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Sunday,
June 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Haryana in soup over mining lease Haryana points UP’s lapses in flood control BJP to go it alone
in Haryana Chautala unveils Devi Lal’s statue Sharan’s
police remand extended
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Police custody for HCS officer 4 held for trafficking in minor girls Ex-HUDA official in police remand ‘School staff rationalised’ Colleges asked to donate for KU hostel at Manali Students manufacture 2-seater aircraft Shortage at Ambala blood bank hits patients Panipat resident wins
Rs 5 lakh Two labourers killed in attack 3 remanded in fake currency racket
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Haryana
in soup over mining lease Chandigarh, June 28 A lessee of the Mining and Geology Department had applied for permission to take sand out of a mine, which he had taken on contract through auction to take out stones. His application was strongly recommended by the minister. However, the department had certain reservations on account of the nature of lease. The mine, located at Ferozepur Rajput village in Faridabad district, was auctioned for Rs 71,000 per annum to one Ram Avtar for taking out only stones. During the mining of stones, the lessee found sand also. The rules provide that if a lessee finds a mineral other than for what he has the lease, he must seek permission of the department to take out the mineral found later on. But this rule, informed sources say, is applicable to only those mines which are given on lease and not auctioned. The department sent the application of the lessee for legal opinion to the Legal Remembrancer, who, the sources say, wrote back that under the existing rules, the department cannot give permission to the existing contractor to take out sand, along with the stone, for which he had the mining rights. However, the Legal Remembrancer said the department could also seek the opinion of the Advocate-General of the State, Mr Surya Kant Sharma. The sources say Mr Sharma has written back to the department that no permission can be given to the existing contractor to take out the new mineral found in the mine. He is believed to have told the department that the mining rights of the new mineral(sand) should also be auctioned. However, if the department wants to retain the single lessee in one mine for administrative reasons, it can make an offer to the existing contractor to take the lease at the highest bid received at the auction. After the arrest of an IAS officer, Mr Ajit Mohan Sharan, for allegedly causing a loss of about Rs 97 crore to the Haryana Financial Corporation, when he was its Managing Director, it is highly unlikely that any officer will go against the legal opinion. It may be recalled that the RPI MLA, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, had alleged that sand was being taken out from the mine even before permission of the department had been obtained. At that time, the Cooperation Minister, Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana, had created a ruckus at a Cabinet meeting. He accused officers of the Mining Department of acting at the behest of his business rivals, who enjoyed the patronage of the powers that be. |
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Haryana
points UP’s lapses in flood control Yamunanagar, June 28 Ms Renu Phulia, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jagadhri, who is monitoring the project from the Haryana side, informed that Uttar Pradesh officials had committed that they would complete the demarcation job by June 27 but despite various reminders, they had not started the job till today afternoon. She said that this showed that officials of the Uttar Pradesh Government were not serious about the job. However, the Haryana Government has completed the demarcation work using manual and laser technology, she said. At a meeting of the level of Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Saharanpur and
Yamunanagar district held on June 9, it was decided to let Uttar Pradesh complete the demarcation job to avoid confusion, and after that the work would be started. Ms Phulia stated that from the Haryana side, all Revenue Department officials were at the site and had kept on waiting for officials of Uttar Pradesh but nobody turned up. She said that if the Uttar Pradesh Government immediately completed its part of the demarcation job, the work on Mandewala Flood Protection Bars could be completed in July. It is learnt that Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, has written a letter to Prime Minister on June 10 and apprised him of the action of Uttar Pradesh Government in stopping the work, which is duly approved by the Central Water Commission. The police of both states is camping on both sides of the river to ensure peace. |
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BJP to go it alone
in Haryana Panchkula, June 28 Addressing mediapersons, Dr Harsh
Wardhan, who is also in charge for the affairs of Haryana BJP, said “The INLD has failed to fulfil the dharama of a political alliance by not taking the BJP into confidence while taking major policy decisions in the state, which has led to resentment within the rank and file of the state unit.” He added that though the central party leadership had been apprised of the souring of ties between the BJP and the INLD, no decision about withdrawing support to the INLD government had been taken and the decision of a truck with the INLD would be taken only after detailed deliberations between the state leaders and the central party leadership at a later stage. Regarding queries on the state unit of the party taking to the streets over the “anti-people” policies of the INLD, Dr Harsh Wardhan said the party owed primary responsibility to the people. “ So, the party workers will protest against the state government policies that do not auger well with the people, “ he said. The national Vice-President of the BJP said the two-day meeting of the state executive beginning today, would dwell on making the organisation strong by increasing the party membership. Besides, upgrading the district offices of the BJP, maintaining records of party funds/ finances and launching a voter list alert ( to check if the voters lists were not manipulated) were also discussed in today’s meeting. As many as 125 members of the state executive, besides BJP MLAs and MPs from Haryana attended the meeting. The Union Minister of State for Home, Mr
I.D. Swami, was also present and addressed party workers.
