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Election panel striving
hard to get staff Strengthen INLD, workers urged Soul-searching in INLD 60 per cent polling in Haryana More than 60 per cent polling was reported from the two constituencies in Kurukshetra and one constituency each in Kaithal and Karnal in the SGPC elections held today. No violent incident has been reported from these districts. Chautala appeals
for small family norm Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today appealed to the people of the state to adopt small family norms as the rising population had become the biggest hindrance in the development of the country. Selection of Agriculture Dy Directors challenged The selection of 13 Deputy Directors in the Haryana Agriculture Department by the Haryana Public Service Commission has come under a cloud, with a petition being filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against alleged irregularities in the same. |
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Stage set for commissioning of thermal power project Principal, kin held for abducting girl Liquor smuggling, sale rampant in district Illegal sale of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor is rampant in the district. In the city, the sale is well-organised. Just a call on mobile phone and an agent delivers the asked for brand of liquor in 15 to 20 minutes at your place. Armed youths threaten sarpanch Tension prevailed in Brana village, about 20 km from the city, after a Dalit sarpanch was threatened with dire consequences while two other Dalits were allegedly beaten up by motorcycle-borne upper caste youths of the same village. Mustafabad panches quit over office shifting Alleging “cheating” on the part of the Deputy Commissioner and protesting against yesterday’s foundation stone-laying ceremony of a Block Development and Panchayat Office at Sabalpur village, near here, the Sarpanch and panches of Mustafabad village today resigned from their posts. Artificial insemination: quacks fleece dairy farmers Farmers of Karnal, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Jind and Kaithal districts are in a tight spot as artificial insemination of cattle has become not only an expensive exercise but it is also “risky” with a low-pregnancy rate as many quacks posing as veterinarian experts have emerged in the region in the past few years. Rs 210 cr for shifting of dairies The Haryana government has decided to shift piggeries, dairies and private transporters to outskirts of towns. The government will take up beautification of parks in various towns.
The odd location and inadequate publicity are responsible for low popularity of Panipat Museum, where artefacts of great historical importance are preserved with a view to making people aware of Haryana’s glorious past, especially about the three Battles of Panipat. Chandigarh, July 11 The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam have decided to launch a campaign to provide domestic and non-domestic connections on the spot in villages of the state. Teachers’ body seeks meeting
with Kidwai
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Election panel striving
hard to get staff Chandigarh, July 11 Its repeated requests in this regard have been stonewalled by the government, irrespective of the fact which political party headed it. It is another matter that all political parties profess to strengthen the grassroot democracy at the level of panchayats and municipal bodies. When the commission was formed in 1994, the posts sanctioned for it included two posts of Deputy State Election Commissioner, one post of District Attorney, five posts of Superintendent, 15 posts of assistant, 15 posts of clerk, five posts of steno-typist and 10 posts of peon. However, later the government withdrew the posts of Deputy State Election Commissioner, one post of Superintendent, two posts of assistant, two posts of steno-typist and two posts of peon. In the first-ever report on the panchayat and civic body elections held in Haryana by the commission, it has been stated that despite repeated requests by the commission, the government did not restore these posts. The report was released by the State Election Commissioner, Mr T.D. Jogpal, here today. The government converted one post of District Attorney into that of Secretary in 1998. Following persistent demand by the commission, the government sanctioned one post of District Attorney in 2002 for one year only. But later it sanctioned the post for subsequent years also. The government had also sanctioned 19 posts of assistant and 19 posts of clerk for the “Local Bodies Election cells” at the district level. One assistant and one clerk were to be appointed in each district. However, the government later on abolished 16 posts of assistant and 14 posts of clerk. The government has not accepted the commission’s repeated requests for re-sanctioning these posts. The report says that the district authorities have been requesting the commission that requisite staff should be provided to them for the panchayat and municipal election work because they are