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Tuesday, November 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Auction of mine leasing rights a success Rail mishaps due to man, not machine Proclaimed offender held BJP opposes govt policies Govt betrayed farmers: Hooda |
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3-day training camp for dairy farmers Councillors for better sanitation in cantonment Govt to introduce 2 Bills
on power in Parliament MP lays stone of school blocks Residents-police
interaction Pediatricians seek role in health policy Ad hoc teachers fear termination Three bodies found Indira Gandhi remembered Ban on carrybags made of recycled plastics
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Auction of mine leasing rights a success Chandigarh, November 19 As the Director, Mines and Geology, Haryana, Mr Ram Niwas, says, the biggest advantage of the new policy has been that the entire process of granting mining leases has become totally transparent. The policy has brought added advantages for the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in the sense that not only has the pressure on him from his party colleagues, relatives and even Central leaders for the grant of mining leases the eased, he has also been saved from the allegations of favouritism. It goes to the credit of Mr Chautala that he has not only brought additional revenue to the state exchequer but has also seen to it that those who had acquired a dubious reputation of taking away the state’s precious natural wealth without paying adequate royalty are out of the mining trade. According to informed sources, the government ordered reauction in two cases, where it suspected that the successful bidders were either the frontmen of persons having a dubious reputation or they were in league with such persons. The case of the Kadarpur mine in Gurgaon district is interesting. Before the auction, it was being run on the basis of monthly permits and the government was getting only about Rs 4 lakh per annum. The department fixed Rs 10 lakh as its reserve price. The highest bid was for Rs 76 lakh on October 31 last. The bid was rejected. At the reauction held yesterday, the mine attracted the highest bid. Similarly, the reserve price of mines no. 2 and 3 in the Manger area, considered to be highly profitable, was kept at Rs 12 crore per annum. These mines, which were being run on the basis of short-term permits, attracted the highest bid of just marginally above the reserve price. The government has decided reauction the mines on December 1. While official sources say it is expected that there will be an increase of at least Rs 1 crore at the reauction, it is learnt that the government had certain reservations on the successful bidder. Another success story is that of the Sasola mine. The government was getting only about Rs 1.20 crore per annum from the mine, the reserve price of which was fixed at Rs 4 crore. Ultimately it was auctioned for Rs 5.60 crore. Mr Ram Niwas points out that from the auction of 26 mines, which constitute merely 25 per cent of the mines in the state, the department has earned about 50 per cent of the total revenue collected from the mines last year. Moreover, after three years the dead rent of Rs 53.04 crore from the 26 mines will automatically go up by 50 per cent. The sources say if the government had continued with the old policy it would have got only about Rs 15 crore per annum but now the state has got an additional Rs 38 crore per annum. Since under the old policy, the mining leases were granted for 10 years, the lease holders would have been benefited to the tune of Rs 380 crore, out of which they could have easily parted with a significant percentage of the profit in favour of the powers that be. However, the fact that a profitable mine of Chelka in Gurgaon district has not been put to auction has created rancour. The mine is believed to be run by a Bhiwani resident on the basis of short-term permits and is yielding over Rs 25 lakh per month to the state. True, there is a restraint order from the Centre on this mine. But the department auctioned a similarly placed mine (plot no. 4 in the Manger area)for Rs 8.21 crore recently. But it dithered in the case of Chelka. Bhiwani incidentally is the parliamentary constituency of Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, elder son of the Chief Minister. Sources in the department say the proposal for the auction of the Chelka mine has also been sent to the Legal Remembrancer with the recommendation that it should also be auctioned on the pattern of mine no. 4 of the Manger area. They say once the legal clearance is obtained, the auction date will be announced immediately. Meanwhile, the department has fixed November 27 as the auction date for certain mines in Bhiwani district. |
