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| Monday, July 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Citizens oppose govt move on house tax KURUKSHETRA, July 2 — The movement launched by citizens of this town, against the Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy, is gaining momentum. A 21-member Action Committee formed by the local citizens to fight the Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy at its meeting here last evening, set up an eight-member legal panel which will approach Punjab and Haryana High Court advocates for filing a petition to challenge the state government’s notification imposing new house tax as well as fire tax and professional tax. YC threatens to block traffic District Diary Sonia for intensifying
agitational plan |
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| Rail traffic
restored AMBALA, July 2 — The rail traffic between Ambala and Rajpura on the Ambala-Amritsar rail section which was disrupted following the accident of the Howrah-Amritsar Express near Ambala City yesterday was restored today. According to railway officials all up and down trains on this section have started running. Some passenger trains which had been cancelled were also restored today. Showers hit life FATEHABAD, July 2 — Two persons were killed and seven others injured in separate accidents in this district yesterday. Two of the wounded persons have been shifted to the Medical College Rohtak, while the others are undergoing treatment at the local general hospital. “Satta” curbed in
Fatehabad: police Pro VC elected
AIPSA chief Protest against
demolition drive Vajpayee’s visit
cancelled Shopping complex
at Ratia 
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Citizens oppose govt move on house tax KURUKSHETRA, July 2 — The movement launched by citizens of this town, against the Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy, is gaining momentum. A 21-member Action Committee formed by the local citizens to fight the Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy at its meeting here last evening, set up an eight-member legal panel which will approach Punjab and Haryana High Court advocates for filing a petition to challenge the state government’s notification imposing new house tax as well as fire tax and professional tax. The panel comprises seven advocates and a retired engineer. The advocates are Mr Sahab Singh Saini, former MLA, Mr Dina Nath Arora, Convener, District Congress Vichar Vibhag, Mr Virender Garg, Mr Ramesh Kumar Narwania, Mr Suresh Kumar Goyal, Mr Parkash Mlehra, a Congress leader and Mr Krishan Bajaj, a BJP leader while the retired engineer is Mr S M Sharma. According to the committee sopkesman, the meeting decided that the members of the committee as well as the Urban Estate Welfare Association would pressurise the local municipal councillors not to adopt the new house tax policy at their meeting being convened shortly. The meeting also decided that the committee would give call for bandh on the day when the municipal councillors met here to discuss this issue. The committee members have alleged that the local municipal councillors were being pressurised by the state government to approve the new house tax and professional tax as well as fire tax. In a unanimous resolution, the meeting opposed the implementation of Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy while in another resolution, it was unanimously decided that the Municipal Council, Thanesar should re-forward the proposal new house tax policy to the Haryana Government for its re-consideration. The meeting expressed gratitude towards those municipal councillors who were standing by the local residents in opposing the Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy. On the other hand, the meeting decided to gherao those municipal councillors who would favour the passing of the new house tax policy. It is learnt that a ruling party Thanesar Municipal Councillors’ meeting held here recently under the chairmanship of Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, decided that the Municipal Committee, Thanesar, at its meeting scheduled to be held here during the first week of this month, would pass the Haryana Government’s proposed new house tax policy returned by the state government as the same was forwarded by the Municipal Council, Thanesar, to the Haryana Government last month for its re-consideration. Thus, the passing of the new house tax policy by the Municipal Council, Thanesar, has become almost certain in the next meeting scheduled to be held here in the first week of this month. |
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YC threatens to block traffic ROHTAK, July 2 — Activists of the Youth wing of the Haryana Congress have threatened to block the national highways passing from the state if the president of the Indian National Youth Congress, Mr Randeep Surjewala and his associates were not released from ‘jail’ immediately. Mr Surjewala and his supporters were “arrested” in New Delhi on Friday while they were “protesting” against the policies of the Vajpayee government on several issues including the proposed ‘autonomy’ to Jammu and Kashmir and ‘attacks on Christians in various parts of the country. Hundreds of Youth Congress workers also staged demonstration outside Tihar jail in Delhi yesterday in this connection. In a statement here today, Mr Krishanvir Mayna of the Haryana Youth Congress said here today that Youth Congress workers would take the agitation on roads if Mr Randip Surjewala and others were roads and highways passing from Haryand would be blocked and no traffic would be allowed to move on. Alleging that the Youth Congress workers who had been protesting in a peaceful manner were being ‘terrorised’ through false cases against them. He said the Vajpayee government had been ‘exposed’ badly and it was the result that the innocent persons had been put behind the bars. Other members of the youth wing including Ms Sumitra Chauhan, Vinay Nalwa, Randhir Singh Suresh Rana, Shamsher Malik, Shadi Lal Sanjay Ahuja, Karamvir Ranvir Singh, Rajiv Ahuja, Ajay Dhankhar, Ravinder Singh, Tejvir, Anand Sagar, Naresh and Anand have criticised the arrest of Mr Surjewala and
others.