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Chautala
unveils Devi Lal’s statue
Ambala, June 28 Mr Chautala said the Assembly election could be held before the scheduled time only in certain circumstances whereas there was complete stability in the state and the law and order situation was under control. “If Mr Bhajan Lal is so keen on election, he should resign from the Adampur seat so that the byelection can be held. Mr Bhajan Lal is not able to take the defeat in Fatehabad. He had been dreaming to become Chief Minister and the Fatehabad election was said to be an election of `pratishtha’. But they lost and we won,” he said.
Regarding formation of the corporation, Mr Chautala said the Corporation Bill had already been passed and a notification in this regard would be issued soon. “Our government will complete all schemes initiated during the tenure so that the people of the state do not face any difficulty. The basic amenities will be provided to the people,” he said.
Mr Chautala reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicate corruption. He said no officer or politician involved in corrupt practices would be spared and public funds would not be allowed to be misused. He criticised the double standards of the Congress as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was lauded for his efforts against corruption while the drive against corruption in Haryana was called politically motivated. He said the optimum utilisation of limited resources would be made to ensure sufficient supply of water and power to the people. He said the government had launched various schemes to augment water supply, generate sufficient power and strengthen the transmission. Work on the seventh and eighth units of 250 mw each of Tau Devi Lal thermal power plant, Panipat, had been initiated and would be completed between October, 2004 and February, 2005. The government has also decided to establish 500 mw thermal power plant at Yamunanagar. Regarding water supply, Mr Chautala said water supply in 2,418 villages had been augmented, 251 waterworks constructed and capacity of 539 waterworks increased. The government has incurred Rs 31 to 24 crore on increasing drinking water supply to the rural sector. He said the government had decided to build check dams on minor rivers. To tackle the problem of falling water table, ponds would be developed in villages to recharge the underground water. Mr Chautala today inaugurated a boosting station at
Naraingarh, a bridge over Began river and a 66 kv substation at Mullana. He also laid the foundation stone of 66 kv substation at Sonda and unveiled the statue of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal at Ambala City. Among others, Mr Risal Singh, Mr Jasbir
Mallour, Ms Veena Chibber, Mr Pawan Dewan, Mr Balwant Singh, Mr Maha Singh, Mr Alok Joshi, Mr
D.D. Gautam and Mr Hardeep Singh Doon were
present.
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Sharan’s
police remand extended Ambala, June 28 He stated that a sub-committee had been formed. In two of the files, it was found that three members of the sub-committee had given their approval while in three files, it was found that two members had given their approval. Counsel for Mr Sharan, stated that the Vigilance Bureau had abused the process of law. They
said that out of the 37 files, Mr Sharan had been questioned for five
files. “Mr Sharan has already been investigated in this case. A full
investigation was carried out earlier and Mr Sharan had joined the
investigation five times. Mr Sharan’s name is not in the FIR,”
they said. The counsel observed that while the persons named in the FIR had not been arrested, a person (Mr Sharan) whose name does not figure in the FIR has been arrested. The counsel said that the main accused had already been granted bail. “What
is the evidence against Mr Sharan. There is no fresh ground. He is
being made a scapegoat,” the counsel said. An application was moved today on behalf of Mr Sharan for permitting his counsel to be present at the time of his interrogation in police custody. The
application states “in the case, the accused petitioner has been
falsely involved by the SVB, Ambala for some alleged irregularities
committed during the period of his service as Managing Director in the
Haryana Financial Corporation. During inquiry by top officials of the
Vigilance Department, the accused was found innocent and some
departmental action was suggested against him.” “The presence of
the counsel of the accused is essential at the time of his
interrogation in order to avoid any unnecessary harassment,” the
application adds. |
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Police custody for HCS officer Karnal, June 28 Mr
A.S. Ahlawat, district police chief Sirsa told this reporter on telephone today that Mr Gaur was brought to Sirsa last night by a party of the Sirsa police led by Mr Kuldip Singh Yadav, DSP, which had arrested him in Karnal. Mr Ahlawat maintained that the HCS officer was produced in the court within 24 hours. The Sirsa police has also procured search warrants of two houses owned by the HCS officer. The houses are located in Sector 9 HUDA colony here and another in Sector 19 in Chandigarh. Mr Ahlawat maintained that Mr Gaur was interrogated on the charge of having disproportionate assets and property by the Sirsa police. The charge was made after a vigilance enquiry by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau. Mr Ahlawat said more arrests from the lower ranks of employees of HUDA and the Town and Country Planning were “imminent on the basis of disclosures made by Mr Gaur.” The Superintendent of Police did not rule out the possibility of involvement of some senior officers in the alleged “irregularities and bunglings” committed by Mr Gaur. He further disclosed that during his interrogation Mr Gaur has admitted that he owned two cars. One Car (HR24F9009) was purchased in cash in the name of his wife.
