 |
| Wednesday,
October 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Encroachments to be cleared:
CM Govt agencies buy PR 103
paddy 9 women killed in
accident Killings stun
villagers Cong factions step up
activities HC allows pollution board’s
plea |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Khadi industry’s future
bleak Accused in fraud case deposits
amount Governor opens blood
donation camp Scheme for greening
vacant land launched Two pilgrims die as
bus overturns Ex-minister dies of
heart attack Action against 3 grain firms
|
|
Encroachments to be cleared:
CM ROHTAK, Oct 3 — Encroachments on public land will be cleared and adequate supply of potable water ensured in every village of the state.
Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said on the second day of the Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme at Sampla, 25 km from here, today. Delegates of as many as 33 gram panchayats in Hassangarh Assembly segment apprised the Chief Minister of their problems. He directed the officials concerned to
solve them on the spot. The Chief Minister approved construction of classrooms in 6 villages under matching grants scheme, setting up veterinary hospitals and health centres in different villages, upgradation of schools and construction of some link roads. Later, talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the government would not act in haste against a former minister, Anand Singh Dangi, who is accused in a land allotment scam. He said the Supreme Court had rejected the bail application moved by Mr Dangi and the Punjab and Haryana High Court had also not given any relief to him. Therefore, the government would now plead to announce Dangi as a proclaimed offender. JHAJJAR: Mr Chautala hinted at a possible increase in bus fares. Taling to the press persons at Bahadurgarh today Mr Chautala defended the price hike saying it was the economic compulsion of the Centre considering the steep hike in the prices of crude oil in the international market. Mr Chautala also expected a hike in the price of essential commodities. On allegations of corruption in the recruitment of JBT teachers he challenged the opposition to show proof of any case of graft in the whole process. |
|
Govt agencies buy PR 103
paddy FATEHABAD, Oct 3 — A virtual tug-of-war situation prevalent between some paddy growing farmers and government procurement agencies here over the non-procurement of PR 103 variety of paddy ended yesterday when all government agencies started purchasing this variety. After direction from the state Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to this effect, the agencies identified the heaps of PR 103 variety of paddy lying in different mandis. The state government directive clearly said PR 103 belonging to the farmers only would be purchased by the government procurement agencies and that too if it came within the other specifications. The administration had made it clear that the agencies would not purchase paddy from the private dealers which they had earlier purchased from the farmers at lower rates. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, told this reporter that the government agencies all over the district had started the purchase of PR 103 variety of paddy. But only that lot in which pin-point damage was less than 3 per cent and moisture contents up to 18 per cent would be purchased. He said all three SDMs of the district were busy visiting the grain market and monitoring the procurement work. The Deputy Commissioner said out of a total of 22.5 lakh quintal of estimated arrival of paddy this year not more than 50,000 quintal was of PR 103 type. He said the government agencies had so far procured more than 70 per cent of the paddy that had arrived in the grain market till yesterday. He appealed to the farmers to grow only better-known varieties of paddy so that they did not have to face problems. The PR 103 variety, the Deputy Commissioner added, was an early maturing variety and it could be safely presumed that all genuine farmers had already brought their produce in the mandis. As the government had decided not to purchase this variety of paddy from private dealers, Mr Malik warned that the administration would take strict action against erring dealers. The action would include imposing heavy fines and cancellation of licences. Meanwhile, the agencies have caught two local dealers trying to sell PR 103 variety of the paddy lying with them to the agencies. They had allegedly procured this paddy from the farmers at a lower rate. The authorities were checking their account books. A Tohana-based firm was also caught when it was found guilty of irregularities. The Deputy Commissioner said the administration was contemplating action against the erring firms. |
|
Paddy arrives in Haryana mandis YAMUNANAGAR, Oct 3 — As many as 3,394 metric tonne of paddy has arrived in various grain markets of the district, of which 2,764 metric tonne is of Grade-A variety, 495 metric tonne of general variety and 135 metric tonne of basmati rice. This was stated by Mr Rajeev Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, here today. FARIDABAD: About 50 quintal of paddy has been purchased by various government agencies at
Hodal. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, all arrangements have been made by the authorities concerned to help the farmers to get maximum value for their produce.
