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State high court in UT cleared, says CM
Ruckus in House over Reliance deal
Thousands throng HAU farm fair
Plan to shift Hill Road vendors to dhobi ghat area
Damaged water pipes
led to jaundice outbreak: minister
Forum for redress of grievances set up
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Customer care centre
set up
Students canecharged at bus stand
Scam: one arrested
Congress names office-bearers
Mandal to build temple
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State high court in UT cleared, says CM
Chandigarh, September 19 The Union Minister of Law and Justice, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj, has assured the Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, that his ministry will soon accord approval for this. The Chief Minister today claimed that a separate High Court had been approved in principle. “The state government wrote to the Union Minister of Law and Justice expressing its desire to set up the Haryana High Court in Chandigarh. This has now been approved in principle and we will receive a formal approval soon”, Chief Minister Hooda told reporters in an informal interaction at the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Separate High Courts for Punjab and Haryana will go a long way in reducing the number of pending cases and speeding up justice. The move comes at a time when the Union Law Ministry has announced that it will spend Rs 1,000 crore to strengthen the infrastructure of courts in the country. Mr Bhardwaj’s announcement includes the setting up of 6,000 rural mobile courts and the appointment of nearly 150 judges in various High Courts of the country. The present Haryana Assembly had in an earlier session passed a resolution seeking a separate High Court for the state. However, at that time the Union Law Ministry had suggested that the High Court for Haryana should be set up at a place other than Chandigarh. Describing law and order in the state as ‘normal’, Mr Hooda said that the Union Government had responded to the state’s demand for sanctioning the setting up of five India Reserve Battalions by approving one and assuring the approval of yet another in the immediate future. Additional force would help meet the increased demand for security personnel in the National Capital Region. Though the state did not face any terrorist threat some Maoist literature found at isolated places in the state had led the state police to increase its vigilance. In the Narwana region of Haryana, the intelligence agencies had recovered some literature. Following terrorist incidents in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, security had been beefed up in and around malls, power stations, railways stations and public places as a preventive measure. He said the Haryana Government had written to the Union Government to issue identity cards and work permits to Bangladeshi nationals in the Faridabad and Gurgaon areas so that these foreign nationals could not mingle with the local populace and eventually get ration and voter identity cards made as Indian nationals. But he was yet to receive a reply from the centre in this regard. On October 7, Mr Hooda is leaving on a five-nation tour of Holland, Germany, France, England and Spain to promote the state as a business opportunity. During his term as Chief Minister the state, he said, had received foreign direct investment of Rs 10,500 crore and several new proposals were waiting to be cleared. |
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Ruckus in House over Reliance deal
Chandigarh, September 19 Despite repeated requests by Dr Kadian, they refused to leave the well of the House and continued raising slogans, demanding a debate on the state government's deal with the Reliance Industries to set up a special economic zone
(SEZ). The trouble started shortly before the question hour was to conclude. The Deputy Leader of the INLD Legislature Party, Dr Sushil Indora, wanted to ask a supplementary on a question on the
SEZ. When he was prevented from speaking by an MLA, INLD MLAs staged a walkout. After they returned to the House, they again wanted to raise the issue of the SEZ. Despite an assurance from Dr Kadian, who was keeping his cool though he has a reputation of being harsh, that they would get an opportunity to discuss the issue, the INLD members trooped into the well. Dr Kadian adjourned the House. When the House reassembled, the plea of the INLD members for a short discussion on the issue was accepted. However, their attack lacked focus. Dr Indora's opposition to the deal was based primarily on two points — why only Reliance was picked as a partner of the Haryana State Industries and Infrastructure Development Corporation and farmers were not paid adequate compensation. