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| Tuesday,
July 3, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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50 HAU sheep die
mysteriously Mother kills 3 daughters, self CM: Devi Lal made exemplary
sacrifices Pollution board flouting rules, alleges
Jindal Replacement of power meters
resented |
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Steps to tighten noose around
clinics CPM sees design in
privatisation Chautala prays for
success of Indo-Pak talks 15 arrested for attacking demolition
staff Electronic meters: Hooda accuses govt
of receiving cut 7 TB centres to be set up in
Haryana Video conferencing
starts in Rohtak Seven hurt in road
mishap Bansi Lal to address Backward Classes 1 more dies of water-borne disease Police receiving obscene calls Society drops move on medical college 2 held for
screening
blue film HR
losses reduced Power Utilities
set new record
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50 HAU sheep die
mysteriously Hisar, July 2 While some officials of the department are blaming the deaths on a sheep pox vaccination supplied to the local Haryana Veterinary Vaccine Institute, others maintain that a mystery disease had struck almost all of the 500-odd sheep in the farm. Institute officials, however, deny that the vaccination caused the deaths. Inquiries reveal that the sheep in the farm were vaccinated for sheep pox on May 5. The vaccine was procured from the government-run institute a day earlier. Within a few days, more than half the sheep in the farm developed a mysterious disease. During the past week, over 50 sheep have died. All of them showed symptoms of several diseases. The rest of the infected sheep are not responding to the treatment satisfactorily. Officials of the Animal Breeding Department refused to go on record about the incident in the absence of the Head Dr Narender Singh, who is reported to be out of town. However, on condition of anonymity a senior scientist said the blame was being shifted to the vaccine institute without verification. He said none of the sheep had clear symptoms of sheep pox. He said sheep pox could not have caused deaths on this scale because usually this disease leaves the severely affected sheep blind of one eye or rendering one of the feet useless. He also denied that the vaccine could have infected the sheep because of a break in the cold-chain due to a major power failure after a severe duststorm which lashed the town early in June. He said the vaccine had been given in May while the power failure took place in June. Vaccine institute officials said they produce about one crore vaccines of various animal diseases annually. Of these, sheep pox vaccine accounted for 10 lakh doses. So far, there had never been any complaint against the quality of the vaccines. They said doses from the particular lot supplied to HAU had also been sold all over the state as well in Punjab and Haryana. There were no reports to the vaccine causing any disease. They maintained that even if the cold-chain was broken at some stage, there was no possibility of the vaccine causing the disease as, at worst, it could prove ineffective. The officials said the institute enjoyed a high reputation and its quality control measures were very stringent. Each lot was tested rigorously for three weeks before being cleared for sale. They said the HAU officials should have sent them copies of post-mortem reports of the sheep, in case they had conclusively found that the sheep died of sheep pox. They suspected that the sheep died of heat and humidity related problems because of poor living conditions. In fact, a scientist of the department also admitted that heat stroke symptoms were noticed in several affected sheep. The sheep had been purchased for a research project on carpet wool. The infection and the resultant deaths now threaten the very existence of this prestigious project. Besides, there is also a danger of the mysterious disease spreading to other parts of Haryana unless the cause of deaths is quickly determined and preventive measures taken to check its spread. |
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Mother kills 3 daughters, self Kaithal, July 2 According to reports, Deepak Kumar, son of the deceased woman in a statement to the police alleged that his father was a habitual drinker. This created ill-will in the family. Efforts of his mother failed to make his father give up drinking. His father misbehaved with his mother on several occasions. Last night his mother Sunita (40) offered milk laced with poison to her daughters Neha (9), Shifali (12) and Poonam (15) and then she too consumed it. The son Deepak was also offered that milk but he did not take it. Thereafter all started vomiting. Deepak called his neighbours. The victim Sunita disclosed that she had consumed poison-laced milk and had also given to three daughters. All were shifted to Civil Hospital Kaithal. Where all four died one after the others. Jiwan husband of Sunita, has been arrested. In another incident Romesh son of Des Raj, a local resident who had gone to Gangotri with a group of Kanwarias’ to fetch holy water died of heart attack at Gangotri. His body was brought and cremated here today. |
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CM: Devi Lal made exemplary
sacrifices Kurukshetra, July 2 This was stated by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today while inaugurating a two-day seminar on the philosophy and contribution of Chaudhary Devi Lal in Senate Hall of the Kurukshetra University here. Mr Chautala said Chaudhary Devi Lal jumped into the freedom struggle at the age of 15 on the call given by Mahatma Gandhi. He played a prominent role in the freedom struggle and was a leading political figure in the state and national politics of the country after Independence. His greatest political asset was that he felt the nerve of the masses straight and made a lifelong bond with them with his sincerity and affection. He was an able administrator and political thinker who mingled with the masses and give new shape to the political and economic scenario of the country. The Chief Minister said he was not after the offices of profit and through his life resigned from the high offices for the sake of his principles and in the interest of the people. He said the respect given to him after his death was due to his simplicity, large heartedness and spirit of sacrifice. Mr Chautala asked the people to rise above petty politics and casteism and work for making the country prosperous. He said ideals and teaching of Chaudhary Devi Lal would be collected and published so that the coming generation could take inspiration from his life. Professor S.S.
