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Indian currency approved for duty-free shops
Bansi Lal presides over college function
Hooda flags off Saarthi bus service
Problems galore in grain markets
Snag hits power generation
Haryana to introduce EDUSAT in schools
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Who’s
district Cong chief — Pari or Kanojia?
Cracks in houses around railway line
Five arrested for beating boy
Inspector booked for corruption
Man hacked to death
Medical camp on eve of Solar eclipse fair
Progressive farmers honoured
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Indian currency approved for duty-free shops
Hisar, October 1 Thanks to his efforts, the Union Government has granted approval to acceptance of Indian currency at these shops. This is not for the first time that the young parliamentarian has achieved a major victory in national interests. Prior to this, he got the right to hoist the national flag granted to the citizens. He was also instrumental in getting smoking banned in Parliament. “It’s an irony that our own currency was not accepted at the duty-free shops on the premises of international airports located in different places of the country,” Mr Jindal said here today. On August 21, 2002, he wrote a letter to the then Union Minister for Tourism, Mr Jagmohan, drawing his attention towards the issue. In the letter, he pointed out that when Indian nationals were permitted to carry Rs 5,000 on foreign visits, why were they not allowed to buy goods from duty-free shops with that money? In September, 2002, he was informed by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) that his letter had been sent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for necessary action. A few days later, the bank informed the ITDC that the use of Indian currency was not allowed at the airports beyond the customs lounge. The ITDC forwarded this letter to Mr Jindal. Following this, he met RBI officials to seek a solution, but to no avail. Then, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was formed at the Centre and Ms Renuka Chowdhary became Tourism Minister. Mr Jindal approached Ms Chowdhary and apprised her of the matter. During their discussion, it came out that the issue was related to the Finance Ministry. On November 29, 2004, Mr Jindal urged the Union Finance Minister, Mr P.Chidambaram, to look into the matter and take appropriate steps. The minister assured him of prompt action in this regard. Finally, his efforts bore fruit and the Central Government allowed the acceptance of Indian currency at duty-free shops in an ordinance issued on September 26, 2005. |
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Bansi Lal presides over college function
Chandigarh, October 1 After several months of spending a virtual secluded life, Mr Bansi Lal made his first public appearance when he presided over the annual function of a Ladwa college in Kurukshetra district. After the function he also met and addressed Congress workers, most of whom were former HVP men. Interestingly, Mr Bansi Lal was invited to Ladwa by the President of the Kurukshetra District Congress Committee, Mr Pawan Garg, who till a few months ago was in the Bhajan Lal camp. Mr Bansi Lal was accompanied by his elder son, Mr Ranbir Singh Mahendra, President of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), who is also a member of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, and his son-in-law, Mr Somvir Singh, MLA. Besides, Mr Ramesh Gupta, the local Congress MLA, Mr Subhash Choudhary, Congress MLA from Jagadhari, and Mr Arjan Singh, BSP MLA from Chhachhrauli, were also present. Speaking at the college function, Mr Bansi Lal said Haryana should have its own capital and Kurukshetra was the most suitable place for being the headquarters of the state administration. He also said the SYL canal should be constructed at the earliest to bring the due share of Haryana in the river waters to the state. Later, addressing party workers, Mr Bansi Lal said in the last Assembly elections, the Congress was swept to power because the people wanted to teach a lesson to the Indian National Lok Dal and its leader, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. The party would be able to retain power in the next elections only if its workers highlighted the achievements of the government in the public in proper perspective. Similarly, the party MLAs should remain in contact with the people. The party workers presented a large number of garlands of currency notes to Mr Bansi Lal. Mr Garg’s father, Mr Om Prakash, who was an MLA from Kurukshetra, used to be a close associate of Mr Bansi Lal. However, later they fell apart and Mr Garg moved to the Bhajan Lal camp. Now Mr Garg seems to have rejoined the Bansi Lal camp. Meanwhile, Mrs Kiran Choudhary, wife of the late Mr Surender Singh, has announced that the birth anniversary of her husband would be celebrated as “sangharsh divas” in Bhiwani on November 15. It is no secret that Mrs Choudhary and Mr Bansi Lal do not see eye to eye these days. While Mrs Choudhary wants to establish herself as the inheritor of Mr Surender Singh’s legacy, Mr Bansi Lal wants Mr Mahendra to be his political heir. |