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District Diary FATEHABAD: The markets of this district town were never as wide as they are today. With the removal of all encroachments, the main markets wear a new look — no congestion on the roads, no awnings stretching out above the doors of shops and no goods displayed outside the shops. The main markets, including Hans Market, Thana Road Bazaar and the Main Bazaar, used to be highly congested. Besides the awnings and goods spread outside the shops, a host of rehris parked in these markets left hardly any space even for pedestrians. Whenever a car or a heavy vehicle entered the market, the scene became really chaotic. But all this now past. The administration’s drive to remove all encroachments, has given the roads enough width to allow free flow of traffic. The administration now plans to lay reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roads in the markets. Work has already started in Thana Road Bazaar.
* * * * There is hardly any park worth its name for the children of this town to play. There are no doubt some parks to name, but none of these is being properly maintained. Time was when Ambedkar Park on the National Highway used to be a place suitable for the children to play and the grown ups to take a whiff of fresh air. A fountain with colourful lights was its main attraction. But lately the administration seems to have lost interest in this park. It has become a haunt of gamblers and drug addicts. Similar is the fate of Thana Road Park, Rajiv Gandhi Park and other parks of the town which have become garbage dumping grounds. When the State Tourism Department acquired a park in Model Town for the construction of ‘Papiha’ tourist complex, the department had promised to develop half the area as a park. But the promise was never kept. The residents now regret that the plot marked for a park has slipped out of their hands and their children have no place to play. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, however, says that the administration has decided to develop at least one park in each of the three municipal towns in the district, namely Fatehabad, Tohana and Rattia. He says a four-acre park will be developed by HUDA on the plot where Papiha stands. He says that Rs 50,000 has also been sanctioned for the development of Ambedkar Park.
* * * * Residents of Lajpat Nagar, Basti Bhiwan and Ashok Nagar went through a harrowing time this summer because of shortage of water. Water is supplied to these areas from tubewells installed in Rajiv Gandhi Park and Lajpat Chowk. The supply manages to meet the needs of the residents in winter and in the rainy season. But the situation becomes bad in summer when the demand for water increases. But this year the situation became rather acute. The residents of these colonies even held a demonstration outside the Public Health office. The residents now nurse a grievance against the department that it is indifferent to their suffering.
* * * * Work on the construction of bungalows for senior district officers is progressing at a brisk pace. The Deputy Commissioner has already shifted to his new residence. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on a public interest petition, had directed the then D.C. to vacate the Papiha Tourist complex which had been converted into his residence temporarily. The residence of the Additional District Judge is also now complete. The residences of the S.P. and the A.D.C. are nearing completion. This will solve the accommodation problem for the senior officers of the district. Work on the mini-secretariat is also picking up speed, and is likely to be completed by the end of this year. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, had promised to take special care to see early completion of this project. The State Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, whose constituency falls in this district, has also been taking a keen interest in this project. With the construction of those buildings almost all the infrastructure needed for the development of this comparatively new district will be in place. |
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Sonia for
intensifying agitational plan GURGAON, July 2 — The Congress in Haryana has decided to intensify its on-going agitational programme against the INLD government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala and supported by the BJP from outside. The intensified approach of the party will be effected from this
month. The move of the Haryana unit of the Congress follows a recent meeting of its President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, with the party supremo, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Mrs Gandhi is understood to have suggested to the state unit to give more thrust to the party’s programme relating to issues pertaining to the public. Some of the issues on which the Congress has launched a campaign against the ruling INLD and its ally, the BJP, are the law and order problem, failure of the INLD government to redeem the promises made by Mr Chautala like providing electricity free of
cost, concessions for the farmers and ample supply of water in canals and their
networks for the purpose of irrigation. Also, Congress leaders are critical of the government on alleged erratic supply and quality of power. A delegation of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), led by Hooda, will submit a memorandum to the Governor on July 5 to protest the