Johal, former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prizes was the main speaker. Welcoming the chief guest, the Vice-Chancellor of the university Mr
R.S. Chaudhary said Chaudhary Devi Lal had left an imprint on the regional and national politics by his selfless service for the masses. Despite his reaching the post of Deputy Prime Minister of India he remained connected with the grassroot level. Earlier the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a hostel for students of the National Institution of Law in the campus of the university which would be named Devi Lal. The hostel would be constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore in an area of 40,000 square feet. It will have the facility to accommodate 200 students. |
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Pollution board flouting rules, alleges
Jindal Chandigarh, July 2 In a statement issued here today, Mr Jindal, Congress MLA from Hisar, alleged that the HPCB was being misused for “political and economic” exploitation of industrialists. He said under Rule 6 of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986, it was mandatory for a scientist of the board to draw two samples of the suspected pollutants. He was required to hand over one sample, duly sealed and signed by, to the industrial unit from where the samples were drawn. The purpose of this rule was that in case of a dispute, the industrial unit could send the sample in its possession to an independent laboratory for analyses. Mr Jindal alleged that the situation had become so bad that even a sample of distilled water could be declared unfit by the board and the worst pollutants could be given a clean chit by it. |
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Replacement of power meters
resented Kurukshetra, July 2 Opposing the move of the Chautala government, Mrs Sona Devi, president of the district Mahila Congress, declared that the Congress party would continue its agitation until the old mechanical meters were reinstalled. Addressing the gathering, Mr Lokesh Gambhir and Dr Subhash Sharma criticised the Haryana Government for installing electronic meters and urged upon the state government to withdraw its “anti-people” move. On the occasion, women Congress workers severely criticised the Chautala government by performing a
“siapa”. Among those who joined the token fast were convener Charan Jeet
Gaba, Mr Santosh Panchaal, Mr Buddhi Prakash Verma, Mr Surinder Singh Singla, former municipal councillor, Mr Devidayal
Jangra, Mr Ram Lal Bhatt, Mr L.S. Bhatia, Mr Lokesh Gambhir, Mr Rai Sahab Sharma, Mr Ram Kishan Mehra, Mr Devi Prakash, Mr R.D. Sharma, Mrs Prabha Sharma, Mrs Gurmeet Kaur, Mrs Krishna Sharma and Mr Surinder
Fauji. Talking about their future plan, Mrs Sona Devi and Mr Gaba said the Congress would launch a signature campaign from tomorrow against the state government’s move. Carrying a memorandum, Congress workers would start a march on foot from Kurukshetra University (third gate) here on July 6, they said. After covering Thanesar Assembly constituency on foot, the Congress workers’ delegation would submit the memorandum to the Haryana Governor in Chandigarh. Former Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal would receive the delegation in Chandigarh before proceeding to Haryana Raj Bhavan, they added. |
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Steps to tighten noose around
clinics Faridabad, July 2 A meeting of the district health officials held here recently discussed the provisions and means to implement the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994. While an advisory committee is likely to be set up soon, the department has invited applications from various diagnostic centres and clinics desirous of carrying on such tests for registration. It is learnt there are over 50 centres or clinics where such tests are being carried out in the district. The tests can be carried out at clinics or nursing homes where facilities like ultrasound are available. According to a senior health official, the measures are being taken in view of the growing menace of ‘foeticide’. As a result, the sex ratio in the state has gone down considerably in the past two decades and experts fear that if the problem persists there can be a serious imbalance in the male and female ratio. Although the government came out with the Act in 1994, it has shown lack of seriousness in implementing it. According to the provisions of the Act, any person including the doctor, nursing assistant or any other person who plays a role in determining or knowing the sex of the unborn child, can be placed under trial. Such centres have to be registered with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) concerned, who is the final authority in implementing the Act and has the powers to initiate action against violators. A circular in this connection was issued by the state government recently according to which the appropriate authority or the Civil Surgeon will check that all registered centres have the required infrastructure and facilities, including a specialist, a counselling centre, laboratory and machines. These centres will be inspected regularly and will have to deposit a fee for having such facilities. The registration will be for a period of five years, but the same can be cancelled if the centre is found violating any rule. The centre will have to obtain the written consent of the patient before going for any kind of ultrasound. An eight member advisory committee will assist the CMO in this work. Anyone found violating the rule can be penalised with imprisonment up to three years and a fine. |
