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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Wednesday, December 2, 1998 |
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1050-cr WB loan for Haryana likely CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Haryana Government hopes to get another Rs 1,050 crore World Bank loan to take the power section reforms to their second stage. Sowing on despite DAP shortage ROHTAK, Dec 1 — The sowing of rabi crops in the district is in full swing even though farmers are still facing a shortage of DAP. |
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Haryana
hikes compensation |
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1050-cr WB loan for Haryana likely CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Haryana Government hopes to get another Rs 1,050 crore World Bank loan to take the power section reforms to their second stage. The state has already received Rs 240 crore from the World Bank for its first stage. It has set up the Power Regulatory Authority and the power board has been bifurcated into two companies, one for generation (HPGC) and the other for transmission (HVPN). While the HVP-BJP coalition promises to provide 24 hour power supply from June next, it has to set up one joint sector company for distribution and another in the public sector. Also, the tariff structure has to be rationalised from April next year. Mr Edwin Lim,a senior executive of the World Bank who had detailed discussions with Mr Ranjit Issar, Chief Managing Director of the HVPN, in Paris recently, has sent Mr Djamel Mustafie here. Also, two other aiding companies, DFIC of Britain and USAID from the USA are to appraise the progress made so far from Thursday onwards. Since reforms have entered a crucial stage, Haryana officers and ministers are exerting to see that these loans are available on time. According to the power secretary, Mr S Y Quraishi, the government is confident of carrying out the reforms. "This is for two reasons. One the political executive is not only totally committed to these, but is also taking interest in all aspects. Second, the speed and implementation is on dotted time", he said. In fact, Haryana is becoming a model state in the country in the matter of reforms. Recently, Mr Issar made a presentation before the Paris conference for investment in the infrastructure areas in India. He spoke for 80 minutes listing the achievements and other programmes at a meeting where representatives from several donor countries were present. Mr Lim indicated that India was the most important client and in 1997-98 loans of $ 3.2 billion had been sanctioned despite the stoppage of all aid in the wake of the nuclear tests by India. He also said the bank was committed to providing $ 600 million to Haryana to further push the reforms. This was part of a series of loans. What emerged from the discussions at Paris where Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha was also present was encouraging, Mr Ranjit Issar said. He listed several plus points to emphasise that reforms were working well. The experts at the meeting urged that there should be a legal framework. A competitive structure should be in place. The government should shift from operations to regulations.
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Sowing on despite DAP shortage ROHTAK, Dec 1 — The sowing of rabi crops in the district is in full swing even though farmers are still facing a shortage of DAP. A former minister, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, today alleged that the administration had failed to provide DAP to the farmers and this had delayed the sowing process. So far, only 40 per cent of the land could be sown, he said. The government had also failed to provide compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains, he claimed. However, the area under wheat is likely to increase from 74,000 hectares in 1997 to 80,000 hectares during the current season. However, the supply of DAP is not commensurate with the increase in area. As against the consumption of 10153 MT of DAP in 1997, the total availability of this fertiliser was 8,000 MT at present, with 2,000 MT more likely to be supplied in a couple of days. The area under sarson is likely to decline from 17,000 hectares to 16,000 hectares owing to the delay in draining out the flood water. Moreover, only the late varieties of sarson are being sown now. Interestingly, the unsown area in the district has declined despite the damage caused by floods. According to the Deputy Director, Agriculture, the unsown area in the district this season would be between 3000 to 5000 hectares only as compared to 12,035 hectares last year. Meanwhile, government agencies have not procured any of the paddy that has arrived in the mandis of the district. All purchases are being made by private traders on behalf of the various rice shellers and millers. The common variety of paddy is selling between Rs 445 to 455 per quintal, marginally higher than the minimum support price fixed by the government. The grade A variety fetched between Rs 471 to Rs 600, though its production was much lower as compared to last year. As against 1661 MT in 1997, the arrivals so far are only 500 MT. However, the farmers who switched over to growing basmati this year, are the sufferers. Last year, basmati was sold at rates ranging between Rs 2200 and Rs 2500 per quintal, but during the current season it is selling between Rs 800 and Rs 2100 per quintal. The arrivals of basmati this year are nearly 14 times more as compared to the previous year. As against 252 MT in 1997, the arrivals so far 3421 MT in different markets of the district. The Nidana, Bahu-Akbarpur and Girawar villages are among those where the stagnant rain water has not yet been drained out. The administration claims that the rain water has not been drained out from these villages as there is no outlet.