|
|
|
9 women killed in
accident PANIPAT, Oct 3 — Nine women and a truck driver were killed and 11 others injured when a truck and a Canter collided between Naultha and Dahar yesterday evening. The victims were travelling in the Canter, which overturned.Eight of the victims belonged to Didwali village while the truck driver was from Rabra, Gohana tehsil. Some of the injured were admitted to a private nursing home and others to the Civil Hospital. |
|
|
Killings stun
villagers CHANDRAO (Karnal), Oct 3 — Errie silence pervades in this sleepy small village in the backwaters of the Yamuna river after the killing of five persons in a land dispute yesterday. While the majority of relations of the five killed are in Karnal, where the postmortem of the dead is being performed, those back in the village are preparing for their funerals. The killings have shocked the villagers who never expected bloodshed on such a large scale. Fear-stricken children and women avoid talking to strangers about the ghastly incident. The silence is broken by long and uninterrupted crying for the dead. A strong posse of police headed by the D.S.P. (anti extremist cell), Karnal, along with the inspector of C.I.A, is camping in the village. The C.I.A. inspector has been assigned the task of investigating the case, according to Mr A.S. Ahlawat, district police chief, Karnal. Besides five dead, about 15 persons were injured in the armed clash relating to the land dispute. Two of the injured i.e. Bimal of Phoosgarh village and Vinod of Panipat have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Karnal, under police guard. Narrating the sequence of incidents which led to the bloody clash, Mr Ahlawat told TNS that none of the two involved parties complained to the police about the tension relating to the land dispute. The police chief admitted that the clash could have been avoided, had the police been informed in time. Mr Ahlawat ruled out any political angle of the clash and maintained that it was basically a land dispute between the two parties. But from facts available, it is obvious that the moneyed and influential persons were out to take possession of the entire 150 acres of land at gun point. The district police chief said that an F.I.R. under Sections 302/307/148/149/25/27 and 54/59 of the I.P.C. had been registered on a complaint by Karampal, son of Hari Chand. As per the F.I.R., a piece of 150 acres of land known as “HAM-SAMLAT” belonged to the panchayats of Chandrao and Chowgawan villages. One Jit Singh — a resident of village Phoosgarh had bought 25 acres out of it. Yesterday, Jeet Singh along with his supporters went to village Chandrao in two vehicles i.e. Maruti car (Number HR-05-8448) and a gypsy (DL-2CF-5157). The car belonged to Jit Singh while the ownership of the gypsy was being verified. Mr Ahlawat stated that the armed clash ensued when Jit Singh started ploughing the entire piece of land with tractors. The residents of Chandrao village and Chowgawan reached the scene armed with lathis and gandasas. When they resisted the attempts of Jit Singh to plough the land, his supporters reportedly opened fire killing five persons on the spot and injuring over 15 others. It is reported that armed villagers gheraoed Jit Singh and slayed him with sharp-edged weapons. Enquiries made by this reporter show that Jit Singh had won over some residents of both the villages to his side. |
|
Cong factions step up
activities CHANDIGARH, Oct 3 — With the election to the Haryana Congress chief’s post less than a month away, various party factions have stepped up their activities.Mr Bhajan Lal, CLP leader, and Mr Birender Singh, a former HPCC chief, reportedly met the party high-command in Delhi recently and urged that Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, chief of the HPCC, should be removed the way Mr Salman Khursheed was recently axed in UP. However, this proposal was reportedly turned down by the Congress high-command on the ground that Mr Hooda was an elected PCC chief who could not be subjected to UP-style treatment.What has created a problem for the Congress factions opposed to Mr Hooda is that former leaders have been unable to enlist adequate number of primary party members, which could have offered them a fighting chance in the case of election to the PCC chief’s post. With the Hooda camp having successfully enrolled an overwhelming majority of the primary members in the party during the latest recruitment drive, the rival factions have no hope if the process laid down for the organisatonal poll is followed. They will rather prefer that the AICC chooses a leader to head the PCC in Haryana.