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Rail mishaps due to man, not machine Panipat The seminar was intended to educate the railway staff and motivate them for safety measures in the Delhi division in view of the increasing trend of accidents caused by human failure. The ADRM told the railway staff that safety should be the first priority and should be considered at the outset. In this regard the ADRM announced that the latest equipment for safety measures, whatever required, would be provided within a short period. The ADRM told the staff connected with the train operation that they should follow the practice of safe working by observing some points which include avoiding short-cuts, to be in uniform while on duty which creates a sense of responsibility, not to be under the influence of intoxicating drugs while performing duty, to rest before coming on duty, ensuring pathway staff protects the track as per the rules on distance. The president of the Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union, Mr Dharam Pal, asked the ADRM what would be the status of safety measures when employees worked up to 16 hours and needed a minimum of 12 hours rest to prepare themselves for the next day’s job. In that rest period no electricity was available to the staff. How could the administration hope that their subordinates would work properly and without accident under these conditions? Mr Dharam Pal said in the Panipat section more than 160 trains, passed through daily and pointsmen, cabinmen, gatemen and other staff assisting in the running of trains had to work up to 12 hours daily as the requisite staff strength was not available. As against three workman on eight hour shifts, only two workers were there round the clock working for 12 hours at a stetch. The Senior Divisional Safety Officer confirmed that 55 new ASMs would be provided in the division this month. On the contrary, the representative told newsmen that it would make no effect towards betterment on the working as more than 50 ASMs would retired by December. A play on “Human Failures in Railway Accidents” was staged which was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. R. Anand. In this play each and every aspect was shown, particularly the role of unauthorised hawkers, police department’s functioning which include the GRPF and RPF, enquiry counters, sale of banned items on platforms, ticketless travel in the shape of rallies causing loss to the Railways, non-availability of the complaint book, etc. |
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Proclaimed offender held Panipat, November 19 Pradeep, who carried an award of Rs 25,000 on his head, along with Rakesh, a brother of their late gang leader, Rohtash was nabbed by the police from Madana village along the Benjohl canal, near here, following a tip-off from the Sonepat police that the two were heading towards Panipat after snatching the motor cycle of Balraj from Pugthala village in Sonepat district. While their third accomplice escaped with the snatched motor cycle, Pradeep and Rakesh were driving to the city in the Santro car, which was snatched by them a few days back. Acting on the tip-off, the local police cordoned off the area around the city. Pradeep reportedly broke through the naka set up by the city SHO, Badan Singh Yadav, and also fired at the police party which returned the fire. Later, he pushed the car into the Benjohl canal in order to dodge the police and ran towards the fields. He was chased in the fields and apparantly he ran out of ammunition and he surrendered to ASI Om Parkash and Head Constable Kulbir Singh, who were chasing the criminals on their motor cycle. He was reportedly involved in 27 cases of robberies and car snatching. He was also declared proclaimed offender with his gang leader — Rohtash — following their involvement in seven robbery cases. He had been evading the police dragnet since 1998. Pradeep had regrouped the Rohtash gang after his death in an encounter. With these arrests, the police had been able to get an upper hand over the notorious inter-state gang. The modus operandi of Pradeep was interesting. He used to stop a car and snatch it at gunpoint. However, before escaping he asked the car owner to tell the police that the car was snatched by Pradeep. |
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BJP opposes govt policies Sonepat, November 19 Talking to mediapersons here today, he alleged that Mr Chautala was harassing his political opponents by registering criminal cases against them. He expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and said the incidence of crime was on the rise. The police had utterly failed to curb the activities of anti-social elements in the state, he added. Mr Gujjar also opposed the new house tax assessment policy and blamed the Chautala government for imposing various new taxes on the people. This, he said, had caused resentment among the people of the state. The BJP leader also indicated that his party was ready to withdraw support from the Chautala government once the party high command agreed to it. The state BJP leaders, he said had already apprised the senior leaders of the party about the situation prevailing in the state. Mr Krishan Singh Sangwan, MP and vice-president of the Haryana BJP, alleged that some vested interests were trying to weaken the base of the party in Haryana, adding that they would not succeed in their attempts. He said the Congress in Haryana was a faction-ridden party and it had failed to play the role of Opposition in the state. Instead, it was the BJP which was opposing all “anti-people” decisions of the Chautala government. |
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Govt betrayed farmers: Hooda Jind, November 19 Ms Shelja, secretary, All-India, Congress Committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Mr Mange Ram Gupta MLA, Mr Jai Parkash, former union deputy minister were among those who participated in the dharna. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the Haryana Government was pursing anit-farmer policies and had failed to solve their problems. He said Chautala government had betrayed the farmers by not fulfilling the election promises. He said the American boll worm had destroyed the cotton crop in the state, but the Chautala government had failed to give proper compensation to the cotton growers. Mr Hooda said the sugarcane bonding policy of the state government was wrong and there was resentment among farmers over this policy. He said there was a distress sale of bajra and other crops despite fixing support price by the Union Government. He said the farmers were getting loans at a very high rate of interest while loans were being given to other categories at low rate of interest. Mr Jai Parkash said the government had not increased the rates of sugarcane for the last two years though the cost of production of sugarcane had increased. He demanded that the price of sugarcane be fixed at Rs 150 per quintal in view of the cost of production. |