finding it difficult to cope up with the increased workload with the existing staff which was sanctioned for the district administration. It regrets that the commission’s request for conversion of one post of clerk into that of computer operator has also not been agreed to by the government. The report says that keeping in view the volume and complexity of work involved in the conduct of elections, including the revision of electoral rolls, the staff presently sanctioned for the commission is “very inadequate”. It says besides one assistant and one clerk in each district-level Local Bodies Election Cell, there is need for at least one supervisory officer of Group “B” level, one Deputy Superintendent, one steno-typist and one peon. The report says that so far over 1500 elected representatives of the people to the panchayats and municipal bodies have been disqualified for having more than two living children. The commission also launched its website: “www.secharyana.nic.in”, today. |
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Strengthen INLD, workers urged Fatehabad, July 11 He said the party workers were the backbone of any party and the INLD had won all political battles due to hard work put in by them. He observed that complacency of the party workers was responsible for the debacle of the party in the recently concluded parliamentary elections. He urged the workers to concentrate on the party affairs so that the INLD could win the forthcoming Assembly poll. Mr Chautala urged youth to play an active part in strengthening the Om Parkash Chautala-led INLD government in the state. He said the youth had always supported the INLD and urged the party workers to convey policies and programmes of the government to the people. Mr Chautala claimed that the INLD government had completed a record number of development works in the past five years. He claimed that the development works done by the Chautala government had earned it a good name throughout the country. Mr Umed Singh Lohan, state president of the youth wing of the INLD, Mr Nishan Singh, MLA and president of the district unit of the INLD, Ms Swatantra Bala Chowdhary, MLA from Fatehabad, and Mr Krishana Poonia, president of the women wing of the INLD, were also present on this occasion. |
Soul-searching in INLD Panchkula, July 11 Around 200 party workers from all over the district had gathered at the Janjh Ghar in Sector 10, to deliberate on strengthening the party at all levels. Mr Chautala, son of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, asked the workers to initiate better public contact programmes so that they know of welfare activities undertaken by the government, and the people’s problems highlighted before the government, so that the government could come up with programmes to please all sections of the society. Speaking to newsmen, Mr Chautala said the government would announce sops for all sections of society. He said the present government would complete its full term till March 2005. |
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60 per cent polling in Haryana Karnal, July 11 The Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer of Kurukshetra, Mr Rajiv Ranjan told The Tribune that in the 52 polling stations of the district more than 60 per cent polling was reported as per the preliminary reports reached the control room. He said six candidates were in the fray for two seats in the district. One seat was reserved for woman. “The counting has also begun,” he said. However, the results would be declared on Monday. Similarly, 62 per cent polling was reported from the two SGPC seats of Kaithal and Karnal. The District Magistrate of Karnal, Mr R.S. Doon, said the polling process completed peacefully in the 69 polling stations in Karnal district. No violent incident was reported from any part of the district when the reports last came in, he said. In Kaithal also, the polling process completed
peacefully. |
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Chautala appeals for small family norm Chandigarh, July 11 He also made an earnest appeal to the people not to discriminate between sons and daughters. In a message issued on the occasion of “World Population Day”, he expressed deep concern over population explosion and added that if the population growth of the country remained unchecked it would overtake China in 2035. He said the rising population was the mother of all our economic problems, as it was nullifying the achievements made by the country in the field of economic development. The problem of poverty and unemployment was directly linked to the rising population and these could not be solved unless population was checked effectively. Mr Chautala said Haryana was also facing the problem of population increase as well as gender discrimination which had caused many social problems. He said the state government had taken a number of steps to arrest the rising population of the state. He said a State Population Control Commission had been set up in the state which would go a long way in controlling and stabilising the population. The National Family Welfare Programme was also being implemented in the state. He said the state government had also introduced a scheme known as Devi Rupak to check the declining sex ratio and escalating population and revised it to cover a large number of people. Under this scheme, the couple adopting either of the terminal methods of family planning would be given a financial incentive of Rs 500 per month for 20 years after the birth of the first girl child and after the birth of the second girl child or the first baby being a boy, a financial incentive of Rs 200 per month would be given for 20 years. |
