 |
|
|
25,000 crore to augment water supply in state Haryana taking steps to meet power shortage
Site of nuclear power plant approved
Liquor cartel forcing retailers to close shops
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Children to get therapeutic treatment at riding school
Ajay Chautala fumes at Hooda govt
50 sawmills sealed in Loharu
Union feels sorry to Khandelwal
Milk Plant manager in Vigilance net over graft
|
|
25,000 crore to augment water supply in state
Hisar, June 23 This was stated by the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr Prem Prashant, after presiding over a quarterly review meeting of developmental works in the Hisar division here today. Financial Commissioners, Secretaries and other senior officials of various government departments, apart from Hisar Divisional Commissioner
R.R. Fuliya, Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar Gupta, IGP Yashpal Singal, SSP Arshinder Singh Chawla and SDM Amit Kumar Aggarwal were present on the occasion. On being asked about the power crisis prevailing in the state, the Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary, Power, Mr
R.N. Prasher, maintained that the recent snowfall in the upper reaches had hit the power generation by hydel units, causing the crisis situation. "Owing to the shortage of electricity across the country, we are forced to buy power from other states at high rates as a short-term measure," he said. Regarding the long-term measures adopted by the government in this regard, Mr Prasher said two units of the
Yamunanagar power plant would start generating electricity soon. He disclosed that a coal-based power-generation unit would also be set up in Hisar. The work on the unit would begin in September-October this year and it would become functional by 2009, he added. Mr Prashant said the state government had decided to hold regular division-level review meetings for monitoring the progress of various developmental projects. The purpose of the exercise was to get timely feedback from the district officials, he said, adding that several problems were resolved on the spot. He affirmed that a focused approach for tackling different matters would be adopted on the basis of priority areas listed by the Deputy Commissioners. The Chief Secretary asserted that prospective developmental plans were also being prepared with a view to addressing specific issues likely to crop up in future. A consultant had been appointed to aid the administrative authorities in this regard. |
|
|
Haryana taking steps to meet power shortage
Panchkula, June 23 There has been a daily shortfall in Haryana's share of 30 lakh units in the Bhakra Beas Management Board, 23 lakh units in SJVN (NHPC), 26 lakh units in Nathpa Jhakri Project and 8 lakh units in Mullana Project, claimed Mr Sharma The Minister said that the power crises was not only in Haryana, but other northern states as well. The state was committed to more power generation to ensure that the public did not face any inconvenience. Steps were being taken to mitigate the power shortage and the Centre had already approved a nuclear power generation site in Fatehabad. Apart from this, steps were being taken to purchase additional power from other states, the minister claimed. The government has also been taking steps to ensure better power supply to the farmers in view of the forthcoming sowing season. The power situation had comparatively improved this year, he claimed. Mr Sharma was here in the city for holding the third meeting of industrialists from all over the state. He also gave a patient hearing to the grievances relating to C-forms of certain industrialists and assured them a speedy redressal. While interacting with The Tribune, Mr Sharma claimed that the industrialists had been enjoying a sense of freedom and feeling satisfied with the policies of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government unlike in the previous Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) regime. Turning down the claims of the Opposition parties that owing to the tax concessions allowed to the SEZ the State Government was not going to earn any revenue with the setting up of Taon-Jhajjar, for which agreement between HSIDC and the Reliance Industries Limited had been signed, Mr Sharma said that the project would bear fruits in the long run. |
|
|
Site of nuclear power plant approved
Chandigarh, June 23 Mr
Sharma, who was talking to newsmen after presiding over the third meeting of the state-level Advisory Committee constituted by the state government to meet traders periodically so as to redress their grievances, at
Panchkula, said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had, during his visit to
Panipat, given an assurance to consider the state’s request for the setting up of this power plant. The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had, while drawing the attention of the Prime Minister to the shortage of power in the state, informed him in Panipat that the Nuclear Power Corporation had already identified the site for an atomic power plant at Kumharia in Fatehabad district and the state government would supply adequate quantity of water for the project. In reply to another question, Mr Sharma said the state government was prepared to get power from any available source so that the farmers did not suffer for want of adequate power. He said the position of power supply was better as compared to that of last year and hoped that it would continue to improve. When asked to comment on reports that those owing allegiance to the Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhajan Lal, had been overlooked while reconstituting the organisational set-up of the party, Mr Sharma
