H A R Y A N A

More power for Haryana as UP defaults
Panchkula, June 30
With the neighbouring states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and New Delhi failing to make their allocated ‘drawls’ of power from Central pool, Haryana has been the sole beneficiary.

Tension between UP, Haryana over bundh
Yamunanagar, June 30
The bundh being constructed by the Haryana Government on the Yamuna near Mandewala village, near here, has led to tension between the governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Dalit women get lease of land
Chandigarh, June 30
For the first time ever in India, Pooja Bachat Samooh, a Dalit women’s self-help group (SHG) of Panipat district of Haryana, has won the lease of 17 kanals of land for cultivation in Israna block in Bandh village of the district.

Health centre opened at GJU
Hisar, June 30
The Governor of Haryana, Babu Parmanand, today called upon social organisations to bring physically challenged in the mainstream. He was addressing a function organised by the Haryana state Red Cross Society at Panchayat Bhavan here.

Mahasangh protest from today
Panchkula, June 30
The Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh will organise protest marches and rallies all over the state on July 1 and 2, in protest against the privatisation and retrenchment in various corporations in the state.

March by MITC staff
Sirsa, June 30
Local employees of the Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation today held a procession here against their sacking and submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to forward it to the Deputy Commissioner.

• Chautala returns from tour

More power for Haryana as UP defaults
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 30
With the neighbouring states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and New Delhi failing to make their allocated ‘drawls’ of power from Central pool, Haryana has been the sole beneficiary.

Sources in Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam ( HVPN) informed TNS that the above-mentioned states and Bihar had kept their ‘drawls’ from the central pool limited because of failure to issue letters of credit (LoC), for their allocated share of power. The biggest defaulter, it is learnt, is Uttar Pradesh.

Thus Haryana is drawing additional power to the tune of 25 to 30 lakh units per day. “Because of this surplus power, the situation in the state has remained static. Other than a few local problems faced recently in Yamunanagar and Ambala, there has been no shortfall in power supply,” informed a senior official in the HVPN.

These states have reportedly failed to take their allocated share from the central pool because of paucity of funds, either because of line losses (transmission losses and power thefts), or because of sops being given to certain sections of consumers.

Well-placed sources in the HVPN informed that power supply to the 36.5 lakh consumers in the state was through four main sources — the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (100 lakh units per day), the National Thermal Power Corporation (200 lakh units), the National Hydro Power Corporation (60 lakh units) and through its own generation units in Panipat, Faridabad and Yamunanagar (160 lakh units). About 20 lakh units of power was also available from the Eastern Grid.

It is learnt that as against the demand projections of about 570 lakh units of power on an average per day for the month of June, the state Power Utilities had been drawing more than its share from the central pool on any given day. The highest demand in the state ( 649 lakh units ) was recorded on June 29. The projected demand for the ensuing month is about 575 lakh units, but in case of increase in demand because of paddy season, the state government is all set to make additional drawls from the central pool.

Meanwhile, sources inform that works in power sector (transmission and distribution) worth Rs 700 crore are under way in the state, with transmission works expenditure alone crossing Rs 400 crore.

It is for the first time that 25 new sub-stations have been set up in the state, with at least four sub-stations of 220 kv capacity. Earlier, only 10 sub-stations were being set up in the sate on an average. It is also for the first time that most of the sub-stations are being constructed through private contractors.

Tension between UP, Haryana over bundh
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, June 30
The bundh being constructed by the Haryana Government on the Yamuna near Mandewala village, near here, has led to tension between the governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The bandh is being constructed by Government of Haryana as a safety measure to avoid floods in the river during the forthcoming monsoon.

The Uttar Pradesh Government and people residing across the river allege that the bundh would flood 50 villages on their side. The UP Government has also alleged that the land on which the bundh is being constructed falls in its jurisdiction.

To resolve the issue, a team headed by the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Jagadhri, Mrs Renu Phulia, met the team of Uttar Pradesh headed by Naib Tehsildar Dhan Singh yesterday. With both parties claiming that the ground fell under their respective jurisdictions, they decided to form a joint team to measure the boundary between the two states to settle the issue.

Dalit women get lease of land
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30
For the first time ever in India, Pooja Bachat Samooh, a Dalit women’s self-help group (SHG) of Panipat district of Haryana, has won the lease of 17 kanals of land for cultivation in Israna block in Bandh village of the district.

These Dailt women so far worked as landless labourers in the same field. Mrs Veena Nayyar, member, National Commission for SCs and STs, made this possible by motivating the district administration and also by providing leadership and encouragement to the group, according to Mr P. Wangyal, Director, NCSCST, Chandigarh.

He said that the group which comprised all SC/ST women was encouraged to bid for panchayat land on lease during auction for cultivation by them.

After some reluctance the village sarpanch agreed to the proposal. Financial assistance for the bid was provided by Punjab National Bank, lead bank office in Panipat. Convinced about the proposal, the district administration also fully supported the efforts of this group.

Health centre opened at GJU
Our Correspondent

Hisar, June 30
The Governor of Haryana, Babu Parmanand, today called upon social organisations to bring physically challenged in the mainstream. He was addressing a function organised by the Haryana state Red Cross Society at Panchayat Bhavan here. He said such persons could effectively contribute in the development of the nation and the need of the hour was to help them in achieving their goal.

Praising the role of social organisations, the Governor said many organisations were doing a commendable job in this field. He said service to a physically challenged was the service to the humanity. Such organisations would also have to broaden their base in the rural areas of the state.

Babu Parmanand said no nation could progress without the active participation of women. Social organisations should also bear the responsibility of making them self-dependent. The government should ensure the women contribute in every field. It was the duty of every citizen to create better environment for the overall development of the physically challenged.

He also distributed artificial limbs, sewing machines and tri-cycles among them and widows. His wife, Ms Sudesh Kumari, Mr R.R. Jowal, Commissioner, Hisar Range, and Ms Raj Rani, Chairman of the Bharatiya Gramin Mahila Sangh, were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the governor inaugurated a health centre building at Guru Jambheshwar University and a girls hostel at dumb and disabled centre on the Sirsa road.

Mahasangh protest from today
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 30
The Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh will organise protest marches and rallies all over the state on July 1 and 2, in protest against the privatisation and retrenchment in various corporations in the state.

This was stated by Mr M.L. Sehgal, general secretary and Mr Rajbir Sindhu, press secretary of the sangh. They said in spite of the elaborate police arrangements made by the state, they were planning to go ahead with gate meetings and protests. They also said if notices were given to employees of MITC, the members of the manch would boycott work.

March by MITC staff

Sirsa, June 30
Local employees of the Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation (MITC) today held a procession here against their sacking and submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to forward it to the Deputy Commissioner.

The employees also burnt an effigy of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. They were joined by the employees of the Public Health as well as the Irrigation Department in their demonstration.

Addressing the employees, Karamchari Sangharsh Samiti head Bachan Singh said the government’s real face had been exposed to the people. UNI

Chautala returns from tour
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, returned here tonight after a fortnight-long tour of north America, Europe and east Asia.

Mr Chautala, accompanied by members of his entourage, arrived by Shatabdi Express this evening. A group of MLAs, who had gone separately on the tour, reached back on Friday.