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Chautala forcing HPSC members to quit: Hooda Chandigarh, July 11 In a statement issued here, Mr Hooda said Mr Chautala had made several members of the commission to resign even before the expiry of their terms “for reasons best known to him”. Though these persons were made members by Mr Chautala himself because of their proximity to him, yet there was no reason why they should be asked to “resign”. He said this action was “highly undemocratic”. |
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Selection of Agriculture Dy Directors challenged Chandigarh, July 11 The petition filed by well qualified agriculture development officers of Haryana, including Dr Som Prakash, alleges that a close relative of HPSC Chairman K.C. Bangar was selected for the post despite being overage and not fulfilling the experience. The petitioners have sought quashing of the selections and directions to the Haryana Government to restrain the selected candidates from joining their new posts. The petition says while the age prescribed in the advertisement dated August 24, 2003 was 21-40 years, a cousin of Dr Bangar was selected despite being 41 years and three months old. This candidate, Mr Suresh Kumar, also reportedly did not fulfill the criteria relating to five years practical training. The petitioners have alleged that the selection committee allegedly relied upon fake certificates and changed marks granted in the interview to favour the VIP kin. They have also claimed that the selections were based only on interviews and no other criteria was disclosed by the HPSC. After hearing counsel for the petitioners, a Bench of Mr Justice
G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice K.S. Garewal issued notice to the respondents, including Dr
Bangar. |
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Stage set for commissioning of thermal power project Yamunanagar, July 11 Global tenders for setting up the power plant were invited and if the sources in the Haryana Government are to be believed, the foundation stone of the plant is likely to be laid in November. Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) has proposed to install two power-generating units of 300 MW capacity each here in the first phase. The government had acquired 1125 acres near Kalanapur, Ratanpur, Isarpur and Rampur Majra villages in the district. “The first unit will be synchronised and commissioned in 30 months after the notice of proceed is issued” said an official of HPGCL. Sources said HPGCL had already done the homework for the proposed thermal plant. The Airport Authority of India has given its clearance for erecting a chimney at the plant and the Ministry of Railways has agreed to provide rail linkage, said the sources. HPGCL had earlier obtained environmental clearance from both the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and the Ministry of Forest and Environment for installation of 250 MW power-generating units. “Since the configuration of the generating units has been revised to 2 X 300 MW, the HSPCB has been approached to issue a no-objection certificate for the same. Once the NoC is obtained, the Ministry of Forest and Environment would be approached for environmental clearance”, said an official connected with the project. It is learnt that a central government agency has carried out some studies in the area during the past three months. Sources said after taking into account the impact of the proposed plant, the environmental parameters like ambient air and water quality, and noise are within in the prescribed limits of the Central Pollution Control Board. To allay fears of the local residents regarding pollution, HPGCL today organised a seminar on the ‘Impact of pollution’ on environment after commissioning of the power plant here. “The government has taken all the necessary steps to make available the sufficient power and clean environment to the people of the state”, claimed Mr Amar Singh Sheoran, Member-Secretary, HSPCB, while addressing a gathering of local people here. Mr G.C Aggarwal, Chief Engineer, HPGCL, said during the first phase, two units of 300 MW each would be installed. An advance laboratory would be installed to monitor the environmental parameters. “A 220 metres high chimney will be erected and the plant will be equipped with the latest equipment to control environmental pollution”, said Mr Aggarwal. HPGCL has proposed to set up both dry and wet ash disposal system. Mr C.S Sidhu, Chief Engineer, HPGCL (thermal design), while speaking at the seminar said that the project would be set up over 1125 acres out of which 700 acres would be used as plant area, 300 acres as ash disposal area and 107 acres as colony area. The local MLA, Dr M.C Gambhir, told the gathering that during the first phase, Rs 2,000 crore would be spent on the project. “Besides power, the thermal power plant will provide job opportunities to thousands of people of the area”, claimed Mr