asserted that there was no factionalism in the Congress. Mr Sharma said at today’s meeting of the committee some issues were discussed and these would be conveyed to the Chief Minister. He said one of the issues related to the short supply of the C form. The government would take steps to ensure availability of C form in adequate numbers. In reply to a question, he said as a result of the effective steps taken by the state government in the past 16 months for the benefit of traders, they had been feeling contended. When asked to comment on the rise in the prices of certain commodities, he said the Central Government had already taken some measures. If required, the state government would also take steps. He said the state Cabinet had recently decided not to charge VAT on the recent hike in the prices of petrol and diesel. |
|
|
Liquor cartel forcing retailers to close shops
Rohtak, June 23 The cartel is playing a simple but dangerous game which threatens to make small traders bankrupt through sheer competition. Inquiries reveal that the cartel still controls most of the L1 (wholesale) liquor market and has also managed to corner adequate number of L2 (retail) outlets all over Haryana. Having done that, the cartel ensured that their L2 outlets sold liquor both Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country (desi) liquor at prices which those who own only L2 outlets cannot afford to maintain for long. The advantage to L1 sellers is that they earn their profits at the wholesale stage and can afford to forego their profits in L2 vends for the next few months. But the retailers who own just L2 vends are dependant on profits from retailing only which are hard to come by because of unfair competition by the cartel owned retailers. So far they have been trying to cope up with the competition but many are beginning to realise that they cannot survive for long unless they push up prices or resort to underhand means like adulteration. The other option available to them is to use their one-time procurement permits twice or thrice. The permits are reused with the help of L1 vendors. This is how it happens. For instance, the wholesalers procure two truckloads of liquor from the distillery on a permit for one truckload with the connivance of the distilleries and the Excise officials. According to sources, the additional stock procured illegally attracts no excise which benefits the L1 vendor as well as the distillery up to this stage. The L1 vendors then pass off this stock to L2 vendors at rates much lower than the legal rates. The L2 vendors sell this stock over and above their limit for the year. The state loses revenue on this kind of sale since this stock is over and above the limit for which the L2 vendor has paid the excise revenue to the State. The position of country liquor L2 vendors is more precarious. Each bottle of desi liquor costs them Rs 65 after including handling and establishment costs. They have to sell it for Rs 60 to Rs 70 which means they earn practically nothing. The only option left to them is to adulterate the stuff to earn some money. So far, not many cases of adulteration have come to light but if the situation continues, this will be the only option left for them. Enquiries reveal that already many sellers have closed shops despite attracting legal action by way of re-allotment of the vend and recovery of revenue losses the state might incur in the process. Sources said more closures were expected in the months to come. The newcomers in the L2 trade are generally jobless youths who have invested their families’ lifetime savings in the business. They are in no position to incur losses and they would go bankrupt if the situation continues like this. The only beneficiary next year will be the cartel because the state will be forced to revert to the old system in the absence of any applicants for L2 vends. |
|
Children to get therapeutic treatment at riding school
Ambala, June 23 The project, which is perhaps first of its kind in North India, has evoked positive response from the mentally challenged children and the results are encouraging. The moment a mentally challenged child sits on the horse, the child is practically transformed. The happiness and confidence in the mentally challenged child, who is riding the horse, is apparent. General Officer Commanding, Kharga Corps, Lt General KDS Shekhawat, who initiated the unique project, said that the objective is to help the mentally challenged children to transform themselves through horse riding. “Horse riding has excellent therapeutic value and the result of our effort has been very encouraging,” he said. General Shekhawat, who is himself an accomplished rider, said that the mentally challenged children of Asha school in Ambala cantonment are gaining from the project. “It is clear that the horses understand the special needs of these special children. When a special child is on horseback, the horses behave gently,” he said. He stated that the mentally challenged children are not only enjoying horse riding, it is also making a positive impact on their physical and behavioural pattern. “Horse riding provides intrinsic physiotherapy which helps the children in improving their motor functions. Therapeutic riding benefits include physical