H A R Y A N A

84 complaints received at ‘open darbar’
Panipat, February 13
As many as 84 grievances were received at an open darbar organised by the administration at block headquarters, Madloda, about 20 km from here today. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr U.S. Sohail, presided over the darbar.

4 Education Dept officials booked in fraud case
Karnal, February 13
The Haryana police has registered a case against four Education Department officials, including a drawing teacher who fraudulently regularised the services of a woman drawing teacher.

Feb 21 closed day in Yamunanagar
Chandigarh, February 13
The Haryana Government has declared February 21 as a closed day for all shops and other commercial establishments in the Yamunanagar Assembly constituency under the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 (Punjab Act 15 of 1958).

Canal breach: 400 acres of crop affected
Jind, February 13
Crops on 400 acres were submerged due to a breach in Sudkain distributary near Sudkain village in Narwana subdivision of this district yesterday. According to reports, more than 1,000 birds were killed when water of the distributary entered a poultry farm near the site of the breach. 

• 2 escape from custody, cop booked

• Bumper rabi crop likely

• Cut in liquor excise duty proposed

84 complaints received at ‘open darbar’
Our Correspondent

Panipat, February 13
As many as 84 grievances were received at an open darbar organised by the administration at block headquarters, Madloda, about 20 km from here today. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr U.S. Sohail, presided over the darbar.

Most of the complaints related to poor electricity and drinking water supply, encroachments, listing of names in below poverty lines (BPL), old age and disability pensions.

On the demand of the delegations from the villages of Adiayana, Kavi and Bhalsi for the removal of encroachments on the village panchayat lands, the ADC directed the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Madloda, to take immediate action for removing the encroachments. He also directed the officers of the Irrigation Development to dig a drain near Ossar village because of complaints of water-logging in the fields of the villagers.

Representatives of Ossari and Thirana villages complained about the problems of drinking water supply in the villages. An officer of the Public Health Department informed the ADC that a tubewell had already been installed in Ossari village and it would be functional very shortly.

On the demand of the representatives of Urlana Kalan village, the ADC directed the Roadways authorities to construct a bus stop shelter in the village. Similarly, on receiving complaints about power supply problems from the sarpanches of Joshi and Joshi Majra villages, the ADC directed the HVPN authorities to streamline the power supply in both villages with in two days.

4 Education Dept officials booked in fraud case

Karnal, February 13
The Haryana police has registered a case against four Education Department officials, including a drawing teacher who fraudulently regularised the services of a woman drawing teacher.

According to Tarori police sources, a case has been registered at the behest of the Chief Minister’s flying squad under Sections 420, 465, 471 and 420 of the IPC. Inquiries made by the squad revealed that Ms Veena Kumari, wife of Mr Subash Chand got herself “appointed” at Government Senior Secondary School, Jakhal (Hisar) on July 10, 1984 vide order No. 226 as per entries in her service book and that she “served” there till March 23, 1985 whereas the Principal of the said school in his statement claimed that she had never ever served there and his statement was corroborated by SDO, Jakhal.

In September, 1994, Ms Veena was appointed as a drawing teacher on ad hoc basis at Ramana Ramani. Subsequently, on the basis of her “previous record”, she was regularised by the alleged connivance of the then Headmaster, Ramana Ramani, Mr Shiv Kumar Gaur, the then SDO, Karnal, Mr Santosh Rana, the then DEO, Mr Krishna Verma and the present Superintendent, Mr Sham Lal Bajaj. UNI

Feb 21 closed day in Yamunanagar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
The Haryana Government has declared February 21 as a closed day for all shops and other commercial establishments in the Yamunanagar Assembly constituency under the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 (Punjab Act 15 of 1958).

A decision to this effect has been taken in view of the by-election in the constituency scheduled to be held on February 21.

The government has also, in view of the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948), directed that no worker would be required or allowed to work on February 21 so as to enable him to exercise his franchise in the byelection.

Canal breach: 400 acres of crop affected
Our Correspondent

Jind, February 13
Crops on 400 acres were submerged due to a breach in Sudkain distributary near Sudkain village in Narwana subdivision of this district yesterday. According to reports, more than 1,000 birds were killed when water of the distributary entered a poultry farm near the site of the breach. The officers of the Irrigation Department on receiving the information rushed to the spot and started plugging the breach.

The affected farmers alleged that the breach occurred due to the negligence of the officers of the department who had failed to strengthen the banks of the distributary. However, the officers of the department held the anti-social elements responsible for the breach. Plugging of the breach has been started on a war footing.

The farmers alleged that they had suffered heavy losses on account of their rabi crops getting submerged. They have demanded compensation for the loss.

2 escape from custody, cop booked
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, February 13
Two drug-traffickers from Punjab, arrested by the police with poppy husk on Monday, escaped from police custody on Monday night from the Bhattu Kalan police station in the district. The police has booked constable Vijay Kumar for dereliction of duty. Mr Hanif Qureshi, Superintendent of Police has asked the DSP (City) to enquire into the matter.

According to sources, the police had arrested Bachhitar Singh and Jaswinder Singh, residents of Ludhiana, with 5 kg of poppy husk. The two were taken to the Bhattu police station and as there is no lock-up in that police station. They were made to sit in a room in the corner. They escaped from the police station at night when cops were asleep.

Bumper rabi crop likely
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
Haryana again expects a bumper rabi crop of 99.50 lakh tonnes this season which will exceed the foodgrain production of 98.37 lakh tonnes achieved during rabi 2001.

While stating this here today, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, said that the widespread rain during the past few days had brought respite to the farmers from the prolonged dry spell and also brightened the prospects of the rabi crops considerably.

Cut in liquor excise duty proposed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
The excise policy for the coming financial year will be taken up for consideration at a meeting of the Haryana Cabinet scheduled to be held here tomorrow. The new policy proposes a reduction in the excise duty on Indian-made foreign liquor and country liquor. It also proposes doing away with the existing procedure of auctioning of vends by introducing the system of inviting tenders for granting liquor shop licences.