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4 held for trafficking in minor girls Faridabad, June 28 The girls in the age group of 12 to 14 years had been brought from Assam and West Bengal and sold to some residents here. The police has arrested a couple, Deenu and his wife Hakima Bibi, who hail from the Howrah area of West Bengal for selling two girls, Ujina and Sahide of the same area to some persons of a village in Hathin subdivision here. It is learnt that the couple sold one of the girls for Rs 4000 to a person, who reportedly sold the victim to another after a few days for unknown amount. The police got conducted a medical examination and found all girls sexually abused and assaulted. One of the victims aged 13 years is even reported to be pregnant. It has been revealed that the racket of bringing poor girls from parts of Assam and West Bengal has been going on for the past few years on the assurance of getting them married in well-off-families of Mewat region. While some marriages had taken place in a few villages, but it is learnt that the majority of the girls had been minor and had been sold more than two or three times, only for sexual abuse. Mr Ravi Kant of the Shakti
Vahini, a social voluntary organisation, said the recent incident could only be the tip of that an iceberg, as the problem of much bigger. He claimed that the ‘girls trafficking' had been a major racket and girls of poor families were being purchased and sold like commodities. He said his organisation had already filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, in this regard. He demanded that a high-level probe be conducted to bring out the truth and to trace out the culprits. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Hathin police station, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, said four persons, including a woman, had been arrested so far. He said the police was on the lookout for at least four to five more persons for involvement in the racket. He said two of the accused arrested had been identified as Khurshid and
Mousanni, residents of Buraka and Guraksar village in the district, respectively. He said the raids were conducted in the past three-four days. While the police authorities claim that this is the first such case detected, but it is reported that similar cases had surfaced earlier, but those were disposed of lightly. |
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Ex-HUDA official in police remand Sirsa, June 28 It is notable that some times ago when Mr Dayal was posted at Sirsa complaints of irregularities against him were received on the basis of which the then Additional Deputy Commissioner had sealed the records in the local HUDA office after conducting an inquiry into the case. The Chief Administrator of HUDA also initiated inquiry in which Dayal was found guilty. The illegal construction on the land marked for a public toilet in the local Mandi carried out during the tenure of Dayal was subsequently demolished by the district administration. |
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‘School
staff rationalised’ Panchkula, June 28 Mr Sampat Singh said this during an interaction with mediapersons after presiding over the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Committee today. He said recruitments were being made only where these were required and only the unnecessary posts had been abolished. He said as a result of the new education policy introduced by the present state government, the education standards had been considerably improved in the state. All schools in the state had been provided with essential facilities such as clean drinking water, toilets and desks for the students. Efforts were being made to fill the vacant posts of teachers, wherever required. Besides this, it was also ensured that at least one doctor had been posted in the primary health centres and dispensaries in the state. In view of the ongoing paddy season, the state government was providing sufficient electricity to farmers on priority. This year, he said, the supply of electricity had been 45 per cent more than it had been last year. Work on the seventh and eighth units of the Panipat Thermal Plant had begun as a result of which there would be an additional power supply of 500 mw. If the work on these units was completed before the stipulated period of 29 months, the government would give an incentive of Rs 2 crore to Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), which had undertaken the work. He said the second unit of 110 mw at Panipat had also been strengthened. About the pending electricity bills, Mr Sampat Singh said the arrears of domestic consumers were Rs 893 crore, those of agricultural consumers were Rs 214 crore, industrial consumers Rs 167 crore and the government sector Rs 180 crore. Earlier, presiding over the meeting, Mr Sampat Singh directed the officers of the district administration to adopt a positive attitude towards solving public grievances. As many as 12 out of 15 complaints were solved on the spot. |
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Colleges
asked to donate for KU hostel at Manali Kurukshetra, June 28 The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the members present to own their responsibility in this regard. The Vice-Chancellor said the university would organise National Youth Festival, National level Fine Arts Exhibition and Science Exhibition to motivate the students. He said University had recently started four new job-oriented courses on self-financing basis, which include MBA five-year M.Sc Industrial Chemistry, M.Sc pharmaceutical chemistry and
B-pharma and eight new courses in the Directorate of Correspondence Courses. He further said the university had already started the process of appointing the teachers against the existing vacant posts so that students might not suffer. Dr Chawla said the next meeting of the presidents of the non-government affiliated colleges would be held in August. |
