H A R Y A N A

Chautala opens sugar mill at Gohana
Sonepat, November 30
The Haryana Government would set up two more sugar mills in the state in the next financial year to give boost to sugarcane cultivation as this crop can withstand the vagaries of the nature in comparison with other crops.

Youth shot at, injured
Rohtak, November 30
Anil Kumar a youth, was shot at and critically injured by two persons in the local Shivaji Colony early today. Later, he was admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences here.

The maharishi with a message
Pinjore, November 30
He hasn’t denounced the world. Living in it, Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra ji Maharaj talks of bringing about a revolution by creating awareness among the masses through a rath yatra from Vaishnodevi to Assam starting from December 5.

Students ill-treated by bus crews
Kalka
A number of students of this town who go daily to Panchkula and Chandigarh to attend school or college, face ill-treatment from the drivers and conductors of roadways buses.

Balmikis go on the rampage
Sonepat, November 30
A large number of irate Balmikis went on the rampage and pelted a police party, headed by the Station House Officer (SHO), with stones and damaged two police jeeps in Balmiki Basti at Gohana town, 35 km from here, last evening.

Housing Board office shifted
Sonepat, November 30
The Haryana Government has ordered the shifting of the divisional office of the Haryana Housing Board from Karnal to Sonepat with immediate effect.

Council seeks divider on Jagadhari road
Ambala, November 30
The Chairman of the Citizens Council, Ambala Cantt, Dr N.C. Jain, has suggested that PWD authorities should examine the possibility of providing entry and exit points for the convoy park ground for smooth movement of army vehicles without hampering city traffic.

• Steps to improve power supply

• Thousands take holy dip on Kartik Purnima

• Pathankot family booked for dowry

• Army recruitment rally from Dec 19

Chautala opens sugar mill at Gohana
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 30
The Haryana Government would set up two more sugar mills in the state in the next financial year to give boost to sugarcane cultivation as this crop can withstand the vagaries of the nature in comparison with other crops.

This was announced by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating Devi Lal Cooperative Sugar Mill, Gohana, at Ahulana village. This mill had been constructed in 85 acres donated by the panchayat of the village in a record time of a year at a cost of Rs 56 crore which had been borne by Hafed. The mill has the capacity to crush 35,000 quintals of sugarcane per day and there is also a provision to increase its capacity to 40,000 quintals. The Chief Minister also unveiled the 12-feet bronze statue of Devi Lal here.

Mr Chautala said with the construction of the mill, a long pending demand of the area had been fulfilled which had been hanging fire for the past 50 years. He said Devi Lal was emotionally attached to the people and was always thinking of improving the condition of the residents of this area. The Chief Minister said he had announced the construction of the mill in 1990 but it could not materialise as the previous two governments took no interest. He said 500 youth of the area would get employment in the mill and about 20,000 farmers would benefit.

The Chief Minister complimented officers and engineers for completing the mill in a record period of a year whereas it takes atleast three years for setting up a big sugar mill. He also disclosed that the mill would not only produce sugar but also generate 6 mw of electricity. Out of this generation, 4 mw would be used for running the mill and the rest given to HVPN.

He said three 500 mw gas-based power plants would be set up at Faridabad, Hisar and Yamunanagar. Funds had also been sanctioned for setting up two 250 mw units at Panipat for which tenders had already been invited.

Youth shot at, injured

Rohtak, November 30
Anil Kumar a youth, was shot at and critically injured by two persons in the local Shivaji Colony early today. Later, he was admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences here.

According to the police Anil was called out from his house by Bharta and his accomplice and shot at with a pistol.

The police has registered a case under Section 307 and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. It has launched a hunt to nab the suspects, who absconded after the shooting incident.

Meanwhile, the police today claimed to have arrested three persons, Sonu, Sunil and Ramoo, in the Ganeshi murder case. The three were remanded in police custody by a court till tomorrow. Ganeshi was murdered here on November 27. UNI

The maharishi with a message
Monica Sharma

Pinjore, November 30
He hasn’t denounced the world. Living in it, Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra ji Maharaj talks of bringing about a revolution by creating awareness among the masses through a rath yatra from Vaishnodevi to Assam starting from December 5.

