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Wednesday,
October 31, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Pressure to modify house tax
policy New trend in Haryana
administration Rs 7 crore aid for fire
service POSTINGS/TRANSFERS |
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Cops attacked to free accomplice 7 mines auctioned for Rs 17
crore Convocation
schedule Employees
hold gate meeting Rs 2.5
lakh looted at gunpoint Four to
be promoted DIG in Haryana 4
office-bearers of YC dropped Lineman held for tampering with meters Bomb hoax call Non-teaching staff want higher
scales Kapoor promoted ADGP Traders urged to join bandh
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Pressure to modify house tax
policy Chandigarh, October 30 The sentiments of the ruling party MLAs, BJP MLAs and Independents supporting the government were expressed at a meeting convened by the Urban Development Minister, Mr Subhash Goyal, here today. Only those MLAs were invited to the meeting who represented the urban constituencies. Though no MLA was willing to reveal details of the proceedings (they were obviously under instructions from the government not to talk to the Press), informed sources say all legislators were unanimous in demanding a considerable reduction in the tax burden. So strong were their feelings that Mr Goyal had to pacify them by saying that he would convey their feelings to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Immediately after the meeting with the MLAs concluded, Mr Goyal was closeted with senior officers of his department. Since the Secretary, Urban Development Department, Mr Manik Sonewana, who is also the Secretary, Mines and Geology, was away to Faridabad in connection with the auction of mines there, a former Secretary, Local Bodies, Mr M.K. Miglani, was specially invited to the meeting with the officers by Mr Goyal. Mr Miglani is believed to be the author of the new house tax policy. The sources said the Independent MLA from Ambala cantonment, Mr Anil Vij, strongly put his case against the “abnormal” increase in house tax under the new policy. He reeled out facts and figures to support his contention that in the case of 60 per cent of the house owners, the increase would be double or more. He reportedly said that the land cost could not be considered while assessing house tax. If this was done, house tax would become property tax. The Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Arora, who represents the Thanesar constituency, is believed to have pleaded that the people were not in a position to bear the massive burden imposed by the new policy. Hence, the Urban Development Department must reduce the burden. He also wanted that land should not be brought under house tax. The BJP MLA from Ambala city, Mrs Veena Chhibber, and her colleague from Shahabad, Vaid Kapur Chand, reportedly suggested that no house tax should be imposed on a vacant plot. They also wanted the land cost to be excluded from the criteria for assessing house tax. The sources said various MLAs pointed out that while recovery from house tax in the state in the past was about Rs 20 crore, under the new policy it would go up to over Rs 60 crore, an increase of three times. The people, they said, were not in a position to bear this increase. Mr Goyal told TNS that the MLAs were unanimous that there must be a transparent policy to assess house tax and uniform criteria for doing so. However, they wanted a reduction in the tax, at least in the initial years, to make the new policy sustainable. Official sources say the Chief Minister had made a commitment on the floor of the House that the government would reconsider the entire issue of house tax once the survey under the new policy was completed. They said whatever the Congress might say, the government had an open mind on the issue. All that the government wanted was uniform and transparent criteria for assessing house tax. If the proceedings of the meeting of the MLAs are an indication, the government may exempt vacant land from house tax, besides reducing the rate of tax from the existing 5 per cent by nearly half to check the rising tide of popular anger against its house tax policy. Meanwhile, the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, has criticised the Congress for boycotting the MLAs’ meeting today. He said the Congress MLAs should have expressed the sentiments of their constituents at the meeting. Why had he not attended the meeting? Mr Gujjar said he would have definitely attended the meeting if Mr Goyal had invited him. He regretted that he was not invited to a similar meeting convened by Mr Goyal on October 4, though he(Mr Gujjar) represented an urban constituency in the Assembly. He said his two colleagues who represented the urban areas attended the meeting, while the third BJP MLA coming from an urban constituency, Mr Chander Bhatia, was in jail. The BJP leader said the Congress should not try to take any credit for the November 2 bandh. The bandh would be successful because the people wanted to express their resentment against the anti-people policies of the government, which should immediately announce the withdrawal of the house tax policy so that the people were not forced to observe the bandh.. Among the MLAs who attended the meeting were Leela Krishan (Fatehabad), Mr Jai Prakash Gupta (Karnal), Mr Nishan Singh (Tohana), Mr Nafe Singh Rathee (Bahadurgarh) and Mr Dev Raj Diwan (Sonepat). The Officer-on-Special Duty to the Chief Minister, Mr Vidya Dhar, was also present. |
