if the traders were forced to join the November 2 bandh to ventilate the discontentment of the people. The Chief Minister should timely steps to revise the house tax policy to make it in line with the aspirations and just demands of the people. It said in Ambala Cantonment, the Collector was not empowered to assess the value of land because of the special status of the town. |
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Training
scheme for farmers Sonepat, October 29 This was stated by Dr Punjab Singh, Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, while inaugurating a one-day kisan mela and agro-industry exhibition organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Garhi Bala (Bindrauli) village, about 10 km from here, yesterday. A large number of progressive farmers from various parts of the district as well as the agricultural scientists participated in this mela. The Director-General disclosed that the farmers of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat will be sent to other states in the first phase for this purpose. The farmers of Haryana and other states will be sent in the second phase of the training. He appealed to the farmers to change the cropping pattern and cultivate fruit and vegetables to increase their income. These are the cash crops and will boost the income of the farmers manifold, he said adding that the Central Government is contemplating giving assistance to farmers for commercial cultivation during the 10th Five-Year Plan period. According to the Director-General of ICAR, the scientists of Agriculture Department had failed to give information about the latest farm machinery and other equipments to the farmers who, he said, were not using new seeds and pesticide in their fields. He said that the Union Agricultural Ministry will take steps to provide certified seeds to the farmers at their doorsteps. He also said that women of the country were also taking keen interest in the agriculture field. |
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Ruchika
case: CBI to file reply on October 31 Ambala, October 29 The Special Judge for CBI cases in Haryana, Dr B.B. Persoon, fixed the date for reply and arguments on the application. Mr Rathore filed an application for anticipatory bail on October 24 following the allowing of Ms Madhu Prakash’s application by the Special Magistrate for CBI cases, Mr J.S. Dhanjal. Mr Rathore has stated in the application that a private party, Ms Madhu Prakash, had moved a “false and frivolous application” seeking the addition of a charge under Section 306 of the IPC to the charge sheet filed by the CBI. |
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Haryana Day festival begins Kurukshetra, October 29 Haryana attained statehood on November 1, 1966. The official state-level function would be held in Raj Bhavan at Chandigarh. About 300 college students, including 160 girls from all over the state, have assembled here for participating in 20 cultural and academic competitions of the festival. The festival this year has been dedicated to Loknayak and former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal. Prof Sampat Singh called upon the youth to work for the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage of the region. He assured every possible help from the state government for this cause. Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala would preside over the closing ceremony and give away prizes to the winners.
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Tehsildar
suspended for ‘taking bribe’ Rohtak, October 29 Although the government has not mentioned any reason(s) for suspending Mr Kadian, officials here believe that the action has been taken on the basis of intelligence reports that he had accepted a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from various property dealers of the town for getting the ban imposed by the Deputy Commissioner on registration of sale deeds in unauthorised colonies, lifted. Mr Pawan Kumar, one of the property dealers, alleged that the money was paid by him in the presence of another property dealer, Mr Chander Bhan, on July 31. The Tehsildar, he alleged, had assured them that he would get the ban lifted soon. Mr Pawan Kumar further alleged that Ms Kanta Alria, a Samajvadi Party leader and close confidant of the tehsildar, had threatened him for demanding Rs 15 lakh back from Mr Kadian. She even got a complaint registered against him, Mr Chander Bhan and Mr Rajinder Sharma under Sections 354, 506, 116 and 34, IPC, on October 21. Mr Chander Bhan, in his affidavit, charged the tehsildar with not returning his Alto Maruti car which Mr Kadian had taken. He alleged that when the Tehsildar could not get the ban lifted, he demanded his car back but the tehsildar refused to return it. Mr Rajinder Sharma, in his affidavit, said he was not into the property dealing business and that he was employed as storekeeper in the Public Health Department. He further said he did not know Ms Alria and had never visited her house and that the case registered against him was false. Informed official sources told The Tribune that various investigating agencies, including the State Vigilance Department, have already begun investigations into the assets held by Mr Kadian. The charge sheet would be issued to Mr Kadian only after the completion of the investigations, but during the suspension period the headquarters of Mr Kadian would be Chandigarh, they added. |
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7.28 cr
sanctioned for water treatment Faridabad, October 29 According to district officials, 23 public toilets are under construction and a project for sewage treatment is being carried out at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore. The extension programme of the project is likely to be over by February next year. The authorities claim that under the Yamuna Action Plan, the district has already spent Rs 72 crore, mainly on sewage treatment and purification of water. Three treatment plants are in progress at Old Faridabad, New Township and Ballabgarh towns in which impurities were removed. About 20 million litres of water was treated at the plants. It is reported that about 70 per cent of the residential areas have 24 km-long sewer lines which take the untreated water to these plants. These plants, however, do not treat the polluted water released by industries. The district authorities claim that the responsibility of treating industrial effluents lies with the factories. But the “failure” of a majority of the factories in the district to instal effluent treatment plants has led to the pollution of underground water. There are several chemical and electroplating units which have been functioning in various sectors and colonies here. |