Unlike most religious heads who chant mantras and tell you of the ways to attain ‘moksh’ even though they know little about the materialist world they exist in, he is clear about his mission — to teach the masses the importance of being self-reliant, of being strong enough to defend themselves, of exploiting resources in a balanced manner and of bringing “clean politicians” to power.

Keeping down a regional daily he has been reading while reposing on a chair casually placed in the Brahmrishi Ashram in Virat Nagar near here, he says, “There is a dire need to bring about a revolution. Foreign goods are being dumped into the Indian market, goods that we do not need. These are being sold at much cheaper rates, adversely affecting our domestic market. Farmers too, are being affected because of it. As far as politicians are concerned, there are very few with strong character. If we do not do something about it now, it will be too late”.

But shouldn’t a religious leader be talking about salvation and redemption? What is the relation between religion and the economic degradation of a country? “There is a clear-cut relation,” he asserts. “If the country survives, religion too will survive. If we succumb to foreign forces attacking our country, religion too will face the danger of extinction. As politicians have failed to bring us out of this menace, but in fact are responsible for throwing us into it, the onus is now on the religious heads”.

In support of his stand, he quotes examples from history and mythology. Giving his blessings to two Air Force officials touching his feet, he says, “In pious times, the gurus used to apply tilak during the coronation ceremony. Now, we want the religious leaders to at least tell the masses what is right for them and what isn’t. We want the ‘praja’ to choose the ‘raja’”.

Giving details of the rath yatra, he says, “It is being taken out by the Akhil Bhartiya Sant Mission, of which I am the convener. Our effort during the yatra will be to bring about awareness among the masses. For this purpose, 200 intellectuals will accompany the yatra at any given time. It will start on December 5 and will end on March 1 next year”.

Students ill-treated by bus crews
Harjit Singh Jaggi

Kalka
A number of students of this town who go daily to Panchkula and Chandigarh to attend school or college, face ill-treatment from the drivers and conductors of roadways buses. Even when they have valid passes, the conductors do not let them travel in the buses. Students complain that they are denied entry to the buses on pretexts such as there is no seat in the bus, or the bus will not go by that route, or pass-holders are not allowed in this bus. The drivers do not wait to take in students and start the buses when they are getting in . Incidents of students falling down in the process are common.

Parents ask when the students pay the monthly fee in advance, why they are ill-treated by the conductors and drivers? They demand that these tendencies of th drivers and conductors should be checked and inspectors should be posted at different bus stops.

* * *

“ Relevance of Gandhian methods to solve international disputes” and “Books are man’s best friends” were the two themes of an inter-school declamation contest organised by the Independent Public School’s Association, Panchkula. ACC DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, won the overall trophy.

This school also won 24 medals in the Regional Inter-School Junior Girls and Boys Athletics competitions held at Panchkula. In all, five gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medal were won by the athletes of this school.

* * *

As part of ‘Operation Goodwill’ launched by the police, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Rajesh Duggal, held a meeting with three-wheeler operators. He told the operators that those who did not possess a driving licence should obtain it soon. He also advised them to keep first aid boxes in their vehicles. He also educated them about traffic rules and traffic signals.

Three-wheeler operators apprised the DSP of the difficulties faced by them and promised to abide by the traffic rules.

Balmikis go on the rampage
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 30
A large number of irate Balmikis went on the rampage and pelted a police party, headed by the Station House Officer (SHO), with stones and damaged two police jeeps in Balmiki Basti at Gohana town, 35 km from here, last evening.

According to a report reaching here, trouble arose when a police party, led by Mr Amar Singh, SHO, Gohana police station, tried to forcibly take away Mr Mangal Dass Balmiki, president of the Gohana Balmiki Sabha, to the police station for interrogation in a case of looting.