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New trend in Haryana
administration Chandigarh, October 30 The Environment Department is at present headed by one Commissioner and one Special Secretary, both senior IAS officers. The Deputy Secretary’s post, which was lying vacant at the time of Mr T. P. Singh’s appointment, had been held earlier by IAS or senior HCS officers. Official sources said that during a review meeting of the Forest Department in July, presided over by Mr S. Y. Quraishi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, IFS, officers requested him to consider giving some of them administrative postings. While at the central level a beginning had been made in this direction when Mr Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister, states such as Andhra Pradesh have reportedly assigned a large number of administrative jobs to officers of the IFS and IPS cadres. In Arunachal Pradesh, the Additional Home Secretary, Mr G. N. Sinha, is an IFS officer. Mr K. K. Gupta, Joint Secretary in the Union Food Processing Ministry, too is an IFS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. In Haryana, there was an expansion of IFS cadre officers from 1982 onward when the state government started adopting social and community forestry projects. The state now has 70 IFS officers, which is a good deal more than the strength of the IFS cadre in neighbouring Punjab. Mr Quraishi was reportedly requested at the July meeting to select six or seven IFS officers for postings normally reserved for IAS officers. The administrative experience would help the IFS officers in their future assignments, it was argued. Mr T. P. Singh is reportedly the only IFS officer to have applied for an administrative position so far. His application was cleared by the state government and he joined as a Deputy Secretary in the Environment department on October 15. More such applications are likely to follow, it is reliably learnt. While earlier the Om Prakash Chautala-led government had inducted an IPS officer in the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Mr T P Singh’s appointment is the first instance of selection up of an IFS officer for an administrative position. Mr T. P. Singh has been given a posting in the Environment department which is related to forests. However, if more IFS officers are inducted by the state government, they may be given jobs which have nothing to do with conservation and management of forestry. |
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Rs 7 crore aid for fire
service Sonepat, October 30 According to official sources, the state government has planned to augment the fire service in all 68 municipal bodies in the state. During the current financial year, it will provide fire fighting equipment to 40 out of 68 municipal bodies. The state government has already launched a Rs 142-crore project for the development of urban areas this year. The new project envisages strengthening of fire services, solid waste management and shifting of dairies from the municipal areas of the state. The state government has earmarked Rs 60 crore for the construction and repair of roads within the municipal limits in different parts of the state. Under the solid waste management programme, as many as 16 municipal bodies, including the local, have been selected for the implementation of the programme for which a loan of Rs 102 crore has been granted to the Haryana Slum Clearance Board. The state government also plans to set up bicomposite plants in 15 towns in the state. Each plant would dispose of the waste of two adjacent municipal bodies. The Panipat and Samalkha municipal bodies have been provided financial assistance worth Rs 7.70 crore this year for the purpose. All these schemes will be completed in two years and the remaining towns will be covered under these schemes subsequently. Meanwhile, an expenditure of Rs 55.60 crore had been incurred on various development works in the mandis by the state government whereas only Rs 150.76 crore had been spent on such works during the past one decade. The second draw of the Krishak Uphar Yojna launched by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board would be held today at all district headquarters of the state. The scheme had been launched with a view to encouraging the farmers to bring their produce to the foodgrain markets. The total value of the awards is Rs 1.52 crore annually and the first award consisted of two prizes worth Rs 40,000 each, the second award of eight prizes of Rs 25,000 each and the third of 12 prizes worth Rs 10,000 each. |
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POSTINGS/TRANSFERS Chandigarh, October 30 Mr K.C. Sharma, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, PWD (Public Health) and Cultural Affairs, has been posted as Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Departments, vice Mr H.C. Disodia. Mr Disodia has been posted as Commissioner and Secretary, Food and Supplies, and Commissioner for Inquires-II. Mr Bhagwati Prasad, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Food and Supplies, has been posted as Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Printing and Stationery and Housing Departments, vice Mr P.R. Kaushik, who retires on October 31. Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee, Commissioner and Secretary, Town and Country Planning and Tourism Departments, has been given additional charge of the Cultural Affairs Department. Mr R.N.