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CPM sees design in
privatisation Rohtak, July 2 After taking stock of the prevailing situation at its two-day meeting here, the state committee of the party observed that the situation had become unbearable for all sections of the people as a result of which resentment was brewing among the people against both governments. Senior CPM leader Hannan Mollah, MP, also attended the meeting as central observer. The state Secretary, Mr Inderjit Singh, said the state of education, health, power, water, employment, Panchayati Raj and law and order and other sectors was pitiable but the government was bent upon pursuing the path of privatisation. While employees were being retrenched, bribery during recruitment was rampant. The party had, he said, taken a serious view of the crisis in the entire education system following a drastic reduction in the number of seats in various courses as well as heavy donation. The CPM criticised the government interference in the PGIMS. The party severely condemned the decision to allot a sizeable number of seats in the MBBS course to the NRIs and described it as a “shameful example to commercialise the vital medical education.” The CPM opposed the proposed introduction of ‘user charges’ from patients and decided to agitate against any such move. The CPM also came down heavily on the Haryana government’s decision to transfer primary education to local bodies and the Panchayati Raj institutions. The party said the state wanted to rid itself of the
responsibility of providing elementary education under the garb of decentralisation of power. The party condemned the incidents of police brutality on citizens in various parts of Haryana opposing forcible replacement of electricity meters or opposing demolition of houses belonging to poor sections. |
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Chautala prays for
success of Indo-Pak talks Yamunanagar, July 2 Mr Chautala also prayed for the success of the meeting to be held
between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. During the unscheduled visit to the holy shrine, the Chief Minister also offered a “chadar” at the shrine. Addressing a gathering at the shrine, he said he had come here to pray for the success of the Indo-Pak summit as it was this dargah where devotees got their wishes fulfilled. The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Suraj Bhan, also offered a “chadar” at the shrine and prayed for the success of the talks between Mr Vajpayee and General Musharraf. PTI |
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15 arrested for attacking demolition
staff Sonepat, July 2 The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.N. Roy, said the situation was under control and the authorities concerned were keeping a watch on the developments. He said the campaign was launched after identifying the unauthorised colonies and unlawful construction of houses and other buildings. He said unauthorised structures on both sides of the Sonepat-Murthal road from Murthal Chowk to the border of the Sonepat Municipal Council were removed. The entire green belt on both sides of the road had been cleared, he said. Referring to the incident of violence during the campaign, the DC disclosed that while the demolition work was in progress in an unauthorised colony on the Murthal road some persons of the nearby area started obstructing the demolition work by pelting stones and damaged machines used for the work. Traders on the Murthal road condemned the unlawful action of the miscreants and offered to compensate for the loss to the machinery etc, the DC said. The DC said the district administration would continue with its anti-enchroachment campaign and deal sternly with the anti-social elements. Meanwhile BJP workers took out a procession to register their protest against yesterday’s demolition of houses and shops on the Sonepat-Murthal road here. Carrying placards and raising slogans in support of their demands, they marched to the mini-secretariat. They submitted a memorandum demanding halt on the demolition campaign. Earlier, they held a rally. The speakers criticised the district administration’s yesterday’s action. BJP workers and others marched in procession here today to protest against yesterday’s demolition of houses and shops on the Sonepat-Murthal road. Carrying placards and raising slogans in support of their demands, they marched through main bazaar and reached the mini-Secretariat where a memorandum of demands was submitted to district authorities demanding stoppage of anti-encroachment drive. Earlier, they held a rally and the speakers criticised the state government and the district administration for indiscriminate demolition of houses, shops and other structures rendering a large number of people homeless. They also deplored police lathi charge on the innocent people and described it unjust and unwarranted. The speaker warned that if the campaign was not stopped the people would be compelled to resist it.