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Hooda flags off Saarthi bus service
New Delhi, October 1 Mr Hooda said the ‘Saarthi’ service would make bus travel more comfortable for the passengers. He said the bus service, which was being
initially run to Katra and Chandigarh from the national Capital, will be later extended to Shimla and Jaipur. Haryana Transport Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said the latest Volvo AC buses had been taken on lease by Haryana Roadways. He said a need was felt for such service for a fast-growing segment, which included entrepreneurs, professionals and officers. He said Haryana Roadways had 3,500 buses in its fleet while 2,500 more buses would be added in the next five years. “Haryana will have the youngest fleet of buses in the country,” he said. Mr Surjewala said Haryana Roadways buses were normally auctioned after seven years of service. He said steps were being taken to provide better bus connectivity and service in the rural areas of the state. The service launched today had buses with luxury 2x ergonomically reclining seats, public address system, heating system, CTV, DVD, music system, pantry, over head luggage carrier, hat rack, head phone and pneumatic doors. A newspaper and a mineral water bottle would be supplied free to the passengers. Cold drinks and snacks would be available on payment. The buses would stop for refreshment at Haryana Tourism complexes. The Saarthi bus service would ply on important inter-state routes. The service had been started with three return trips on the Delhi-Chandigarh route and one return trip on the Delhi-Katra route. The buses would start from Chandigarh for Delhi at 7 am, 12 noon and 11 pm whereas the buses would start from Delhi to Chandigarh at 7 am, 1.30 pm and 11.30 pm. The bus would start from Delhi for Katra at 9 pm and from Katra to Delhi also at 9 pm. The fare between Delhi and Chandigarh would be Rs 350 and between Delhi and Katra Rs 700. A discount of five per cent was available on the return ticket. Advance reservation facility was available at bus stands in Chandigarh and Delhi.
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Problems galore in grain markets
Yamunanagar, October 1 Meanwhile, the administration has claimed that all arrangements have been at all procurement centres in the district. The price of common paddy has been fixed at Rs 570 per quintal, while Grade “A” variety will be purchased at Rs 600 a quintal. It is expected that 2.25 lakh MT of paddy would arrive at various mandis. The government agencies have been asked to purchase 1.25 lakh MT. A visit to five grain markets revealed that farmers would face various problems like shortage of drinking water and rest rooms, lack of proper unloading places and inadequate parking spaces. At Mustfabad, there is neither shed over the market nor any concrete platform to stock the paddy. Farmers complained shortage of parking space. About 23,000 quintal of paddy has already arrived at the mandi. Farmers at Bilaspur complained that there is no proper arrangement for their stay. The president of the Arhtiya Sangh, Mr Rajinder Aggarwal, claimed that rain could damage produce as the concrete platform is broken at several places. The sarpanch of Sandhye village, Mr Karnail Singh, said stray cattle in the area was also a menace for them. Farmers of Radaur village complained that there was only one tubewell in the area and that too was unfunctional. They said even the retiring room for farmers had been occupied by officials. The compound wall of the Jagadhri mandi is broken from various places and a large number of stray animals roam in the mandi. Residents also use the mandi area as a shortcut to reach the Jagadhri–Sharanpur stretch. At Chhachhrouli mandi, improper drainage system is a problem. A corner of the mandi has been encroached upon by members of “Ghumantru”, a tribe. |
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Snag hits power generation
Tajewala (Yamunanagar), October 1 According to sources, the generation from four powerhouses located on the channel is significantly less as compared to the last year. Silting is believed to be one of the reasons for low generation. The generation units (except for those at Tajewala) which were installed in early 1980s have never been overhauled, despite guidelines by Japanese manufacturers of machines. Eight units (in four powerhouses) have been set up on the channel, which are capable of generating 64.4 MW. The water discharge in the channel should be 5,400 cusecs for optimum generation but because of silt the discharge is about 4,000 cusecs, said the sources. An official in the Haryana Power Generation Corporation claimed that this year the silt in the Yamuna was too high. The unit at Tajewala was closed on July 28, while the other closed on January 24. As per information collected by The Tribune, eight generation machines were purchased from Fuji Electric Corporation, Japan, in early 1980s. Six of the units were set up under the supervision of Japanese engineers. The work on the Tajewala powerhouse was delayed because of a dispute with neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and