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Randeep Surjewala, pointed out to the INLD members that the land for the SEZ was acquired under their government, which had fixed highly inadequate compensation. The Hooda government raised the compensation to an average of over Rs 21 lakh per acre. He said when the land for the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway was acquired by the Chautala government, the compensation to farmers was estimated to be Rs 160 crore. But by fixing the minimum floor rates, the present government raised the compensation to Rs 650 crore. He justified the deal on the ground that it would bring huge investment to the state and provide jobs to at least 5 lakh persons, of which at least 25 per cent would belong to the state. The INLD members again walked into the well of the House when Mr Anand Singh Dangi, Congress MLA from Meham, rose to speak after the Speaker read out a letter from the INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to seek leave on medical grounds. Mr Dangi, who could speak only after several minutes, said the leave should not be granted because Mr Chautala was suffering from "political illness" as he could not face the House, in which the INLD leader had declared that he would remain the Chief Minister till his death. The Speaker, however, granted the leave. During the discussion on supplementary demands, Dr Kadian named Independent MLA Naresh Yadav when he refused to stop speaking despite repeated warnings from the chair. Mr Yadav was forcibly removed from the House by a marshal. |
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Thousands throng HAU farm fair
Hisar, September 19 The farmers were taken in groups to the university research farm, where they were shown the bumper kharif crops. In accordance with this year’s theme, “Sustaining wheat productivity”, the university scientists explained the technologies to be applied in wheat crop cultivation to the farmers. Demonstrations were given on techniques of technology application. The farmers evinced keen interest in the new technologies generated by the scientists. The HAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.C. Katyal, inaugurated the fair. Addressing the farmers on this occasion, Dr Katyal observed that agriculture was passing through a critical phase today. He appealed to the farmers to enhance wheat production by applying the new technologies. Expressing concern over declining wheat production, Dr Katyal said due to global warming, even timely application of useful technologies was not yielding the desired results. Referring to a survey, the Vice-Chancellor pointed out that at present, 40 per cent of farmers were ready to quit farming for some other profession. Dr Katyal advised the farmers not to be desperate as there was still good scope for enhancing wheat production. For this, he said the farmers would have to quit the rice-wheat cropping pattern and abide by the recommendations and guidance of the scientists. Dr Katyal impressed upon the farmers to sow wheat crop in time with improved seeds of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties. Adoption of zero tillage and balanced use of fertilisers were the other crucial techniques, he added. The Vice-Chancellor also flagged off a zero-tillage campaign launched by the Directorate of Extension Education of the university. |
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Plan to shift Hill Road vendors to dhobi ghat area
Ambala, September 19 Although an earlier effort had come to naught due to the unwillingness of the vendors to move away from the Hill Road, this time council officials were confident that their efforts would bear fruit. The officials are now offering area near the dhobi ghat, close to the Indra Park, for the rehris. The area does not fall in the midst of residential or commercial establishments and it will not lead to traffic bottlenecks. The EO of the Municipal Council Ambala Sadar, Mr K.K. Jain said the survey of rehris had already been started so that the exact number of rehris was known. “The survey, which was started yesterday, will enable us to judiciously proceed further,” he said. He said the area near the dhobi ghat would have the capacity to accommodate 225-250 rehris. “We are also going to provide 16 feet wide roads so that there is better accessibility to the location,” he said. Mr Jain made it clear that only one rehri per person would be allowed at the new site. “There are some persons who have more than one rehri but they too will be allowed only one rehri. We want to ensure that most rehris are accommodated at the new site. We would also be cross-checking their licences before allocating the site,” he said. While the residents of the Hill Road are again hopeful that their road will become clean and free from traffic bottlenecks once the rehris are shifted out, the local environmentalists are not happy with the new plan of the council. The members of the Green Circle observed that the rehris owners would now dump their unsold vegetables on the adjoining park premises and it would spoil atmosphere. They stated that they had been relentlessly working towards improving the condition of the Indra Park but their efforts would come to a naught if the rehris were allotted site
near the park.