Gambhir |
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Principal, kin held for abducting girl Yamunanagar, July 11 According to police sources, the Principal, Dr M.K Sehgal, and his brother-in-law Raman Khanna have been arrested under Sections 363, 366, 120-B, 506 and 34 of the IPC. The two were produced in a local court today which remanded them to 14 days in judicial custody. Raman Khanna is employed as a computer operator in the college. The girl had just passed her Class XII examination, said the police. The father of the girl, Mr B.L Modi, in his complaint had alleged that his 20-year-old daughter, who was mentally challenged, was missing for the past many days. Following inquiries, the family came to know that the girl was at the Patil Nagar Colony residence of Raman Khanna. Mr Modi in his complaint also alleged that when he tried to take back his daughter, the Principal threatened him of dire consequences. Family members of accused could not be contacted for comments. However, the family members of Raman Khanna have reportedly told the police that he and the duo had got married at Arya Samaj Mandir, Sector 28, Chandigarh, a few days ago and the marriage was registered. The family claimed that they had even got marriage cards printed, and send to the girl’s parents. They also told the police that the couple were having an affair for the past one year. When contacted, the SHO of Yamunanagar (City) Police Station, Mr Darshan Lal, said Raman Khanna could not produce any document in support of the marriage. |
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Liquor smuggling, sale rampant in district Karnal, July 11 They supply IMFL products at prices lower than charged by retailers. Sellers convince their customers that low-priced products are smuggled from Delhi and Chandigarh. In some cases, a few brands are purchased from Army canteens through ex-servicemen having a monthly quota of liquor. Mr Rajesh Kalyan, a resident of urban estate told The Tribune that there were several eateries, restaurants and lodges in the district, which had illegal stock of IMFL for customers. Influential persons own such outlets, particularly on the national highway. People here say that gurgas (agents of liquor sellers) first appeared in the State during former Chief Minister Bansi Lal’s rule when he declared Haryana a dry State in 1996. Prohibition was scrapped in 1999 but illegal sale of liquor continued with manipulation of the authorities here. A gurga (sale agent of illegal liquor) on the condition of anonymity said that there was an organised group of persons who smuggled liquor from Delhi and Chandigarh where it was available at lower price and then supply it to persons of trust in all main cities of the state from where they
(gurgas) purchase it at a margin of Rs 25 to Rs 100 depending upon the brand to meet need of the customers. When asked who smuggled the liquor he said: “We do not know who they are and their local agents do not tell this to us. However, those people connected to those in power, as local authorities dared not touch us, he added. |
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Armed youths
threaten sarpanch Brana (Panipat), July 11 The sarpanch, Mr Karan Singh, alleged that the upper caste families of village had threatened him a number of times. On Friday night, armed youths allegedly gheraoed his house for more than two hours. The youths used abusive language and threatened him with dire consequences, he alleged, adding that the next day when he lodged a complaint with the police, his relative was beaten up near a local bus stand. A former sarpanch, Mr Shiv Kumar, who reportedly saved Mr Karan Singh’s relative from the assailants, said that a few families, which wanted to create a rift among the communities, were behind such uncivilised acts. The SHO of the Sadar police station, Mr Naresh Ahlawat, said the police arrested two youths today and they had been sent to judicial custody by the local court. |