government's reported move to increase the house tax. According to the Vice-President of the HPCC, Rao Dharam Pal, the move is to enhance the levy of tax by resorting to evaluation on the basis of the combined effect of the market value of the land and the cost of
construction. The present practice was to levy the tax on the basis of rental value. The Congress, which is the principal Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, has reacted sharply to the move to enhance the house tax. Mr Hooda has already announced the party’s pledge that it will undo any amendment sought to be made by the state government on the house tax front, after coming to power. The submitting of the memorandum will be in addition to the ongoing agitation of the party at the district headquarters. Rao Dharam Pal said the programme in the districts was being used as an occasion to build public opinion and bring about mass mobilisation for the gherao of the Haryana Assembly during its Budget session. The state unit of the Congress has given a call for the gherao. The party is concentrating on its July 6 agitational programme in Rewari, the nerve centre of Ahirwal politics in Haryana. Mr Hooda will participate in the event. The Congress MLA from Rewari and one of the seniormost party leaders, Capt Ajay Singh, has already launched the mobilisation campaign. The party is yet to finalise the schedule for the programme for Narnaul in Ahirwal belt. The programme in Gurgaon has already been completed. |
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Rail traffic
restored AMBALA, July 2 — The rail traffic between Ambala and Rajpura on the
Ambala-Amritsar rail section which was disrupted following the accident of the Howrah-Amritsar Express near Ambala City yesterday was restored today. According to railway officials all up and down trains on this section have started running. Some passenger trains which had been cancelled were also restored today. Meanwhile, repair work on the damaged poles and wires is in progress. At present electric engine trains are being run by diesel engines from Ambala Cantonment to Rajpura where the diesel engines are disconnected and the electric engines start functioning. The down trains are also being run in a similar manner. A railway officer said the electric engine trains would start running by this evening. Meanwhile, the five injured admitted to the local Civil Hospital were discharged today. The Commissioner, Railway Safety, Northern Circle, Mr
A.P. Aggarwal, who has been deputed to conduct an inquiry into the accident, will start work from Tuesday. |
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Showers hit life ROHTAK, July 2 — Heavy monsoon downpour today disrupted normal life in the region. While low-lying areas were flooded, several hundred trees got uprooted and many were broken at many areas due to windstorm accompanying the rain. It was the first downpour of monsoon in the region. Rain which lashed the town at 12 noon left some low lying residential areas flooded with storm water. Although it lasted for less than two hours traffic was disrupted or affected on roads. Water stagnated on several roads including the main civil road at many points. It is reported that telephone lines went out of order at many places. Supply of power was also disrupted for several hours as a result of rains. Several hundred trees and plants got uprooted on the roads including the national highway. Power supply in many colonies could not be ‘restored’ for several hours in the town and nearby areas. Similar reports have also come from nearby Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh towns. |
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2 killed in road
mishaps FATEHABAD, July 2 — Two persons were killed and seven others injured in separate accidents in this district yesterday. Two of the wounded persons have been shifted to the Medical College Rohtak, while the others are undergoing treatment at the local general
hospital. Kuldeep (18), a resident of Balak village near Barwala in Hisar district, died when the Tata Sumo he was travelling in overturned in his bid to save a cow near Kharakhen village on the
Hisar-Fatehabad road. Ashok (12) and Balbir (14) who were wounded in the accident were shifted to the Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak. In another accident, Ram
Chander, a jeep driver, was killed when he was trapped between his own jeep and a tree. According to reports, he had stopped his jeep to meet the call of nature beside a tree when the jeep which had its ignition on suddenly caught motion. The victim was caught between the tree and the jeep. |
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“Satta” curbed
in Fatehabad: police FATEHABAD, July 2 — The police here has started using high-tech devices to combat crime. The district police is using computers to curb “satta” (betting). The district police chief, Mr Shrikant Jadhav, told mediapersons today that to combat crime he had been feeding names and brief history of criminals in his computer. For this purpose, he had got a specially designed programme in his computer. To get more information about “satta” and its players, the SP had strengthened the security wing. The officials of this wing remained in mufti and collected information about the criminals and their modus operandi. The information so collected was fed to the computer. The SP said the criminals who earlier used chits to transact their trade, stopped the practice once the police stepped up its campaign they started using telephone to strike deals. The police then obtained special permission from the GMT, Hisar, to tape telephone calls of the “satta kings”. The SP claimed that the police had been able to almost root out the crime from the district. Most of the criminals had either been arrested or shifted their area of operation to some other districts. A total of 322 cases had been registered in the district under the Gambling Act during the first six months of the current year and a sum of Rs 2,28,729 recovered during these arrests. As many as 286 cases under the Gambling Act were registered during this period last
