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| Tuesday, February 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Haryana to give farmers bonus Opposition flexing muscles in
Haryana Dangi’s remand extended till March 2 Teachers on census duty, teaching hit Construct first, get approval
later Resentment over
notification |
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Resort Country Club
goes global
MC budget meeting a non-starter Bhuj visitors
relate experiences Haryana decision on power theft cases Draw of lots for
residential plots Two killed
in mishap
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Haryana to give farmers bonus Fatehabad, February 19 This was announced by Mr Chautala while talking to mediapersons at a luncheon organised at a training camp of partymen from four districts held here yesterday. The Chief Minister said his government was committed to the welfare of the farming community. He said Haryana was giving the highest rate of Rs 110 per quintal for sugarcane in the country. Keeping the interest of the farmers in mind, a delegation led by the Agriculture Minister was sent to Israel to study the drip irrigation system so that farmers could avail optimum benefit from small land holdings, he added. Referring to SYL canal in Punjab territory, the Chief Minister said the matter was subjudice and it could not be discussed under the provisions of the Constitution. He said the decision of the apex court would be honoured. To a question regarding the setting up of a sugar mill at Hisar, he said the sugar mill would be set up according to the demand of the area and no discrimination would be made while installing the mill. He said power consumers in the state would be benefited to the tune of Rs 250 crore as the government had waived the surcharge and interest on pending bills. For the benefit of the farmers they had to pay the arrears of bills in two instalments in May and November, he added. Referring to the criticism made by the opposition parties over the power position in the state, the Chief Minister said the parties were misleading people as these were not aware of the actual position. Replying to a question regarding the constitution of the gram vikas samiti, he said the main objective of constituting the samitis was to involve the people of the village to accelerate the pace of development and to ensure the quality of construction. |
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Opposition flexing muscles in
Haryana Hisar, February 19 The Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Mr Bhajan Lal, is scheduled to address a rally at Bhiwani on March 4. Immediately after he announced his plans, his arch rival, the Haryana Congress chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, announced his decision to hold another rally at the same venue on March 18. Though both claim their rallies are directed against the Chautala government, the truth remains that the planned shows are merely “inter-house matches” between the two. The Haryana Vikas Party chief, Mr Bansi Lal, who has been fighting a lone battle against the Chautala government since November last year too declared his entry to the opposition tournament when his party announced here yesterday that the HVP supremo would hold a rally here “to give a befitting reply to Mr Bhajan Lal who had challenged Mr Bansi Lal by deciding to hold a rally at the latter’s hometown Bhiwani”. Incidentally, Hisar is the hometown of Mr Bhajan Lal. This has dampened the spirit of the common man who feels that in this game of one upmanship, the Opposition is in danger of squandering an opportunity to encash the popular ire against the government mainly caused by its power and taxation policy. The ruling party is understandably elated over the direction in which the rallies are going. The reasons for this are not far to seek. There is a strong undercurrent of resentment in Haryana over the Chautala government’s current campaign to realise power dues and impose heavy taxes. Though nobody questions the need for taking stern steps to improve the power sector, the manner in which the campaign has been implemented by the bureaucracy has only created resentment against the government. While the public has been burdened with a heavy hike in power tariff, there has been no corresponding improvement in power supply. Though the power utilities blame the failure of rains for the worsening power position, the public feels that the campaign should have been halted till the supply position improved. The manner in which the urban consumers were targeted has also set the urban population against the ruling INLD-BJP combine, though this has affected the BJP more than it has affected its senior partner. All in all, considering other issues like rising crime and corruption, the ground in Haryana is ripe for the opposition parties to exploit. However, the “hidden agenda” of the rallies is threatening to thwart the God sent opportunity. |