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Students
manufacture 2-seater aircraft Kurukshetra, June 28 Praveen Yadav, Vivek Tikoria and Rakesh Sharma, all final year mechanical engineering students, said the aircraft weighing 750 kg, would cost Rs 8.5 lakh and had been manufactured within six months. It would fly with the help of a four-stroke petrol engine, they added. The mechanical engineers said they got the inspiration for manufacturing the aircraft as our country imports the aircraft accessories and assembled these here, costing the country crores of rupees. Keeping in view the cost factor, they started working on it in January and succeeded in manufacturing the aircraft in June. India could manufacture such a low cost and lightweight aircraft, if its technique was improved, they added. Mr Prabhakar Kaushik, guide engineer, said the students had themselves designed and fabricated the aircraft for the first time in the country. He said lightweight aircraft having a length of 28 feet and a span of 33 feet, had 1500 cc engine with 85 bhp horse power. The aircraft would be able to fly at 180 km per hour at the height of 2,500 feet. Besides a pilot, one more person could be accommodated in the aircraft would soon be testified after getting due permission from the government, he added. They have thanked the guide engineer, Mr Prabhakar Kaushik, the college Principal, Dr S.K. Gupta, Dr B.M. Sharma and Dr K.C. Arora as well as their family members for their contribution. |
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Shortage
at Ambala blood bank hits patients Ambala, June 28 Like a few other districts, Ambala does not have any private blood bank. All the three Civil Hospitals of the district located in Ambala Cantonment, Ambala city, Naraingarh and a number of private nursing homes have to depend on the blood bank at the Civil Hospital Ambala city. The worst affected are the patients of Thallasemia who require regular blood transfusion for their survival. In Ambala, there are around two dozen persons, including some children, who are suffering from this disease. They require two to three units of blood every two or three months. According to the information available, there are around two dozen units of blood only in stock, in the blood bank at present while in routine 200 to 250 units of various blood groups are kept here. Strangely, not even a single unit of four blood groups is available at the blood bank. In case of an emergency, the patients who need any of these groups either have to manage these from the PGI, Chandigarh, or from any other unlawful source. On Tuesday morning, a guardian of a patient came to the blood bank for two units of blood of specific group. When he came to know about the shortage of blood units in the hospital, he persuaded four members of his family to donate four units of blood in exchange for two. The blood bank authorities have appealed to the voluntary blood donors to donate blood to meet the shortage. The hospital sources said the blood bank had to face such a crisis during this period every year as the educational institutions were closed due to summer vacation and blood donation camps were not organised. A majority of the blood donors were college students. Other voluntary donors also avoided to donate blood in the summer season, the sources added. |
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Panipat
resident wins Rs 5 lakh Panchkula, June 28 The draw was initiated by the state Finance Minister, Prof Sampat Singh, in the presence of investors and agents. A total number of 7868 cash prizes, totalling to Rs. 1 crore, were awarded to investors. The first prize was won by an investor from Panipat (coupon no 2963928), while two second prizes of Rs. 3 lakh each were won by a resident of Bhiwani (coupon no. 1405444) and Karnal (coupon no. 2420314). The five third prizes of Rs. 2 lakh each were won by investors from Kaithal ( coupon no. 2351805), Faridabad ( coupon no. 1646183), Panchkula (coupon no. 3908881) , Gurgaon (1829425) , and Bhiwani ( 1417383). Complementing the prize winners, Prof Sampat Singh sought the cooperation of people towards achieving the savings target as set by the state government. He also commended the efforts made by the department of Small Savings for exceeding last year's target as net collection of Rs. 1,652 crore was achieved. The previous year's net collection had been Rs. 1,320 crore. He said that the government had set a target of Rs. 2500 crore for the next financial year under small savings schemes. " These schemes not only help in saving tax for investors, but also enabled the state to get long term loans from the Central government on total deposits, which was used for various development projects in the state. Among others present on the occasion were Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary , Finance, Mr Chander Singh, Director, Small Savings, Mr Hardeep Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Ms Satwanti Ahlawat and other officers of administration.
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Two labourers killed in attack Hisar, June 28 The victims have been identified as Bhagwat Ram and Mohammad Usmani, both residents of Bihar. The injured, Naushad, Asmat and Ajmat Ullah, have been admitted to Civil Hospital where the condition of Asmat is stated to be critical. The labourers had been living in a house in Vikas Nagar for the past about five years. Last night they took their meal and went to the roof of the house for sleeping. Suddenly a group of 20-25 persons with swords, knives, lathis, etc came and attacked them killing two on the spot. A case has been registered.
— PTI |
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3 remanded in fake currency racket Ambala, June 28
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