year. |
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Pro VC elected
AIPSA chief
KAITHAL, July 2 (PTI) — Prof Hoshiar Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University and a well known academician has been elected as a president of the All-India Political Science Association
(AIPSA) for a term of two years at the annual conference of the association held recently at Nagarjune University,
Guntoor, Andhra Pradesh, from June 28 to 30. This post is considered a top position for any academician and an honour which very few professors have achieved. This association was found in 1936, and is thus an oldest professional association in the field of social sciences. Prof Hoshiar Singh is considered to be a father figure in the field of public administration and political science. Earlier, he was bestowed ‘Man of the year-1995’ award by the American Biographic Institute, North Carolina, USA. |
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Protest against
demolition drive SONEPAT, July 2 — Hundreds of men, women and children of Shanti Nagar and Snake Charmers’ basti, Murthal, took out a procession here yesterday in protest against the demolition of their houses during an anti-encroachment drive launched by the district administration and the police. The procession which passed through the main streets of the city, reached the camp office of the Deputy Commissioner and the demonstrators raised slogans against the district administration and Mr Suraj Mal Antil, an INLD MLA. |
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Vajpayee’s visit
cancelled GURGAON, July 2 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit here, which was scheduled for tomorrow, has been cancelled. He was to inaugurate a building in the premises of Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), in Gopalpahadi village, near here. The building is to function through non-conventional energy. |
Shopping complex
at Ratia FATEHABAD, July 2 — Under the Haryana Government’s scheme to beautify towns and cities after removal of all illegal encroachments, the district administration has mooted a plan to develop a shopping complex with all modern facilities at Rattia. Under the first phase 22 shops will be developed. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, told mediapersons here yesterday the auction for letting these 22 shops for rent was held on Friday. The Municipal Committee, Ratia, had earned Rs 69.91 lakh through these auction. Out of these Rs 62.10 lakh was through voluntary contribution, Rs 5.50 lakh through security deposits and Rs 2.31 lakh through rent. In the second phase, shops on the first floor of the shopping complex would be constructed. Mr Dilbagh Singh, president of the committee, Rattia, said the construction of the shops would be completed in two months. |
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Poppy
seized KAITHAL, July 2 — The district police has seized huge quantities of poppy husk since Friday. As many as 1,366 kg of poppy husk was seized from a bunker at Thehbanera village in Guhla subdivision. Amrik Singh has been arrested in this connection while his accomplice, Bansa, is at large. As many as 136 kg of poppy husk was seized from Pargat Singh of Dera Amrit Sariya and his accomplice and 5 kg poppy husk from Bira of Thehbanera. |
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3 killed, 25 hurt
in road mishap
HISAR, July 2 (PTI) — Three persons were killed and about 25 were injured, five of them seriously, when a canter overturned near Mayyar village on the Hisar-Delhi national highway, the police said today. The canter was on its way to Dera Jamalpur at Bazampur village near here when the driver lost control over the vehicle due to failure of the steering yesterday, the police said. The condition of the injured is stated to be critical, the police added. |
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Biomass projects
for Ambala, Karnal CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Two biomass projects with a generation capacity of 17.55 MW will be set up at Ambala and Karnal at a cost of Rs 52.60 crore. Approval for the setting up of the projects was given by the Haryana Cabinet which met here yesterday under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala. The 12-MW plant to be set up at Ambala at a cost of Rs 37.10 crore will generate power using rice straw, rice husk, wheat straw, bagasse and cotton stalks. The second project of 55 MW being set up at Karnal at a cost of Rs 15.50 crore will generate power using cotton stalks, wheat straw, rice straw and rice husk. The units will be established with indigenously available technology. The purchase tariff will be Rs 2.25 per unit with 5 per cent annual escalation at the time of signing of the MoU. |
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