“It will be better if we have a consensus candidate chosen by the AICC for the PCC chief’s post,” said Mr Bhajan Lal while talking to TNS here today. The CLP leader said that there were a number of Congressmen in Haryana who were competent to lead the party. But he would not like to name them at this juncture, Mr Bhajan Lal said. When asked why he had been left behind by Mr Hooda in the enrollment of primary members of the party, Mr Bhajan Lal’s cryptic remark was that one who controlled the HPCC office would have some advantage regarding the membership figures.Mr Hooda is himself a contender for the PCC chief’s job and his supporters naturally are in favour of holding organisational elections. Talking to TNS, one of Mr Hooda’s confidants clamied that they had been assured by the AICC that the HPCC chief would be chosen through the process of election initiated by the state elections authority headed by a former MP, Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder.Congress sources, who are not attached with the camps headed by Mr Hooda and Mr Bhajan Lal, said that while Mr Hooda would have an advantage if an election was held, the chance of a consensus candidate chosen by the AICC could not be ruled out. The names of Ms Selja, Mr Balbir Pal Shah, Mr Birender Singh, Mr Phul Chand Mulana, Capt Ajay Singh, Yadav and Rao Inderjit Singh are reportedly doing that rounds as probable candidates in case the AICC finally decides to replace Mr Hooda. |
|
|
HC allows pollution board’s
plea CHANDIGARH, Oct 3 — Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today allowed two revision petitions of Haryana State Pollution Control Board challenging the lower court orders permitting the unsealing of Hisar-based Associated Distillery — which is linked to former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal’s son-in-law. The board had sealed the factory premises on July 13 for non-compliance of the conditions laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Mr Justice Jhanji, in his 34-page order, observed “the plaintiff company is engaged in manufacturing industrial alcohol and rectified spirit at its factory on the Hisar-Delhi bypass road. The analysis of the effluents collected from the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) indicated that the ETP is not operated regularly” The Judge added: “Associated Distillery does not have adequate land for the irrigation with effluent of the industry. As such, the land is being polluted by over application of the effluent . The unit is not complying with the prescribed standards following which the unit was closed.” Mr Justice Jhanji further observed, “The civil petitions are allowed and orders of the courts below are set aside.” He, however, clarified that “in case the plaintiff company acquires land on lease or otherwise 100 acres of land for discharge of its treated effluents and takes remedial measures in regard to the directions issued by the CPCB as per its letter dated December 31 and May 2, then it can approach the pollution board. The board will decide the company’s application within 15 days of its receipt by passing speaking orders after affording an opportunity to the plaintiff company. “In case the plaintiff company is aggrieved by the order so passed by the board in this regard, it shall be at liberty to apply before the trial court for necessary relief and in case the trial court is satisfied that the company has taken remedial measures as directed by the CPCB and the HSPCB then the trial court shall pass orders in accordance with law”, the Judge observed. |
|
|
Verender Singh’s
death mourned CHANDIGARH, Oct 3 — Congress leaders of Haryana, including CLP leader Bhajan Lal and HPCC chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda, mourned the death of Mr Verender Singh (65) this morning. Mr Verender Singh had represented the Narnaund constituency in the Haryana Assembly from 1977 to 1996. In a message here Mr Bhajan Lal, expressing his sympathy with the family of the deceased leader, said that in Mr Verender Singh’s death he had lost a trusted friend and the Congress and Haryana an able leader. In a separate message Mr Hooda, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and other party leaders expressed sorrow over the sudden death of Mr Verender Singh. They said he was a stalwart of the party who always stood for the common man and the development of Haryana. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, also expressed his grief over the death of Mr Verender Singh. |
|
|
Khadi industry’s future
bleak AMBALA, Oct 3 — If our demands are not met by December, then we may call khadi sabha early next year where the future course of action will be chalked out, secretary of Bharatiya Khadi Gram Udyog North Zone, Mr Mahesh Dutt Sharma said here today. Talking to newspersons after inauguration of the khadi sale at Ambala Sadar by Ambala Cantt MLA, Mr Anil Vij, Mr Sharma said khadi industry today did not hold a bright future. “Out of a total of 13.75 lakh artisans and workers dependent on the khadi udyog, nearly four lakh of them have been rendered jobless,” he said. Mr Sharma said the amount of rebate due in the country works out to around Rs 140 crore, of which only Rs 60 crore has been paid by the government. “This is a precarious situation. We have already met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the minister, Mrs Vijayraje Scindia who have assured us that they will look into the matter,” he said. He pointed out that a high-powered committee had been constituted under the chairmanship of Mr P. V. Narasimha Rao. “The committee had made certain recommendations which should be fully implemented,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vij, said double standards were being adopted today. “Little has been done to check the growing influence of multinational companies which is adversely affecting our khadi and tiny industries,” he said. Mr Vij observed that there is a need to promote the khadi industry which was envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi as it would help in providing employment avenues. |