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Mustafabad panches quit over office shifting Yamunanagar, July 11 Two Zila Parishad members — Mr Kulwant Rai Mustfabad and Mr Ashok Gundyana — have also resigned from their posts. The two remaining panches are also expected to submit their resignations. The Chief Minister was to lay the foundation stone of the office on July 10 but after a protest by villagers on July 8, the programme was cancelled, said sources in the district administration. However, on July 11, the Chief Minister, under heavy police arrangements, laid the foundation stone. Villagers claimed that the Deputy Commissioner had promised them that a survey would be carried out before taking a decision on shifting the office. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vijayender Kumar, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. According to reports, residents of the Mustfabad area are against the shifting of the BDPO’s office from Mustfabad to Sablapur as it would adversely affect their business. However, the MLA from Jagadhri, Mr B.L. Saini, when contacted claimed that the Chief Minister’s programme was never changed and he was to lay the foundation stone on July 11 only. “The Congress is trying to give a political colour to the issue. The shifting of the office to Sabalpur is in the interest of the people as it is easily approachable as compared to the one at Mustfabad”, claimed Mr Saini. The area residents had blocked traffic on the busy Ambala-Jagadhri road for over two hours on July 8. The police had registered a case under Sections 341, 283 and 506 of the IPC against 33 persons. The Sarpanch of Mustafabad, Ms Kiran Bala, told The Tribune that the panchayat had conveyed its disagreement on the shifting of the office to the Deputy Commissioner. The latter had promised that a survey would be done before deciding on the matter. “The foundation ceremony was cancelled on July 10 but the next day we came to know that the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone of the office at Sabalpur”, said Ms Kiranbala. Last evening, a Zila Parishad meeting was called wherein the decision of mass resignation was taken. The resignations have been faxed to the Deputy Commissioner, informed Ms Kiran Bala. The villagers have threatened an agitation if the police arrested anyone named in the July 8 FIR. Mr Subhash Saini, president of the Haryana Youth Congress (Backward Cell), who too has been booked said if the case against the villagers is not dropped, the Congress would launch an agitation. |
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Artificial insemination: quacks fleece dairy farmers Karnal, July 11 The farmers allege that these quacks charge between Rs 200 and Rs 250 per artificial insemination assuring them of high-yielding breeds but, to their dismay, the conception rate varies from 30 to 35 per cent only as against the national average of 50 to 55 per cent. Dairy scientists say the actual cost of producing and distributing the frozen semen straw is not more than Rs 10. Resham Singh, a farmer of Nilokheri, alleged that these quacks influence the uneducated farmers by saying that they manage to procure the frozen semen straws of high yielding breeds of cattle like ‘Karan Swiss’ and ‘Karan Fries’ from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal. The farmers widely condemn it as a hard blow to the community which is already reeling under the impact of a fall in the prices of farm produce. On the contrary, officials of the NDRI claimed that there was no chance of frozen semen straws being smuggled out from the institute. “We maintain proper record of each semen dose given to cattle and thereafter regularly monitor its result and impact for scientific studies”, said Dr N. Balaraman, Joint Director of NDRI. However, sources in the NDRI told the TNS that semen straws of high-yielding breeds were being smuggled out of the institute by a few employees without any accountability and then passed on to quacks who dupe the farmers by charging more than 50 times the actual cost of the semen straw. “Since the semen straw goes into the hands of unqualified professionals, the conception rate turns out to be very low”, admitted another senior official of the NDRI. “It is unfortunate that right under the nose of such a premier institution of the country, the farmers are being duped by unqualified professionals”, said a dairy farmer of Indri. He demanded that the state government should identify such quacks and take action against them, as they were not only giving a bad name to the NDRI but also duping the farming community.Agriculture experts said it was quite a blow to the dairy farmers as the increase in the prices of cattlefeed and veterinary service charges had made returns from dairying unattractive. |
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Rs 210 cr for shifting of dairies Yamunanagar, July 11 The government will take up beautification of parks in various towns. For shifting of dairies, the government will spend Rs 210 crore in 49 towns. An amount of Rs 18.5 crore will be spent in Jagadhri, Yamunanagar, Ambala City, Ambala Cantonment, Karnal and Hisar. This was stated by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala after laying the foundation stone of a dairy complex at Kail village in Jagadhri yesterday. He said the construction of dairy complexes at Darba and Raipur villages had been started. He announced that Rs 13.7 crore would be spent on a cleanliness drive in the six towns falling under the National Capital Region project. He also laid the foundation stone of a block development and
panchayat office building at Thana Chhappar in Mustfabad here. |
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HCMSA for medicare at affordable rates Panchkula, July 11 Issues concerning the medical policy for the