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CM to inaugurate sugar mill Sirsa, October 29 The cooperative sugar mill named after former Deputy Prime Minister late Devi Lal has a crushing capacity of 17,500 quintals of sugarcane per day. While the crushing will start from November 1, there is apprehension how this capacity will be utilised to the optimum when the sugarcane produced in the district hardly meets the requirement for about 15 days. Under the circumstances, it will be difficult for the mill to produce sugar on a large scale. When the Chief Minister over a year ago laid the foundation stone for this mill, he had announced that its construction would be completed on a war-footing and it would be ready by November 1. Though as per the promise the mill is ready for production, the raw material required for the mill is posing a big question mark. Contrary to the official claims, the administration has failed to motivate the farmers for the cultivation of sugarcane resulting in raw material crunch. The mill administration is planning to procure sugarcane from the far-flung districts of the state in addition to the neighbouring states to fill the gap. Under these circumstances, the very purpose of this mill at present seems to have been defeated as the Chief Minister wanted to give benefit to the farmers of this area by motivating them to shift to a profitable crop like sugarcane. |
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Martyr cremated with
honours Kaithal, October 29 The brother of the martyr lit the pyre and performed the last rites. Thousands of mourners made farewell to the martyr with tears in their eyes. Mr Ram Pal Majra, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Haryana, laid a wreath on the body on behalf of the Haryana Government. Mr Lila Ram, MLA, Mr Roshan Lal Tiwari, former Haryana minister, Superintendent of Police, Kaithal, Mr A.S. Chawla, the SDM, Mr Ashok Bishnoi, and other district officials also paid floral tributes to the martyr. The DIG, BSF, Mr S.K. Dewan, and Mr Dalal, Deputy Commandant, BSF, were also among those who laid wreaths on the body. Last night, hundreds of local residents gathered at the residence of Vikas Bhardwaj in Adarsh Nagar locality to receive his body which was brought from Delhi in a BSF truck after being flown from Srinagar. This morning, the funeral procession was led by NCC cadets and representatives of various social and voluntary organisations. The local RKSD College, from where Vikas graduated, remained closed as a mark of respect to him. |
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Kalka
Diary Kalka There also is no gate at the playground which is located in front of the college across the highway. This ground is often used by those who want to learn driving and a number of cars and two-wheelers are seen taking rounds of the ground. It is also alleged that in the evening the ground becomes a convenient place for people to sit and drink. The absence of a gate, also givens free passage to stray cattle. The ground is often found littered with dung. * * A meeting of Vivekananda Manav Kalyan Society, which has been helping the poor and the down-trodden for the past 26 years, took some important decisions at its recent meeting. It was decided to help a poor widow Kalka. The society decided to bear for one year the educational expenses of the two daughters of the widow. The society also decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 100 per month to a 72-year old man of Pinjore who has no source of income. * * The third Annual Science Fair of DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, held under the guidance of Mr P.L. Chopra, Principal of the school, had chosen “Development and systematisation of positive knowledge about physical universe” as its main theme. Dr C.P. Parkash, Vice-President of the DAV College Managing Committee, was the chief guest. The school wore a festive look with a pandal elegantly decorated with flowers, placards and banners. About 325 students from 22 schools of Ambala, Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Parwanoo participated in the fair. Mr R.C. Jeevan, former Principal, DAV School, Sector 10, Chandigarh, and manager of the school, inaugurated the function. Mr Jeevan praised the efforts of the faculty and the students in organising the fair. Competitions in three categories, working models, still models and poster making, were held during the fair. Experts from different fields of science faculty were invited to judge the skills of the students. Prizes were given away by the chief guest. * * The first meeting of the Regional Cabinet of Lions Clubs held here under the Presidentship of M.R. Sharma, District Governor, decided to hold a two-day seminar, aimed at personality development of the youth with emphasis on AIDS, de-addiction, and art of living. Mr Kulbir Rana of Kalka, Zonal Chairman, was made chairman of this project. * * Haryana’s Minister for Social Welfare, Mr Risal Singh, distributed 38 sewing machines to women belonging to the weaker sections at Paploha village in this sub-division. These women had undergone one year’s training in sewing and stitching at a centre being run by the Social Welfare Department. The District Welfare Officer, Mr S.M. Sharma, said that during the training each trainee was given a monthly stipend of Rs 100. Of the 38 women who received the sewing machines, 20 belong to Paploha and 18 to Sakateri village. Speaking on this occasion, Mr Risal Singh disclosed that the State Government was running 138 such centres for the benefit of Dalit women. |
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28 pilgrims hurt Ambala, October 29 The police said today while seriously injured women were admitted to an Ambala hospital, another was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.
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Anti-polio drive from today Kaithal, October 29 This special campaign had been necessited following the detection of a child with polio disease in Harsola village.
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One killed in accident Ambala, October 29 The accident took place when the victim was near the Tangri bridge and a truck collided with his scooter. He died at the spot. Traffic on the Ambala-Jagadhri road was affected due to the accident.
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