|
|
Accused in fraud case deposits
amount FATEHABAD, Oct 3 — A local trader who had tampered with a foreign cheque and duped UCO Bank’s Jaipur branch to the tune of Rs 1 crore, has deposited the amount. The bank branch has confirmed this in a fax message to the local police authorities. It may be recalled that Rattan Chand, a partner of the local Sharda Cotton Ginning and Oil Mills along with his driver Dev Raj, alias Deva was arrested by the Jaipur police last week for duping the Jaipur branch of the UCO Bank situated at the Bhagwan Dass Road, of Rs 95 lakh. Rattan Chand had allegedly facilitated the opening of a current account in the name of his driver Deva in the bank. He had introduced Deva as a partner of the Param Silk Mills, Jaipur, to the bank. The accused deposited a foreign cheque worth $ 323369 in the account. After an amount of Rs 1 crore 46 lakh 82 thousand and 557 was credited in their account against this cheque, the accused withdrew Rs 95 lakh through two cheques of Rs 45 lakh and Rs 50 lakh, respectively. A few days later, the New York-based foreign bank, whose cheque for $323369 was deposited in the bank had informed the UCO Bank that the original amount of the cheque was $ 3369 and not $ 323369. Someone had put 32 before the cheque amount. Deva, on whose name the money stood in the bank, had left Rattan Chand’s job. He conspired with two others to withdraw the remaining Rs 51 lakh from the account. When the trio went to the bank and demanded a fresh cheque book, the bank officials got them arrested. Mr Amit Kumar, a son of Rattan Chand told this correspondent that his father was not the culprit, but the real culprits were at large. He claimed that the forged cheque had been issued to his father by a Delhi-based financier. |
|
Governor opens blood
donation camp ROHTAK, Oct 3 — The Haryana Governor and Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Babu Parmanand, appealed to the youth to donate blood. He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day blood donation camp at the University Health Centre here today. The first lady of Haryana Mrs Sudesh Kumari, was also present. Students of affiliated colleges and university departments donated about 300 units of blood. The Governor presented mementos and commendation certificates to the first two blood donors of the camp and Mr Surat Singh for donating blood for the 64th time. Major Gen (retd) B.S. Suhag, Vice-Chancellor of the university, briefed the Chancellor about various development activities.
A cultural show was presented in Governor’s honour. |
|
Scheme for greening
vacant land launched SONEPAT, Oct 3 — The Haryana Government has launched a special scheme for greening the vacant land in and around the waterworks under the tree plantation programme to chek pollution. This was stated by the Chief Secretary, Haryana, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, while inaugurating public park on the premises of the Sewage Treatment Plant, sponsored by the Yamuna Action Plan at Rathdhanna village about 4 km from here, yesterday. He said Sonepat was among the six towns of Haryana which had been covered under the Yamuna Action Plan. The other five towns were Yamunanagar, Jagadhri, Karnal, Panipat, Gurgaon and Faridabad. Six towns in the state namely Radaur, Indri, Chichhrauli, Gharaunda, Gohana and Palwal would be covered during the second phase of the Plan. He also said 15 towns of Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh had been identified which add pollution to the Yamuna. The National River Conservation Directorate, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had approved a scheme worth Rs 23.69 crore for the checking of untreated effluent from Sonepat and discharging the same into the Yamuna, he said. The Chief Secretary said the state government had so far spent Rs 21.36 crore on the works being executed under the plan in this area. The sewage treatment plant, he said, had been set up in an area of 35 acres and 10,000 trees had been planted in the remaining 22 acres. Later, the Chief Secretary also inaugurated a Rs 10.90 lakh waterworks plant at Liwaspur village which would cater to the needs of drinking water in three villages, including Liwaspur and Joshi Jat.
|
Two pilgrims die as
bus overturns REWARI, Oct 3 — Two pilgrims died and 10 others were injured when an Ajmer Sharif-bound bus carrying 50 pilgrims overturned on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, near
Dharuhera, last night. The deceased include Fatima, wife of Aas Mohammad and Tota Ram, son of Ram Chander. The injured include four men, six women and a five-month-old infant. All the injured are stated to be out of danger. The bus bearing the registration number UP-31 A-6487 was going from Lakhimpur Khiri in Uttar Pradesh to Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan. A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered against the driver, Ajit Singh, who is reportedly absconding.