the generation units (to be installed at Tajewala) kept lying in store for several years. Later, the powerhouse was set up with the help of BHEL, a public sector unit, and was commissioned on July 22, 2004. Sources in the power generation corporation said several parts from the two machines (installed at Tajewala) were used to replace the corresponding defected parts in the earlier installed machines. The parts were later procured from local markets and the powerhouse was commissioned. A Japanese delegation, which had visited the site to study the project sustainability, had advised the department to overhaul the machines after every 10 years, said the sources. They added that BHEL had given an estimate of about Rs 75 crore for total overhauling of the system. The Japanese machines are designed to be run on 600 ppm of silt but the machines are closed only after the silt level crosses 3,000 ppm. However, the generation units were run even after the silt level crossed 3,000 ppm, said the sources. The Chief Engineer of power corporation, Mr R.S. Bhatti, confirmed that the two units had been shut down. He said the unit at Nainowala was shut down because of certain technical faults, while the other is closed because of silt. |
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Haryana to introduce EDUSAT in schools
Chandigarh, October 1 This was stated by the Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Education, Mr R.S. Gujral, while speaking at a daylong workshop on “EDUSAT Project Content Development Methodology” here today. All district education officers and 100 outstanding lecturers in English, physics, chemistry, biology and maths from each district attended the workshop. Mr Gujral said this programme was being introduced with the collaboration of the Indian Space Research Organisation, which had launched a communication satellite, GSAT-3, for the exclusive use of the education sector. Mr Gujral said that a central hub and studio was being set up in the new building of the District Education and Training Centre, Panchkula, to beam live and recorded programmes direct to the classrooms. On the other hand, the principals of all 151 government senior secondary schools had been directed to make the necessary arrangements in classrooms. |
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Who’s
district Cong chief — Pari or Kanojia?
Ambala, October 1 This
piquant situation has arisen after Mr Parminder Singh Pari showed a
letter, issued by the Indian Youth Congress, Haryana in charge, stating
that Mr Pari would continue to be the president till further orders even
as Ambala Cantt MLA Devendra Bansal maintained that Mr Babu Ram Kanojia
was the new District Youth Congress president. The development is a
reflection of the infighting prevailing within the Congress here. The
infighting has come to the fore earlier with attempts by rebel Municipal
Councillors to oust the MC president, Ms Neelam Sharma, and now this
controversy has arisen in which Ambala Cantt MLA Devendra Bansal’s
close associate Kanojia is having a confrontation over the president’s
post. Mr Pari, addressing mediapersons, said on September 12 he learnt
through newspapers that Mr Kanojia had been appointed the District Youth
Congress president. “I was surprised since I had not been informed
about any such development. I immediately spoke to former Indian Youth
Congress president and Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala,” he
said. He then met IYC president Ashok Tanwar. Mr Tanwar said the
appointment had been carried out without informing the IYC headquarters
and the matter would be enquired into, he said. An IYC office order,
issued by Mr Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, in charge Haryana, and addressed to
Mr Satvinder Singh Sandhu, president, Haryana Pradesh Youth Congress,
states: “It has come to the notice of the Indian Youth Congress that
you have changed the district presidents of Ambala Cantt (urban), Karnal
(urban) and Kurukshetra (rural).” “Indian Youth Congress president
Ashok Tanwar has cancelled all such appointments and Mr Parminder Singh
Pari — Ambala Cantt (urban), Mr Nahar Singh Sandhu — Karnal (urban)
and Mr Kulvinder Singh Khaira — Kurukshetra (rural), will remain as
district presidents till further order from this office,” the office
order states. “You are, hereby, directed not to make any appointment
without the prior approval from the IYC,” the order adds. Mr Pari
said a new team of the District Youth Congress would be constituted
within a fortnight. “Ever since I became the District Youth Congress
president, such a situation has never arisen. I will continue to work
hard for the Youth Congress,” he said. Among others, Mr Ashok Jain,
Mr Arjun Lal Kalra, Mr Uttam Rishi, Mr Chetan Chauhan, Mr Narinder Vij,
Mr Neeraj, Mr Vishal and Mr Amit were present during the press
conference. However, MLA Bansal said that he had spoken to IYC
president Ashok Tanwar at 12.45 pm today. “Mr Tanwar has assured me
that Mr Kanojia is the new District Youth Congress president,” he
said. Mr Bansal said Mr Kanojia had been issued letter of appointment
by the Haryana Youth Congress president.