Prasher, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, has been given additional charge of Commissioner and Secretary, PWD (Public Health). |
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Cops attacked to free accomplice Rohtak, October 30 Bali, a resident of Gudhani village, is wanted by the Rothak, Jhajjar and Rajasthan police in various cases of murder and dacoity. He is in the custody of the Jhunjhunu police (Rajasthan) and was brought to Jhajjar in connection with a criminal case registered by the Jhajjar police. The desperados attacked the policemen to free their accomplice but the latter retaliated their bare hands and forced them to flee. They left behind their car and weapons. The IGP Rohtak Range, Mr Resham Singh, said the policemen had taken in to custody one of the culprits. During interrogation, he had disclosed the identity of the other two. Mr Resham Singh has announced an award for the jawans who fought the desperados. |
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7 mines auctioned for Rs 17
crore Faridabad, October 30 The reserve price of the mines auctioned today was Rs 12 crore and the direct income to the Government from the same came to Rs 5 crore. It may be mentioned that the government had been earning a revenue of only Rs 4-7 crore from all nine mines. One of the mines that could not be auctioned today was Plot No 2, Manger area. Its reserve price was Rs 10 crore. The companies which attended the auction declined to quote their price for this mine stating that the reserve price was too high. The authorities withdrew the proposal for auction of Plot No 3 (mine). The reserve price of these two mines was kept at Rs 13 crore. The mines auctioned included Plot No 1 (Manger)- Rs 1.70 crore, Plot No 5 Rs 5.66 crore, Plot No 6 Rs 1.3 crore, Plot No 7 Rs 3.5 crore, Plot No 8 Rs 1.5 crore, Sirohi mines Rs 1.60 crore and Khori Jamalpur Rs 50.17 lakh. The Director, Mines, said the auction of the remaining two mines would be held within 15 days. Several senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, were present at the occasion. |
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Convocation
schedule
Kurukshetra, October 30 This was stated by Mr R.S. Chaudhry, Vice-Chancellor Kurukshetra University while addressing mediapersons. A decision to this effect was taken by Vice-Chancellors of all state universities at a meeting held at Chandigarh recently, he added. Mr Chaudhry said that as per another decision, the state universities would now onward be organising their convocations every year. Kurukshetra University would organise its convocation on November 24, 2001, and the Union Law Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley would be the chief guest while the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, would preside over the function. Mr Jaitley would also preside over a workshop being organised by the National Law College on the university campus here in the evening on that day. The Union State Minister, Mr Vijay Kumar Goel, would be the chief guest at the convocation ceremony scheduled to be held at Maharshi Dyanand University, Rohtak, on November 12, 2001. Mr Hari Gautam, Chairman, UGC, would be the chief guest at the convocation of Guru Jambhesh-war University, Hisar, on November 17, 2001, while the convocation at Chaudhry Charan Singh Agriculture University, would be held on birth anniversary of Charan Singh on December 23, 2001, The Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, would be the chief guest, Mr Chaudhry added. |
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Employees hold gate meeting Ambala, October 30 The employees are protesting against the municipal councillor for his “uncalled for complaint” against an employee. According to employees, an altercation had taken place between Municipal Councillor Rajiv Gupta and the employee following which a complaint was initiated against him over his alleged involvement in illegal construction in Rai market. The President of the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, Pandit Shankar Dass, said that he had only forwarded a complaint received from a municipal councillor. “I had informed the authorities concerned regarding the illegal construction that took place druing the three-day holiday period,” he said. |
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Rs 2.5 lakh
looted at gunpoint Ambala, October 30 The incident took place when three persons were travelling on a two-wheeler after withdrawing the amount from the bank. While Rs 1.65 lakh was withdrawn by one person, another person withdrew Rs 85,000. They were reportedly followed by the youths on the motor cycle whose faces were covered. When the three persons had crossed a rivulet, they were accosted by the accused. On seeing them, the person driving the two-wheeler tried to speed up but one of the youths threw chilli powder, forcing him to halt. In the meantime, the person carrying the cash in a bag tried to run away but one of the youths brandished a weapon and snatched the bag carrying the amount. Mr Sandeep Khirwar, SP, said, “We are hopeful of solving the case soon.” Four to
be promoted DIG in Haryana Chandigarh, October 30 The state government is expected to soon issue formal orders regarding the promotion of Mr K.K. Sindhu, Mr B.K. Sinha, Mr K.K. Sharma and Mr P.R. Deo as DIG. |
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office-bearers of YC dropped Chandigarh, October 30 The office-bearers who have been dropped are Mr Bhim Singh Yadav (Gurgaon) and Mr Rakesh Bhadana (Faridabad), both vice-presidents; and Mr Mukesh Dagar (Faridabad) and Mr Harjit Singh (Ambala), both general secretaries. According to a press statement of the party, these office-bearers have been dropped after “constantly observing their non-participation in the party activities and also their absence from the meetings of the state body”. Some office-bearers have also been warned for their irresponsible behaviour and non-participation in the party activities and programmes. |
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Lineman held for tampering with meters Sonepat, October 30 According to official sources, the culprit was later handed over to the police and a case was registered case against him. He was, subsequently, arrested by the police. Meanwhile, inquiries revealed that Prem Singh had tempered with the electricity meters of as many as 350 consumers and used to charge Rs 3,500 or more from each consumer. |
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Bomb hoax call Rohtak, October 30 The police, headed by DSP Sultan Singh, searched the train for two hours but no bomb or any object like a bomb was found. The call proved to be a hoax. After clearance by the district police, the train was allowed to proceed towards its destination, Sri Ganganagar. |
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Non-teaching staff want higher
scales Hisar, October 30 In a memorandum sent to the Chief Minister, and the Director of Higher Education, the Union Secretary, Mr Sushil Rajpal, said today that the employees of all government departments, universities and government colleges had been extended this benefit but the same has been denied to the employees of the privately-managed affiliated colleges of Haryana. This was despite the fact that the government had taken a policy decision in 1994 to grant these scales to such employees, he added. |
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Kapoor promoted ADGP Chandigarh, October 30 He has been posted as Additional Director-General of Police, Police Headquarters, Panchkula. |
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Traders urged to join bandh Hisar, October 30 In a statement issued here today, Mr Jindal said the bandh was in protest against the imposition of new taxes. |
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