common man were discussed during the meeting of the state executive of HCMS Association held here today. Representatives of 15 branches (out of a total of 20) participated in the meeting. Dr Ravinder
Mathur, state president of association, said the HCMS Association was a elected body representing more then 2300 government doctors of Haryana. It was announced that the 28th convention of the association would be held on August 29. Dr Mathur said the doctors were committed to implementing the pro-poor policies of the government and ensuring availability of quality drugs to the admitted patients as well as OPD patients. The convention will also deliberate on how to deliver services to masses of Haryana and implement poor programmes like “Swasthyra Aap Ke Dwar”. The convention will also deliberate in detail on the long standing demands like non-practicing allowance
(NPA) equivalent to that in neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal and Delhi; conveyance allowance; rural health allowance; academic allowance; risk allowance to doctors for performing hazardous duties; improvement of working conditions; cadre restructuring and promotion avenues; uniform transfer policy; specialist cadre; indemnity insurance by the government for surgeon doing family planning operation etc. |
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Museum cries for publicity Binjaul (Panipat), July 11 The well-maintained museum displays vital historical objects like enlarged photographs of a large number of important miniatures, mostly from Babarnama and Akbar-nama, relating to the three Battles of Panipat. Akbar’s “farman” concerning Hemu is one such important handwritten document. But the museum goes unnoticed by most visitors and residents as neither the district administration gives it due publicity nor the state Tourism Department has done much to cash in on its resource-generating potential. Situated at Binjaul village, 6 km from the city on the Gohana state highway, the museum was set up in the year 2000 to highlight the major events that took place in Panipat over the past 200 years. A visit to the museum shows that historical work is well-preserved. The Archaeological Survey of India has displayed here antiquities, inscriptions, sculptures, arms and armour related to the three Battles of Panipat, old and valuable documents, pottery, jewellery, art, craft objects of the Harappan and pre-Harappan civilisation collected from different parts of Haryana. Besides, the historical events of Panipat and many other important developments have been augmented by maps, write-ups, photographs etc. With a view to providing some insight into acts of bravery, statues or paintings of some valiant and patriotic warriors who sacrificed their lives at Panipat have also been displayed here. These include Hemu, a local hero, Raja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur, Vikramaditya (Vikramajit) of Gwalior, Maharaja of Patiala, Sher Shah Suri, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, Vishwas Rao Peshwa, Tukuj Shinde and Ch Ganpat Rai (Pradhan of Sarvakha Panchayat of Sisauli village. A large number of items of traditional art have been displayed which exhibit a glimpse of Haryana’s traditional art. Despite such major collections of historical work having been kept here, the museum does not attract many visitors if records are any indication. |
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On-the-spot power connections Chandigarh, July 11 Stating this here yesterday, the Chairman of the Haryana Power Transmission and Distribution Corporations, Major General (retd) Bhoop Singh Rathee, said mobile teams of officials of these corporations would visit villages to provide electricity connections. Under this campaign, focus would be on checking power theft and “kundi connections”. People would be motivated to take proper electricity connections. People in rural areas steal power by taping low-tension lines or service cable, which was called “kundi connections”. This was not only a cognisable offence, but create hindrance in supply of power. He said the Power Distribution Corporations had already conducted a survey in the selected villages and found that a number of people had electricity fittings in their houses but had no regular connections. The nigams would give an opportunity to such people to come forward voluntarily to get regular connections instead of using “kundi connections”.Teams of officials would carry all required papers with them and all formalities would be completed at the site, he said. |
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Teachers’ body
seeks meeting with Kidwai Rohtak, July 11 In a communication, association president Dr Vazir Singh and secretary Dr Ajmer Singh Kajal said there was a move to “bring former Vice-Chancellor Maj-Gen Bhim Singh Suhag back” despite a charge sheet against him. They said the executive council had yet to appoint its nominees to the search panel and its delegation would include several members of the executive council. |
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