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Dangi’s remand extended till March 2 Rohtak, February 19 The Judge held the court in the premises of the district jail for conducting the remand proceedings on the request of the superintendent district jail. Mr Shiva Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge, has also adjourned arguments on bail application of Mr R.S. Malik, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Jhajjar till February 24. He, however, clarified that the previous directions issued by the court would continue till the next date of hearing. The counsel for the complainant today moved an application requesting for staying the bail proceedings on the premises that the prosecution and the accused were hand in glove with each other and that the prosecution was shielding the accused. Therefore, the complainant has already moved the high court for transfering the investigation of the case to the CBI. He also stated that he intended to file transfer application before the high court which was likely to be made today. The public prosecutor opposed the application and stated that the investigation was being carried out in accordance with law. |
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Teachers on census duty, teaching hit Sirsa, February 19 Census work has hampered teaching work in the government school of village Nuhianwali in the district where all teachers barring an PTI has been put on census duty. There are over 250 students in the school and according to a report the PTI attends to them in a single group in the school ground. Almost similar reports have been received from schools in village Kheowali, Banwala in the district. Under the prevailing conditions resentment brews in among parents because they are worried about the future of wards. Some of them questioning the involvement of teaching staff in census wonder why the administration chose the time when the Board and the other examinations are only at hand. According to some versions the teachers were directed to take up the census work after the school timings but due to lack of coordination between the Census Department and the Education Department teaching was being ignored in various schools. When contacted the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr D. Suresh, agreed that such problems of teaching staff is being reported to him but keeping in view the time schedule and importance of the census, administration is unable to help. However, unauthorised absence from school or any other department will be checked, he added. |
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Construct first, get approval
later PANIPAT: Unauthorised construction by builders is a routine feature here nowadays. They do not bother about the law and get their work done only by the departments. Recently a case came to the notice of a builder who normally constructs a building and then gets it regularised with the connivance of the staff concerned or after depositing the penalty. The revised layout plan of a top storey of a commercial building, built on the main G.T. Road flouting all rules and regulations, was deposited with the Nagar Parishad in December for sanction, with a note stipulating that additional rooms on the third floor have been constructed by the owner at site without approval of the Municipal Council and in violation of Haryana municipal building bylaws. The interesting fact is that the plan, sanctioned earlier in phases, was at first submitted up to the first floor which includes the mezzanine and ground floors. But photos of the building and verification papers clearly show that the unauthorised construction was done first and the issue was settled with the department later. This commercial complex in the Naval Cinema building was done with the blessings of Nagar Parishad officials. It is alleged that due to the indifferent attitude and peculiar working style of the then executive officer and officiating municipal engineer, the plan was sanctioned ignoring violations of the bylaws and even the penalty imposed was a mere 8 per cent, instead of 15 per cent and that too allegedly on the under-assessed value. This is the fourth time that a revised plan of this building was filed for sanction under guidelines from senior officers in Chandigarh. It is understood that many plans of the general public were kept pending, with a view to push through this particular builder’s plan. Besides, the floor area ratio (FAR) was decreased to get the plan sanctioned without delay by top officers in Chandigarh. Even though the commercial complex in question is on the G.T. Road, it is next to cinema hall and gurdwara, both are public places. While deliberately increasing the floor area and minimising F.A.R., top officers in Chandigarh seem more interested in obliging the builder, instead of penalising him. It is laid down in the municipal bylaws that construction of any commercial building is permitted up to a maximum of 200 per cent of the plot area. But in this particular case, compounding has been done for construction up to 300 per cent whereas the building is reported to have been constructed up to 400 per cent allegedly on an understanding between the owner and officials. Even the previous District Town Planner, remarked in the file that sanction should be revoked as building was constructed in violation of Haryana Municipal Building bylaws. But sources allege that those remarks were also ignored. The Deputy Commissioner is reported to have vacated the status quo orders. The building concerned is right in front of the Nagar Parishad office awaiting sanction from Chandigarh. Whenever an attempt was made to contact the builder for his comments, he was not available and the staff and manager of Naval Cinema always tried to postpone meetings which were never held. |