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Cracks in houses around railway line
Bhiwani, October 1 A visit to several houses of the above areas showed that cracks have developed there and a few of the new constructions had to be stopped due to waterlogging. The residents disclosed that the railway authorities had not filled the dug-up space with earth when steam engines were discarded by the Railways. With the passage of time, the space had been converted into pond. Rain water and water from the washing line had accumulated here. They alleged that repeated representations to the railway authorities to flush out the water had proved futile. Moreover, the health authorities have also adopted indifferent attitude towards this problem. No pesticide or medicine was sprinkled on the water resulting in the spread of mosquitoes and flies. They feared that an epidemic might spread in this area if no step is taken by the department concerned. The residents have urged the railway authorities that proper sewerage system should be adopted to drain out the water accumulated due to washing of trains daily. Water from unnatural pond should also be flushed out so that the land could be used properly. They further demanded that the railway authorities should visit their houses to ascertain the huge losses they were suffering.
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Sirsa, October 1 The arrests have been made on the complaint of Ms Santosh Kumari of Shahpurbegu village. In her complaint, she alleged that her brother Rajesh was beaten up yesterday by Ranjeet, Amarjeet, Kanwarjeet, Binder, Gurgant, Mandeep and Darbara after confining him in a house. The police has arrested five of the seven persons involved in the case — Ranjeet, Amarjeet, Binder, Darbara and Mandeep. According to the police, Rajesh was beaten up mercilessly by the family members of a girl over a love letter. The letter was reported to have been written by Rajesh. Rajesh’s family members, in a complaint to the police, alleged that the boy was thrown in an unconscious state in the fields and was later taken to the Civil Hospital by certain relatives, where he is undergoing treatment. The incident had sparked off an angry protest by residents of Shahpurbegu village, who blocked traffic on the Chopta road for about four hours yesterday, demanding action against the guilty. A few of the protesters also restored to stone pelting, damaging two state transport buses. The situation was brought under control only after the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police reached the spot with heavy police force and pacified the agitators assuring action against the guilty. — UNI
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Inspector booked for corruption
Sirsa, October 1 The case was registered against Quality Control Inspector Jainarayan Godara on the complaint of a local shopkeeper who alleged that the
official had misused his official power and forced shopkeepers to pay him money for clearing their pesticide and insecticide samples. The police raided his local official residence and ancestral house in Chautala village but failed to arrest him. Deputy Commissioner Vimal Chandra who is apprised of the matter when contacted admitted that shopkeepers had submitted 47 affidavits and a memorandum along with a CD in which they have recorded a conversation of the inspector asking for money. He said that strict action had been recommended against the guilty officer to the Secretary and Commissioner Agriculture Department of the state government.
— UNI |
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Man hacked to death
Hisar, October 1 According to police sources, Jaibir, his wife Santosh, and son Sandeep, were sleeping in their house at Muklan village. Unidentified assailants barged into their house in night and attacked them with a sharp-edged weapon. Jaibir was killed in the attack, while Santosh and Sandeep were injured. Soon after the attack, Santosh managed to reach her brother-in-law’s house, whose family took her to a hospital. Seeing her critical condition, she was referred to the PGI, Rohtak. The police has registered a case and started investigations. According to the police sources, Jaibir’s family had no enmity in the village. Another son of Jaibir, who had been adopted by his brother, lives in Surat. The police is working on a theory that Jaibir might have been killed due to somebody’s enmity with his Surat-based son. A police party has been sent to Surat to bring his son back. |
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Medical camp on eve of Solar eclipse fair
Kurukshetra, October 1 The camp was organised in memory of Swami Kalyan Dev Ji Maharaj by Dr M.L. Ranga, former Health Minister, Haryana. Dr Ranga said 232 pilgrims, a majority of them sadhus, were medically examined by a team of doctors headed by Dr S.S. Saini, former Director, Health Services, Haryana, and free medicines distributed among them.
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Progressive farmers honoured
Karnal, October 1 The chief guest of the fair, Dr JSP Yadav, former Chairman, Agriculture Scientist Selection Board
(ASSB), appreciated research being done at the CSSRI. Presenting a vote of thanks, the director of the
CSSRI, Dr Gurbachan Singh, urged the farmers to benefit from the research done at the Former Deputy Director of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute
(IARC), Dr IP Abrol, and former director, CSSRI, Dr NT Singh, were also present. |
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KURUKSHETRA: Speaking on the BSNL Day here today, Mr Jitender Setia, BSNL Area Manager, Kurukshetra, said all telecom arrangements for the coming solar eclipse fair had been completed. He said keeping in view the increase in traffic, the BSNL had succeeded in completing the construction of two new towers, which had started working from today. Another two towers had already been made operational about 10 days ago, Mr Setia added. He said the BSNL had given 20 mobile connections along with recharge coupons free of cost to the solar eclipse fair administration as a goodwill gesture.
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