Life in the city was normal today. |
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Electronic meters: Hooda accuses govt
of receiving cut Rohtak, July 2 In a statement here yesterday Mr Hooda said it was astonishing that power meters of all consumers in the state were being replaced irrespective of the fact that these were working properly or not. He said almost every government used to order replacement of electricity meters for the reasons best known to it. He said it was unfortunate that the consumers were forced to bear unnecessary burden of this ‘malpractice’ by the consecutive governments. Mr Hooda alleged that the new electronic meters were being imposed on the consumers by the government while the similar type of meters were
available at cheaper rates in the market. Moreover, he alleged the government was adopting coercive tactics against the power consumers who protested against this unjustified government decision. He condemned the police lathi charge on the aggrieved power consumers in Jind district and implicating a HPCC member, Mr Raj Singh Dahiya in this connection. |
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7 TB centres to be set up in
Haryana Yamunanagar, July 2 Dr Ranga stated that Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, had requested Dr
C.P. Thakur, Union Health Minister, to sanction TB centres in Haryana. He said that earlier, such centres were only in three districts. He said the Union Government had decided to provide Rs 1 crore for each district to eradicate the disease. Dr Ranga said at present there was no shortfall of doctors in Haryana. He said appointment letters to 347 doctors had been issued since the inception of the present government. He said 28 more appointment letters had been issued recently. He said 20 doctors who had gone for higher studies would resume their duties shortly. He said at present the state health budget was Rs 378 crore and the government was spending Rs 188 per persons in a year. He said there was an increase of Rs 20 crore in the budget compared to last year. The minister stated that a cobalt unit for cancer treatment had been set up at Bhiwani. He said a proposal had been sent to the Union Government to set up cobalt units at Sirsa and Kurukshetra. He stated that with the assistance of the Central Government, a trauma centre at a cost of Rs 3 crore had been set up at Karnal and it would start functioning by the year-end. Five trauma centres would be set up at Sirsa, on the Jaipur highway near Rewari and on the Mathura highway in Haryana. |
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Video conferencing
starts in Rohtak Rohtak, July 2 Addressing a press conference here today Mr
A.K. Jain, General Manager, Telecom district, Rohtak, said this latest service would be provided through Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). He said the voice, data and photo file could be sent simultaneously on the ISDN line for video conferencing. He said this facility had already been started in Bahadurgarh while the residents of Bhiwani district and Meham sub-division would avail of this facility shortly. Mr Jain said the application forms for this facility were available in the main telephone exchanges in Rohtak and Bahadurgarh towns. He informed that a person would have to deposit a security of Rs 5,000 for this facility and to pay a monthly rent of Rs 500. Besides, he said a consumer would have to purchase a conferencing kit and a computer. Mr Jain said around 40,000 new connections were given during in the past two years. Telephone connections were now available on demand in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts. He said the STD network had been converted into optical fibre in nearly 125 telephone exchanges of 152 in the Rohtak telecom district. Besides, he claimed seven internet calls were opened. |
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Seven hurt in road
mishap Sonepat, July 2 The police has registered a case. According to another report, a resident of Baroda village, Mr Raj Kumar Saini, was injured seriously when he was hit by a truck on the road near Baroda village, 40 km from here yesterday. The injured was sent to the medical college hospital at Rohtak. The truck driver, however, escaped after the accident. Meanwhile, a motor-cyclist was injured seriously when he was hit by a tractor near Purkhas Adda, here, yesterday. The injured was hospitalised. The police has registered a case against the tractor driver who is still at large. |