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IN FOCUS Ambala Besides a fully equipped gymnasium, the hospital includes a sauna room, a steam room, an impulse chilled shower, and a hydro jet jacuzzi. The fitness centre provides naturopathy, yoga, meditation and full body massage. Naturopathy is a drugless healing system which helps not only to prevent disease but also to promote and improve the status of health. It recognises that the human body possesses remarkable recuperative powers or natural immunity which tries to resist disease and helps self-recovery. According to naturopathy, the primary cause of all disease is the violation of the laws of nature such as unnatural way of living, unnatural food, improper rest and sleep, lack of activity and polluted air and other sum total of bad habits away from the natural way. Dr Ved Prakash who looks after the hospital, says that the past century was marked by a tremendous advancement in science and technology, giving mankind gadgets and equipment that changed the life style drastically. “It led to sedentary habits, unnatural food, stress and restlessness. The result has been that a majority of the people are afflicted by a variety of problems of health, mental imbalance and social discord. Now, all over the world, people are turning to alternative systems of medicine including naturopathy,” he said. Dr Ved Prakash pointed out that naturopathy is not new to our country. It came to India in the form of a German water cure system organised by Louis Kuhne. “It is an independent system of medicine with a philosophy of its own, a unique system of treatment. It is a positive programme of simple and inexpensive health care. It is a preventive, educative and healing science,” he said.
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3-day training camp for dairy farmers Panipat, November 19 This was stated by Dr Jagveer Rawat, veterinary scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra here, while talking to mediapersons today. In this regard he said a five-day comprehensive training camp was being started from November 20 on the kendra campus at Ujha village in dairy management for youth, farmers and landless people of the district. The training to be provided by top experts of the country was being organised by the kendra affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Briefing the details of this course, Dr Rawat said no fee would be charged from participants. Rather they would be advised on the third day about the type of enterprise they could possibly establish and what kind of assistance could be provided by the banks and insurance companies to them, he added. Emphasising the role of quality training in establishing the best enterprises, Dr Rawat said the university would be ready to create all conducive conditions for the development of partnership between farmers, entrepreneurs, district administration and other institutions like the NDRI, Karnal and Catering Institute. |
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Councillors for better sanitation in cantonment Ambala, November 19 It was decided at the meeting that sanitation, including lifting and sweeping, should be given on a contract basis in outer areas while in the Sadar area, only lifting of garbage should be given on a contract basis. Among others, Mr Shankar Dass, Mr Kamal Kishore Jain, Mr Bimal Prakash, Dr Ved Prakash Sharma, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, Mr Sudhir Jaiswal, Mr Lalita Prasad, Ms Neelam Sharma, Ms Mohindro, Ms Chanchal Rani, Ms Suresh Rani and Ms Angoori Devi were present on the occasion. The municipal councillors said that besides two safai inspectors, two more safai darogas should be appointed with suitable powers so that cleanliness can be effectively carried out. The area under the Municipal Council Ambala Sadar is going to be divided into four parts for sanitation purpose. A major suggestion was that groups of sweepers should be formed in the afternoon hours which could carry out work in one area at a time. This would enable cleaning of garbage, particularly from neglected areas. Also, the government is going to be approached for the allotment of suitable site for the dumping of garbage. The municipal councillors stated in the special meeting that the sweepers should be regularly transferred from one part to another part after every three months. This would ensure that sweepers do not take up a fixed private work. Mr Shankar Dass said that they want cleanliness and suggestions for the same should come from the Municipal Council officials. “I fail to understand how the sanitation condition has deteriorated over the last six months despite no change in the sweeping staff. If we can’t improve conditions, we must at least ensure that it does not worsen,” he said. Dr Bimal Prakash was of the opinion that one drain should be completely cleaned everyday. Executive Officer, Mr Jain, said that sanitation can be given on a contract basis which would be similar to the system in Panipat.