|
|
Ex-minister dies of
heart attack HISAR, Oct 3 — Mr Verender Singh, former Power and Irrigation Minister and senior Congress leader, died following a heart attack here this morning. He was 65. According to family members, he complained of pain in the chest at around 8 a.m. at his Sector-13 residence here. He died on the way to a hospital. Before joining politics, Mr Verender Singh was a leading advocate at Hansi. During emergency, he came close to Mr Devi Lal and contested the Assembly elections from the Narnaund constituency on a Janata Party ticket in 1977. He joined the Devi Lal Cabinet as the senior-most minister. He was given the charge of important departments like Home, Power and Irrigation. In 1987, he was again inducted into the Devi Lal ministry as the Power and Irrigation Minister. He was also a minister in the Om Prakash Chautala ministry. Later, he parted ways with the Devi Lal clan following differences with Mr Chautala. He resigned from the Cabinet when Mr Chautala was the Chief Minister. He joined the Janata Dal headed by former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and was elected once again from the Narnaund constituency in 1991. |
|
|
Action against 3 grain firms FATEHABAD, Oct 3 — The district administration has initiated legal action against three local grain market firms for committing irregularities in the sale and purchase of paddy. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, informed mediapersons here today that Mr R.K. Chowhan, SDM, and administration of the local Market Committee found during routine check that a firm M/s Sant Ram Laxman Dass had not made entry of 380 quintal of paddy lying in 12 heaps in the ‘H’ register, as was required under the rules. The authorities also found that the stock of paddy with M/s Gopal Rice and General Mills and M/s Ganesh Enterprises was more than what their books showed by 1096 quintal and 1055 quintal, respectively. The erring firms, he said, had been served notices under Section 10(2) of the Punjab Agriculture Produce Market Act, 1961. Notices have also been served on three more local dealers. |
|
Petro
prices: Cong to seek rollback CHANDIGARH, Oct 3— A delegation of Congress leaders of Haryana, led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, HPCC chief, will submit a memorandum demanding a rollback in the prices of petroleum products to the Governor, Babu Parmanand, on Thursday. The delegation will comprise party MLAs, office- bearers and former PCC chiefs, Mr Ajay Singh Yadav, deputy leader of the CLP, said here today.Captain Yadav said that they would also apprise the Governor of the drought situation prevailing in certain areas of the state, the" deteriorating" law and order situation and" bungling" in paddy procurement . |
|
|
Cleanliness
drive launched KAITHAL, Oct 3 — The Municipal Council, Kaithal, has launched a cleanliness drive in the town. Heaps of garbage were removed today with the help of tractor trailers and several safai
karamcharis. Mr Kamal Choudhry, Chairman of the council, who led the drive along with 26 other councillors said the drive would continue for a fortnight. He promised that residents would find the city clean during the festival
season. He also said from now onwards a special attention would be given to maintain cleanliness in the town. It would be a regular feature, he
added. He appealed to the residents to help in the drive and throw garbage only in the dustbins. Some women councillors were represented by their husbands. The Executive Officer, Mr J.P. Bishnoi, was also present on the occasion. |
|
| 3 killed in train
accidents FARIDABAD, Oct 3 — Three persons were killed in two separate accidents in the district yesterday.
According to information, Mohan of Nangla village, who was travelling by a train towards Ballabgarh, was killed after he struck a signal post. He was sticking his head out of the window of the running train.
A youth identified as Parveen (25) and an unidentified person were killed after they were run over by a train. They were trying to cross the track when the accident occurred.
8 fall sick due to ‘food poisoning’ AMBALA,
Oct 3 — Eight persons fell ill after a function in Hadoi village. Apparently, fell ill after consuming food during a function in the village. They suffered from loose motions, vomiting and weakness. A medical team was immediately rushed to the village on learning about the incident. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Patnaik, went to the village this morning to take stock of the situation.
Dr Patnaik, said the medical team which was rushed to the village, was
monitoring the situation. An ambulance has been posted there to take the patients to medical centre. “We brought the patients to the nearest PHE. From there, two patients were brought to Civil Hospital, as we felt that they needed more medical attention,” he said. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