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Haryana holidays in 1999 CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Haryana Government has notified the public holidays in the public offices under the Government during the calendar year 1999. Besides all Sundays and Saturdays, Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday falling on January 5, Id-ul-Fitir on January 20, Basant Panchmi and Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti on January 22, Republic Day on January 26, Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati Jayanti on Feburary 11, Holi on March 2, Ram Navami on March 25, Idul Zuha (Bakrid) and Mahavir Jayanti on March 29, Baisakhi and Dr BR Ambedkar's Jayanti on April 14, Maharana Partap Jayanti on June 16, Sant Kabir Dass Jayanti on June 28, Janamashtmi on September 3, Haryana Hero’s Day on September 23, Dussehra on October 19, Haryana Day on November 1, Vishvakarma Day on November 8 and Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 23 will be public holidays. As Guru Ravi Dass’s birthday on January 31, Maha Sivaratri on February 14, Parshu Ram Jayanti on April 18, Teej on August 14, Independence Day on August 15, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on October 2, Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti on October 10, Maharishi Valmiki’s birthday on October 24, Divali on November 7, Christmas Day on December 25 and Saheed Udham Singh’s birthday on December 26 fall on closed days, these have been excluded from the list of holidays. Besides the above holidays, employees may be allowed any two holidays to be chosen out of restricted holidays of Good Friday falling on April 2, Moharram on April 27, Budh Purnima on April 30, Guru Arjun Dev’s Martyrdom Day on June 17, Milad-un-Nabi on June 27, Saheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day on July 31, Raksha Bandhan on August 26, Karva Chauth on October 27, Goverdhan Puja on November 8 and Guru Teg Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day on November 24. The government has also notified the public holidays in the State of Haryana, during the calendar year 1999 within the meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Besides all Sundays,
Id-ul-Fitir falling on January 20, Republic Day on
January 26, Guru Ravi Dass’s birthday on January 31,
Maha Sivaratri on February 14, Holi on March 2, Ram
Navami on March 25, Mahavir Jayanti on March 29, Bank
holiday on April 1, Baisakhi on April 14, Guru Arjun
Dev’s Martyrdom Day on June 17, Independence Day on
August 15, Janamashtmi on September 3, Bank holiday on
September 30, Mahatma Gandhi birthday on October 2,
Dussehra on October 19, Maharishi Valmiki’s birthday
on October 24, Divali on November 7, Guru Nanak Jayanti
on November 23, Christmas Day on December 25 and Saheed
Udham Singh’s birthday on December 26 will be
observed holidays under this Act. |
SDAO dies in freak accident ROHTAK: In an unusual and bizarre accident, an officer of the Agricultural Department, posted here, lost his life when the porch of the building housing his office fell on him when he had come out of his office. The badly injured officer who was moved to the PGIMS for treatment succumbed to his injuries after battling for life for six days. The deceased identified as Mr Joginder Singh Dahiya had been working as Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO) and had joined a few months back. According to some eyewitnesses and department officials, the incident took place on October 22 at about noon when Mr Dahiya had just come out of his office but as he had forgotten something he went back and came out a few minutes later to get into his jeep parked under the porch. He was reported to be alone. As he was coming out, the roof of the porch-cum-verandah came down on him all of a sudden as he had just taken his seat in the jeep. A concrete arch of the porch fell on the jeep and nearly crushed them. He was seriously injured and was rushed to the PGIMS where he was kept in the intensive care unit. It is learnt that the impact of the fall damaged his spinal cord. While the doctors attending on him were not very confident about the survival and recovery, he kept on struggling for life. A special team of doctors from a private hospital were also called to diagnose him and explore the possibility of shifting him to Delhi, but it was reported that the specialists expressed reservations over the risk involved in shifting. The family had to pay about a sum of Rs 10000 as fee for the special team of doctors. The Deputy Director (Agriculture) here, Mr B.S. Dahiya, said construction of the building which has been just about 17 years old had been defective, and he had recommended an inquiry into it in a communication to the Director of Agriculture and the district authorities. The building was constructed by the PWD (B&R) in 1981 and was occupied by the department on October 16, 1981. It is learnt that the porch had little support with the main building. Moreover the pillars on which the porch had been supported on the other side was made of bricks without steel reinforcement. The strength of the pillars and the support from the main roof had reportedly got weakened during the unseasonal rain just before the accident. The needle of suspicion now revolves on the defective construction of the building due to which a life was lost.
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JE held for graft FARIDABAD, Dec 1 — The police this morning arrested Jainarain Agarwal, a Junior Engineer of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, on a charge of accepting bribe. A police spokesman said a raid on the complaint centre in Sector 28 here was carried out after the Junior Engineer had allegedly demanded Rs 9,000 from Mr Joginder Singh Bedi, proprietor of Autotech Sales, for replacing his factory's "defective" meter. Mr Bedi had allegedly already paid Rs 5,500 in two instalments to Mr Agarwal. Currency notes worth Rs 3,500 which were signed by police officials, were recovered from the possession of Mr Agarwal. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered. This is the second raid by the police in its drive against corruption. Last week, also the police allegedly found assets disproportionate to known sources of income at the residence of Mr Mukesh Gambhir, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner.
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Poll process cancelled CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The State Election Commission, Haryana, has cancelled the entire election process in respect of ward No 3, Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar in Ambala district where polling was to be held on December 19. Mr JK Duggal, State election Commissioner, Haryana, said that the examination of the election record of the municipalities where municipal byelection were to be held on December19, it transpired that in respect of ward No 3 of Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, the nomination papers were neither accompanied with the receipt of deposit in Form A and T No 323 (STR 3) as prescribed under Rule24 of the Haryana Municipal Election Rules, 1978 nor by any challan of deposit in the government treasury. Under Rule 24 of the Haryana Municipal Election Rules 1978, the nomination paper of a candidate would not be deemed to have been duly delivered unless at the time of delivery of the same, the candidate has either deposited or causes to be deposited a sum with the returning office in cash or enclose with the nomination paper a receipt showing that the said sum has been deposited in the government treasury. The State Election Commission had taken a serious view of the aforesaid violation of election rules and directions of the Commission, he added.