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Govt to introduce 2 Bills
on power in Parliament Panchkula, November 19 This was stated by Mr Satnam Singh, at a seminar on “Power For Al l— Vision 2012” held at DC Model School, Sector 7, here today. He said both “Electricity Bill 2001” and “Energy Conservation Bill, 2001” aimed at improving the power sector. Giving details of the “Electricity Bill, 2001”, he said it guaranteed thermal generation free from licencing; setting up of a Regulatory Commission for mandatory licences for Transmission and Distribution; tariff settlement; stringent penalties against theft; streamlining State Electricity Boards; billing all consumers and progressive reduction of cross subsidies (like sops to a particular segment of consumers to be charged from other segments of consumers.) The “Energy Conservation Bill, 2001”, he said, called for setting up Bureau of Energy Efficiency; notification of energy conservation standards; encouraging use of energy efficient devices and equipment and setting up of Energy Conservation Fund for Research and Development. Mr Satnam Singh also informed that power theft causes an estimated loss of Rs 20,000 crore annually. He said the country needed to add 100,000 MWs. of power to its existing capacity of 100, 000 MWs by the year 2012. A sum of Rs 4 lakh crore was required for adding to the capacity and another Rs 4.5 lakh crore for transmission and distribution . Thus the Ministry of Power had decided on a blueprint for an integrated approach to increase power supply. The seminar was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jyoti Arora, who urged upon the people to make judicious use of electricity and not allow wastage. She said the state govertnment was all set to ensure that electricity reached each and every house in the state.
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MP lays stone of school blocks Rewari, November 19 Former legislator Rao Abhey Singh, father of Congress legislator Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, has donated a two-acre price of land for this purpose. The entire project will cost about Rs 70 lakh. Addressing the gathering, Ms Pilot laid special emphasis on the teaching of English and imparting of moral education to children to mould them into better citizens. Mr M.L. Khanna deplored that the country was facing a predicament caused by gradual erosion of character, morality and cultural heritage during the past 50 years. He asserted that right type of education could alone lift the country out of this morass. He called upon teachers to rededicate themselves to this noble task. He also urged parents to provide full co-operation for it. Three Congress legislators — Capt Ajay Singh Yadav (Rewari), Mr Rao Narendra Singh (Ateli) and Dr Karan Singh (Behror-Rajasthan) — the district youth INLD president, Mr Lachhman Singh Yadav and Swami Sharnananda also spoke. Schoolchildren presented a colourful cultural programme and the Principal, Mr Yogendra Singh Yadav, read out the annual report. |
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Residents-police
interaction Panchkula, November 19 Mr Rakesh Aggarwal, general secretary of the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 12, informed that the main purpose of the exercise was to exchange views on making Panchkula a safer place. The police, on its part, tried to create awareness among the residents on matters of safety and self-vigil. Speaking on the occasion, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Manoj Yadav, said that the main concerns for the Panchkula police were to curb the rate of burglaries and road accidents. He said that from January 1, 2002, the police was planning to organise a road safety campaign. He asked the residents to enhance the physical safety of their houses by installing grills, keeping their doors locked and installing simple devices like cat’s eye, door chains, etc. Residents of Sectors 12, 2 and 4, also expressed their grievances against the police, the most common being the ‘unofficial tax collection’ by policemen. They expressed their anguish against the rising migrant population and the failure of the police to verify them. Concerns about road safety, engaging watchmen in the sectors, etc. were also discussed at length. Residents also suggested that the beat staff of the police should have more interaction with various residents welfare associations which could help the police. Wg Cdr H.L. Ratta, president of Sector 12 Residents Welfare Association, Ms Bharti Arora, ASP (Rural), Mr Jagjit Soi and Mr S.D. Dad of the Sector 4 Residents Welfare Association also spoke on the occasion. Later, the police verified the servants, tenants and those residing in hutments in the area. Earlier, a similar exercise was carried out in Sector 10.