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Resentment over
notification Jhajjar, February 19 These families will be severely affected, as this land is the only means of their livelihood. The already tense situation in the village is suspected to turn more serious as parleys and panchayats are being called to protest the government’s move. The state government has notified this agriculture land to be carved up into industrial plots for displaced units coming from Delhi. However, around 250 acres from Somani factory near Kasar village to the bridge near Tandaheri village belongs to these 100 odd affected families. This land is highly fertile and farmers harvest three crops in a year here. The sarpanch of the village, Mr Jagbir Singh, laments that if these farmers are evicted from the land they will have to face ravenous situation as they have no other source of income. He informed that all affected farmers were owners of small holdings. The another startling fact is that of the 100 odd affected families only a few have members employed in government services. Five persons are ex-servicemen. Their main occupation is farming and milk supply and both these occupations will be affected if the proposed government plan materialises. |
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Resort Country Club
goes global Gurgaon, February 19 According to the Director of the club, Ms Roop Sodhi, consequent to the signing of the agreement, the firm’s name has been rechristened as the Best Western Resort Country Club. The club, set up on a sprawling area of about 60 acres having facilities like 10 hole golf course and infrastructure for other sports, was established more than a decade ago. According to Ms Sodhi, as part of the Best Western chain, the indigenous member will benefit from the worldwide toll-free lines, reservation system as well as international marketing and other services. Best Western International Inc has supported hoteliers with a variety of services to ensure competitive pricing, quality accommodations and a consistent dedication to guest satisfaction for more than half a century. It is the world’s largest lodging brand with more than 4,200 independently owned and operated hotels across 84 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the South Pacific. It has been awarded “Best Value for Money” hotel chain in Europe for three consecutive years, she added. Ms Sodhi said there was a move to expand the Resort Club by adding 10 more air conditioned double rooms and suites to the already 10 existing ones. Also, the entire complex would be given a facelift shortly. |
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MC budget meeting a non-starter Ambala A group of councillors, claiming to have a majority, was determined to “expose” the president, Municipal Council, Mr Rajendra Guddu, during the meeting. The plan of the nineteen councillors, consisting of Congress and INLD MCs, came a cropper with the meeting being postponed till further notice. Unhappy with the turn of events, the councillors later went to the Deputy Commissioner and demanded that the budget meeting should be called on an early date. The councillors said, through a letter addressed to the executive officer that the president was not interested in passing of the budget. The councillors who have signed the letter include Mr D.P. Chadha, Mr B.R. Sharma, Mr Vijay Bhasin, Mr M.S. Saini, Mr Harvinder Singh, Mr Ramesh Chander, Ms A. Chawla, Ms V. Sharma, Mr Ashwini Saini, Mr Ravinder Kumar, Mr Inder Pal Singh, Mr Mahinder Kumar C.M. Guglani, Ms K. Budhwar, Mr Yoginder Bali, Mr Parvesh Sharma, Ms Swarn Lata, Mr Suresh Gulati, Mr Gurpreet Kaur. The councillors claimed that there were several discrepancies in the budget. They said while a saving of Rs 1 lakh was reflected in the budget, they had been told time and again about lack of finances. “On one hand they say that there is no money and on the other hand, they show a saving. It clearly shows that development work has been compromised”, the councillors said. The councillors made it clear that they were not going to leave any stone unturned in “removing” the Municipal Council president. “Development work has come to a halt and the proposals prepared by us have been side-stepped. We demand that the MC president should be removed,” they said. |
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Bhuj visitors
relate experiences Sonepat, February 19 |
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Haryana decision on power theft cases Chandigarh, February 19 A spokesman of the power utilities said earlier it was mandatory to lodge an FIR if a consumer was found indulging in power pilferage and did not deposit the entire assessed amount on account of the theft along with the penalty within 48 hours. The state government could withdraw FIRs if the settlements were made through Lok
Adalats. He said there were several consumers who had paid the assessed amount and penalties subsequent to the lodging of the FIRs, but the cases were still pending in courts. The decision would benefit thousands of consumers, he added. |
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Draw of lots for
residential plots Chandigarh, February 19 This was stated by the Administrator of HUDA at Faridabad, Mr Vijayendra Kumar. Two killed
in mishap Hisar, February 19 |
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