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2 teachers robbed at gunpoint ROHTAK, Dec 1 — Three youths robbed Rs 1,77,337 from two school teachers at gunpoint near Khetawas village today. According to information, the two teachers of Senior Secondary School, Koyalpuri, had withdrawn the amount from a bank located at Matanheil to disburse the salaries. While the teachers were on their way to the school on a scooter, they were intercepted by the youths in an Armada jeep. They allegedly beat the teachers and snatched the bag carrying the amount. The police has registered
a case. 3 fertiliser dealers arrested HISAR, Dec 1 — The Barwala police today arrested three fertiliser dealers, Subhash, Gulshan and Satish, on the charge of selling underweight DAP fertiliser bags. According to police sources, the arrests were made under Section 420, IPC, and the Essential Commodities Act. Yesterday, the farmers had blocked the Hisar-Chandigarh road in protest against the selling of underweight DAP bags by the dealers. The traffic remained suspended on this road for an hour. The blockade was lifted on the assurance of the DSP, Hisar, that action would be taken against the accused. A team of the Agriculture Department, Haryana, went to Barwala and checked the bags which were found underweight. On the complaint of the department, a case was registered.
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Haryana hikes compensation CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Government of India has enhanced from Rs 5000 to Rs10,000 the financial assistance being given to those families whose sole bread-earner has died between the age of 18-64 years due to natural death. Disclosing this, the Haryana Social Welfare Minister, Dr Kamla Verma today said during 1997-98, a sum of Rs 42.72 lakh was given as financial assistance to 781 beneficiaries in Haryana under this scheme. She said that during the current financial year, Rs 21.92 lakh had been given to 329 such families up to November this year. Dr Verma said in both cases of natural and unnatural deaths of primary bread-earner, such families would be given Rs 10,000 each by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of the respective district. She advised the affected families to contact the Social Welfare authorities at the district-level for availing this facility.
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Flag Day on Dec 7 CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Armed Forces Flag Day will be observed throughout the State of Haryana on December 7 to commemorate the supreme sacrifices made by the brave soldiers to protect the honour of our motherland. The Flag Day is an occasion to express our gratitude to armed forces personnel, who are engaged in the task of national defence. Token and car flags will be distributed to the public in return of voluntary donations to the Flag Day fund to be raised on that day. A rolling trophy has been introduced to be awarded to the Zila Sainik Board or Deputy Commissioner raising maximum contribution to the Flag Day fund. The trophy will be presented by the Governor of Haryana. The Haryana Chief Secretary has told all the Deputy Commissioners, Registrar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, all District and Session Judges, Sub Divisional Officers (Civil) and Registrars of all universities in the state that no amount has been proposed for such a donation. However, they have been asked to mobilise maximum contributions to the fund keeping in view the increasing financial requirement to run welfare schemes for defence personnel. The contributions to the
Flag Day are exempted from the payment of income tax. |
Financial aid for social bodies CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Haryana Government has decided to give financial assistance to those social organisations which are engaged in creating awareness among the people about the causes and preventive measures of AIDS and intend to set up AIDS consultation centres. An official spokesman said that the main reason for the increase in the number of those affected by AIDS was lack of awareness about causes of this disease. He said that AIDS was the most deadly disease for which no medicine was available. The only remedy was awareness about the causes of this disease. The spokesman urged the
social organisations to make a significant contribution
towards the drive against this disease. Forest officer dies in accident AMBALA, Dec 1 (UNI) — District Forest Officer (Territorial) Ramesh Sawar was killed in an accident on the Ambala-Dosarka-Sadhaura road today. He was on his way to Sadhaura in his official jeep when it dashed against an eucalyptus tree near Dhanaru village, 35 km from here. However, the driver escaped unhurt. Incidentally, his predecessor had also died in an accident, a few months ago.
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Supplementary exam results declared BHIWANI, Dec 1 — The Haryana Board of School Education today declared the result of the matric supplementary examination held in September. The overall pass percentage of this examination was 62.13, a considerable increase over the past years. Last year the overall pass percentage was 56.28. The Board Secretary, Mr
Mansa Ram Sharma, told mediapersons here today that in
this examination 64,656 candidates appeared, of which
45,592 were boys and 19,064 were girls. He said 40,171
candidates were declared successful. Two killed in road mishap YAMUNANAGAR, Dec 1 — Two persons died in a road accident here today. According to police sources, Kashmiri Lal Chhabra, son of Ram Chander, resident of Camp, and Kajal, who were riding on a motorcycle, had a head-on collision with a truck (No MR-026-8005) at the bypass road. Both died on the spot. A
case under Sections 279/304-A IPC has been registered
against the truck driver, who is absconding. |
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