benefits, psychological benefits and social benefits,” he said. General Shekhawat said that when riding a horse, riders are given the opportunity to feel the freedom and power through movement. “As the horse walks, the movement is transferred to the rider, providing a combination of sensory, motor and neurological stimulation. Very few ventures of this kind are available in India and Kharga Corps has taken a lead in this regard,” he said. The General said that for the purpose of therapeutic treatment, a two-horse drawn buggy has also been prepared. The buggy gives an exposure to the children through carriage driving. “Once a child rides in the horse buggy, the child becomes open to the idea of coming in direct contact of the horse. The buggy also helps in making the child feel special,” he said. Not only is the Kharga riding school providing therapeutic treatment to mentally challenged children, the riding school is also being utilised for experienced riders. Col NS Rajpurohit, who is an international rider, is the secretary of Kharga riding school. Col Rajpurohit had won bronze medal in tent pegging in Chandigarh Horse Show in May, 2006. His son, Anant Rajpurohit, who is studying in Army School Ambala Cantt, represented India in Bogota, Colombia and won silver medal in show jumping category in 2005. Anant Rajpurohit is the national junior champion in show jumping. Vikram, son of Lt Col HP Singh, won a bronze medal at Chandigarh while five-year-old Kanishka Chakraborty, son of Major R Chakraborty, is a promising young rider. Work to develop the Kharga riding school began about a year back. Now, there are modern facilities in the
equestrian complex. The facilities include fixed jumping lane, dressage arena and a show jumping and tent pegging arena of international standards. |
|
|
Ajay Chautala fumes at Hooda govt
Ambala, June 23 Mr Ajay Chautala said the Hooda government was working against the interest of the farmers. He said the government should have spared a thought for the poor farmers whose land was acquired. Mr Chautala said the current power crisis was the result of mismanagement by the Congress government. He added that the Hooda government was not able to meet the power requirement which was causing losses to the industry and a lot of inconvenience to the common people. He said the Hooda government had failed to keep the promises which it had made during the election time, adding that the law and order condition had deteriorated ever since Congress came to power in Haryana. He said every day there were reports of murder and dacoity in various parts of the state. Mr Chautala said the promise for SYL had also not been kept by the government, adding that the SYL issue was hanging fire even though there was the Congress government in Haryana, Punjab and the Centre. He said the CBI case against the Chautala family had been done to build pressure against them. He said the INLD workers in the state were being victimised and they were planning to start agitation on the matter. Mr Ajay Chautala alleged that Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda was proving to be a weak Chief Minister. He said the post of Yamuna Nagar Deputy Commissioner had been lying vacant for the last three months which showed that Mr Hooda was not in control of the administrative machinery. |
|
50 sawmills sealed in Loharu
Bhiwani, June 23 Range Officer Kamal Singh said that the Supreme Court had directed in a decision to close down all the wood-based industries set up after October 30, 2002, following which the Forest Department had served notices to sawmill owners to close down their establishments. According a report, about 200 sawmills are under operation in this district. The Forest Department has started preparing a list of such running sawmills and asked their owners to submit copies of valid licences and electricity and water bills.
— OC |
|
|
Union feels sorry to Khandelwal
Chandigarh, June 23 In a joint statement issued here, the president and the general secretary of the sangh, Mr Jarnail Singh Sangwan and Mr Wazir Singh, respectively, said the sangh had nothing to do with the letter and some mischievous person had misused the name of the sangh. They said the sangh kept itself confined to highlight the grievances of the teaching community and did not believe in personal character assassination. The entire teaching community of the state had been hurt by the misdeed of one person. “This was the handiwork of a mentally-ill person,” they added. The statement said though no teacher was involved in it, the teaching community had to tender an apology because its name had been misused. |
|
|
Milk Plant manager in Vigilance net over graft
Ambala, June 23 According to information, the Milk Plant had invited tenders for the vehicles to be used for collecting milk. Rajbir, a resident of Dubli village had also applied for it. Rajbir filed a complaint with the DIG, Vigilance, Ambala range, Mr M. S. Ahlawat that Mr Goel had been demanding a sum of Rs 5,000 from him for issuing tender in his favour. The DIG constituted a raiding party under the supervision of Inspectors Ved Prakash and Suresh Kaushik. Today, when Rajbir was handing over the amount to the manager, the raiding party nabbed him red handed. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the Manager. During the past one month, the bureau has nabbed three government officials, including a Nayab Tehsildar for taking bribe. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