On seeing the police, a large number of Balmikis arrived on the scene and resisted the police action. This led to a protest by the Balmikis who immediately started pelting the police party and the jeeps with stones.

The police has registered a case under Sections 395 and 397 of the IPC against 15 youths, including a son of Mr Mangal Dass Balmiki.

Tourist complex at village planned
Our Correspondent

Sirsa, November 30
A tourist complex at a cost of Rs 8 crore is proposed to be developed at Ottu village in this district near the site of the new weir. This was stated by the Chief Secretary of the Haryana Government, Mr L.M. Goyal, while having a discussion with senior officers of the Irrigation, Tourism and Agriculture Departments at Ottu today.

He also discussed the modalities regarding the setting up this complex. The complex will be spread in an area of over 16 acres. The MD, Tourism, Mr S.P. Thakur, laid out the rough plan and sketch of the landscape. Later, the Chief Secretary inaugurated three buildings at Sirsa comprising a computer training centre, DRDA seminar complex and a school building for mentally challenged children. He also addressed a meeting of district officers and reviewed the progress of ongoing development works. 

Housing Board office shifted
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 30
The Haryana Government has ordered the shifting of the divisional office of the Haryana Housing Board from Karnal to Sonepat with immediate effect.

According to official sources, this decision has been taken following the failure of the state Housing Board to undertake the construction of houses and other projects at Karnal since the creation of a separate division there.

The entire staff of Karnal Division, including an Executive Engineer, a Head Clerk, an Accountant, an Assistant Accountant, designers and junior engineers have been transferred to Sonepat.

The state Housing Board has created three subdivisions at Sonepat to look after the Rs 9.16-crore projects to be undertaken by it in Sonepat.

Council seeks divider on Jagadhari road
Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 30
The Chairman of the Citizens Council, Ambala Cantt, Dr N.C. Jain, has suggested that PWD authorities should examine the possibility of providing entry and exit points for the convoy park ground for smooth movement of army vehicles without hampering city traffic.

While welcoming the work on the extension of the divider on the Jagadhari road between Ambala Cantt Civil Hospital and Mahesh Nagar area, Dr Jain said that the divider would reduce the number of road accidents. “But before the road is divided it would be essential to widen it from both sides to make it four-laned, he said.

Dr Jain stated that the district administration, civic authorities and PWD officials should ensure that all encroachments on this road from Indra Chowk to Tangri river bridge should be removed and speed breakers should be provided near all educational institutions and important crossings.

Steps to improve power supply
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 30
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has taken a series of measures to improve power supply in the city and other parts of the district.

According to an official press note, the nigam, in a bid to strengthen the local distribution system, has augmented 21 distribution transformers of 100 KVA capacity to 200 KVA capacity transformers. Five new 200 KVA and nine 100 KVA transformers have also been added in the district in the distribution system of Sonepat city, besides providing capacitors on transformers for improving the voltage system.

The nigam claimed that there had been no load shedding in Sonepat district except where there was scheduled maintenance work. 

Thousands take holy dip on Kartik Purnima
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 30
Thousands of devotees, including women and children, took a holy dip in the Yamuna, near here, on the occasion of Kartik Purnima today.

According to a report, an endless stream of devotees started pouring in at 3 a.m. Later, they thronged the temples and other religious places and performed pooja.

Many devotees alleged that the Haryana Roadways failed to ply additional buses on the routes leading to the Yamuna and the private vehicles charged extra fare from them.

Pathankot family booked for dowry

Rohtak, November 30
The city police has registered a case against five members of a Pathankot (Punjab) family for allegedly harassing a local woman over dowry.

Army recruitment rally from Dec 19
Tribune News Service

Panipat, November 30
An Army recruitment rally will be organised at the local Police Lines ground in Rohtak from December 19 to 22.

According to a press note, eligible candidates from Jhajjar district have been called for recruitment on December 19 and of Rohtak district on December 20. Similarly, candidates from Panipat and Sonepat districts have been called for recruitment on December 21. Wards of ex-servicemen and serving defence personnel will have report on December 22, a spokesman of the recruitment office said.