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Pediatricians seek role in health policy Rohtak, November 19 He said though more than 80 per cent of the child health services were being provided by the private sector, the government was taking decisions regarding the child health policy without consulting the
paediatricians and the academy. Nearly 150 delegates from the state participated in the conference which was held at Sonepat. Dr I.C. Verma, Head of the genetic unit, Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi and former Professor, Pediatrics Department, AIIMS, was the chief guest. Dr Jagdish Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, apprised the members of different laws pertaining to medical practice. |
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Ad hoc teachers fear termination Kaithal, November 19 In a resolution passed at the meeting, the association expressed fear about the termination of their jobs and asked the state government not take this extreme step, as the ad hoc teachers were recruited through employment exchanges on merit and had an experience of seven to eight years. Mr Hari Prakash Sharma, general secretary of the association, expressed resentment over the decision of the government to terminate the services of about 5,000 experienced teachers. Mr Ajit Rathi, district president, Bhiwani, said the present Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had while he was in the Opposition assured the teachers that after coming to power he would regularise their services. Mr Sant Pal Malik, general secretary, Kaithal unit, appealed to the Chief Minister to consider their demands favourably and regularise the services of the ad hoc teachers. |
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Three bodies found Sonepat, November 19 According to a report, the alleged assailants had set the body on fire. Some passers-by noticed the burning body and informed the police. The police sent the half-burnt body for post-mortem examination and has registered a case in this connection. According to another report, the Kharkhauda police has recovered two bodies lying on the embankment of Diversion Drain No. 8 near Sisana village, about 25 km from here, yesterday. The bodies have been identified as those of Bimla and Jai Bhagwan. Both had reportedly developed illicit relations and they committed suicide by consuming poison. |
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Indira
Gandhi remembered Rohtak, November 19 Mr Shadi Lal Batra, MLA, and president of the district Congress Committee (urban), said the late Prime Minister sacrificed her life for security and sovereignty of the nation. He urged people to follow the policies and principles laid down by her. Mr Ram Mehar, a Dalit leader, Mr Sultan Singh Atri, Convener, HPCC Teachers’ Cell, Mr Jagdish Kapoor, Mr Gulshan Narang, Mr Sushil Saini, Mr Ramphal Gupta, were also present. |
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Ban on carrybags made of recycled plastics Chandigarh, November 19 While stating this here today, the Chairman of the board, Mr H.S. Bains, said that the recycling of plastics should be undertaken strictly in accordance with the BIS specifications (IS: 14534: 1998). He said all plastic carrybags-making units in the state had been directed not to manufacture carrybags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics of less than 20 microns thickness. Violation of any provision would attract action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. |
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Revive TADA, says AICC member Ambala, November 19 Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Malik said POTO reflected a lack of political will power on the part of the Centre. Criticising the Chautala government, Mr Malik said since MLAs did not have easy access to the Chief Minister only alternative for the Congress was to go to people. Mr Malik said the Congress would take a united stand during elections. |
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SI caught taking bribe Hisar, November 19 Nihal Singh, Sub-Inspector of the Haryana police, had been posted in the Excise Department as district in charge six months ago to check liquor smuggling. According to the police, the Sub-Inspector seized four boxes of illicit liquor from a liquor smuggler, Dashrath Singh, of nearby Ghurshal village, on November 16. He allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 from Dashrath Singh for not registering a case against him. On Dashrath Singh's complaint, a team conducted a raid and Nihal Singh was caught while taking the bribe. |
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Employees take integration pledge Chandigarh, November 19 Mr Goyal said various programmes had been drawn up for the week, which would end on November 25.
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Subedar killed in road
accident Sonepat, November 19 According to a report, he was on his way to Meerut after spending a two-month leave at his house in Jagdishpur village of the district. He is survived by his wife and two sons. According to another report, three labourers sustained injuries when they were hit by a car on the Sonepat-Gohana road, in front of the Police Lines here last evening. A resident of Kabirpur village sustained injuries when he was hit by a scooter in Sector 14 here yesterday.
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