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Bansi Lal to address Backward Classes Hisar, July 2 He alleged that Mr Bansi Lal had launched many schemes for the welfare of Backward Classes by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had abandoned these schemes after assuming power. |
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1 more dies of water-borne disease Faridabad, July 2 According to reports received here Mikki, daughter of Nand Lal, a resident of Ward No. 11 of Hathin died in a hospital. She had been undergoing treatment for the past few days. She was suffering from dysentery and vomitting. Three children under the age of 15 years have already died in this area in the recent past. At last 10
children upto age of 10 years are also admitted to the government hospital at Hathin, according to sources. A large number of patients of water-borne diseases have also reported at various civil hospitals and private nursing homes in various towns and villages of the district. |
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Police receiving obscene calls Rohtak, July 2 Provoked by the calls the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Atar Singh Ahlawat, has installed ID Caller on all telephones of the Police Department to immediately identify the caller. He has warned the owners of the STD booths against allowing their telephones for making such calls. He has
also advised telephone subscriber families to keep a watch on their children while they were using the telephone. Meanwhile, Mr Ahlawat has assured a deputation of traders that no person will be allowed to forcibly occupy anybody’s shop or house in the town. He also directed SHOs to remain alert to any such incident. |
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Society drops move on medical college Sonepat, July 2 Mr Arun Aggarwal, vice-president of the society and chairman of the local Improvement Trust, told mediapersons here today that the project was not viable and the conditions laid down by the Central Government could not be fulfilled. He said the body had been running 14 educational, engineering and technical institutions. The managing committee had decided to provide free treatment to the handicapped and mentally challenged at the Jai Kishan Dass Charitable Hospital here and education free of cost to the poor in all institutions affiliated to the society, he added. The president of the outgoing governing body, Mr Ram Kumar Mittal, had announced the opening of Hindu Medical College. |
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2 held for
screening
blue film Yamunanagar, July 2 According to police sources, the SHO, Yamunanagar city, yesterday raided the theatre on an information that a blue film was being screened at the theatre. It caught the operator and manager of the theatre. The police has registered a case under Sections 292 and 293 of the IPC and also seized the film. |
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HR
losses reduced Chandigarh, July 2 A spokesman of the Transport Department said this was revealed in the annual performance report of various state road transport undertakings in the country circulated by the research wing of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for 1999-2000. He said although Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) had been posted at six places, privatisation would be introduced on an experimental basis in Faridabad district to improve the efficiency of the MVIs. A committee consisting of the City Magistrate, the District Transport Officer and the MVI would supervise this work. He said following measures taken by the Transport Department to improve management, losses in Haryana Roadways during 2000-2001 had been reduced to about Rs 72 crore as compared to more than Rs 100 crore during 1999-2000. |
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Power Utilities
set new record Chandigarh, July 2 The spokesman said although the peak kharif season demand was yet to be realised, the projections were that the power demand in Haryana would exceed 600 lakh units this season. It is for the first time in Haryana that all restrictions on power supply, including the age-old peak load restrictions, have been removed for all electricity consumers, including industrial and agriculture sectors. He said 24-hour power supply was being provided since May 16, 2001. However, the power supply regulations may have to be revised taking into account the overall power availability and peak agricultural demand in the coming months. |
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Career guidance
week from July 16 Chandigarh, July 2 Experts will deliver talks on various occupations and an exhibition will be organised. |
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