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Damaged water pipes
led to jaundice
Chandigarh, September 19 In a written statement to a call attention notice given by Congress MLA K.L. Sharma, the minister revealed that five serious jaundice patients were referred to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, by the Shahbad Community Health Centre (CHC). While four died of the disease, the fifth patient died of alcoholic cirrhosis. The minister said out of 58 water samples collected by the Public Health Department from the affected areas of Committee Bazar, Bank Bazar and Majri Mohalla of the town, 23 samples were found unfit for consumption. She added that as many as 85 points of water leakages identified in the water distribution system were rectified. More than one lakh Halogen tablets had been distributed to the households in Shahbad, she said, adding that a team of experts from the School of Public Health, Department of Community Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, had been requested to help the Shahbad administration in the investigation of the disease. The minister said a total of 165 jaundice cases had been reported so far in the town out of which 78 patients recovered, 82 patients were still under treatment while five patients died. She added that a house-to-house survey to find out jaundice cases had been started in the town. |
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Forum for redress of grievances set up
Chandigarh, September 19 An official spokesman said here yesterday the forum would entertain complaints received after exhausting official complaints handling procedures. He clarified that before lodging the complaint with the forum, the applicant would have to submit the application before the SDO concerned. If the grievance was not redressed within seven days of the submission of application, the applicant could approach the executive engineer concerned. In case, these offices failed to redress the grievance, the applicant would be able to present his case before the forum. He said the applicants could submit their complaints in the prescribed form without any application fee. The nigam had already circulated the application forms to all SDOs and other senior officers. The forms would also be available on the official website of the nigam, www.uhbvn.com. The complainants could also lodge their complaints through email directly to the Forum at the official email address of the forum, uhbvn_forum2006@yahoo.com. However, the complainant would have to send hard copy of his complaint to the forum within seven days of filing his application through e-mail. He said the grievances relating to wrong billing, incorrect meter reading, delay in release of connections, deficiency in service etc. would be redressed by the forum within 90 days. However, the grievances relating to unauthorised use of electricity, theft cases and accidents would not be entertained. The forum had started functioning from its office at SCO No. 94, First Floor, Sector 5, Panchkula. The nigam has appointed Mr S.C. Vij, Mr Balbir Singh Dhull and Mr Kulbir Singh as Chairperson and members, respectively.
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Customer care centre
set up
Chandigarh, September 19 An official spokesman said here yesterday that initially the centre would work for urban areas only. It would cover the rural consumers in the second phase. The centre would provide all types of services like registration and redressal of supply-related complaints and all complaints relating to billing, metering, overcharging, new connection, change of name, disconnection, extension or reduction of load and enforcement. Specific time will be given to consumers for redressal of each type of complaint and they would be able to enquire about the status of their complaint or work. The centre will work for seven days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays, it will remain open from 9 am to 1 pm. However, for complaints relating to power supply it will function round the clock on all seven days. |
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Students canecharged at bus stand
Yamunanagar, September 19 At around 9 a.m, Rahul of Jagadhri purchased a ticket for Delhi of a Haryana roadways bus but he did not board it as it was “too crowded”. Later, the conductor changed the ticket for another bus and allotted a seat to him. However, someone else was sitting on that seat. At this, Rahul demanded back the money. An altercation took place between Rahul and the bus driver and conductor. At this point the driver and the conductor allegedly slapped Rahul. |
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Scam: one arrested
Kaithal, September 19 The case under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC was registered when the police during the investigation of a scam by private telecom companies came to know that a large number of Sim cards had been issued in the name of a few persons by forging identification documents. The official was produced in a local court which sent him to 14 days' judicial custody. |
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Congress names office-bearers
Ambala, September 19 Mr Narinder Pal Singh Shera was made president while Ms Sudershana Dua, Mr Jaipal Singh Rana, Mr Vijay Sharma and Mr Brij Lal Sachdeva were vice-presidents. Mr R.N. Samrat was made general secretary-cum-spokesperson while Mr Suresh Trehan and Mr Satish Dhiman were general secretaries. Mr Ratan Lal was made treasurer while Mr Ramesh Markan, Ms Sarita Sharma, Mr Sudhir Jaiswal, Mr Rajiv Sud, Mr Shyam Manchanda, Mr Shiv Om Gautam, Mr Mahesh Verma and Mr Ashwini Gupta were secretaries. |
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Mandal to build temple
Yamunanagar, September 19 In a bid to resolve the controversy, the village panchayat had offered the keys of the temple to women’s organisations, but they refused it. |
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Drive against illegal use of red light on vehicles
Ambala, September 19
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