Assembly Byelections
Parties out to woo non-Jat voters
Rohtak, April 3
Going by the recent political developments in Haryana, it seems that all political parties are out to woo non-Jat voters, who form a major chunk of electorate in the state. The declaration of byelections in three assembly constituencies has further stepped up the momentum.

Sonepat level crossing bane of commuters
Demand for overbridge goes unheard
Sonepat, April 3
The level crossing on the Gohana road in Sonepat, which divides the town in two parts, has been the bane of vehicle drivers as it remained closed for most part of the day.

The level crossing on the Gohana road in Sonepat, which remains closed for most part of the day leading to traffic jams. — A Tribune photograph

Man’s body donated for research
Fatehabad, April 3
In the first case of its kind in the history of the Maharaja Aggarsen Institute of Medical Sciences, Agroha, the institute received a body donated by the person himself.

80 pc of rickshaws ply illegally
Rules obsolete and difficult to implement, say officials
Hisar, April 3
More than 80 per cent of the one lakh-odd cycle rickshaws in Haryana are plying illegally and not even one of these fulfils the requirements prescribed in municipal bylaws in force. Officials, however, say these rules are obsolete and it is impossible to implement them. The three-wheeled cycle rickshaws are one of the oldest means of local transport in the urban areas for decades. Over the years, the horse-pulled tongas, which were the rickshaw's closest competitors, vanished from the roads.

ATMA helps farmers realise dreams
Chandigarh, April 3
The progressive farmers of Haryana have proved that growing crop is still a highly profitable venture. Besides their hard work, the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), an integrated approach to address the issues that confront the farmers, has made them realise their dreams.

Drive against polythene
Karnal students to be honoured
Karnal, April 3
Now, students of Karnal will be honoured for actively participating in the anti-polythene drive initiated by the district administration for more than one and a half years back. Deputy commissioner B.S. Malik, who is the motivating force behind this cleanliness drive in the state, says principals of various schools will be asked to give names of the students participating in the social campaigns.
Deputy commissioner B.S. Malik takes part in a cleanliness drive in a village near Karnal. — Tribune photo by Ravi Kumar

Ambala grain market to have new address
Ambala, April 3
The grain market of Ambala Cantt will finally have a new address. The state government has allotted 33 acres in Bohawa village on the GT Road for establishing new grain market.

Traffic mess in Ambala City
Ambala, April 3
The chaotic traffic scene in Ambala City has been a cause of worry for local residents as well as for the passersby crossing through the Ambala-Hisar road. The administration has half-heartedly made several attempts to check this nuisance, but failed miserably in all its attempts.


Traffic bottlenecks are a common sight in Ambala City. — Photo by writer

SMOKING HIS CHILDHOOD AWAY: A minor smokes at the Sir Chhotu Ram Park in Karnal. — Tribune photo by Ravi Kumar

Inside Babudom
IAS officer's tale of woe
Chandigarh, April 3
Anil Kumar, a Haryana cadre IAS of the 1988 batch, positively looks sadder now than before when he had taken on the then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Free plots: Scheme may miss deadline
Jind, April 3
Utter confusion seems to rule the allotment of free residential plots to the poor in the district, thanks to the controversy and the delay in finalisation in the list of BPL beneficiaries in the state.

Villagers join hands to protest non-development
Yamunanagar, April 3
Residents of Chhachhrouli block held a mahapanchayat in Deodhar village in which a large number of villagers took part. An important aspect of the panchayat was that political leaders from all major political parties were present in the meeting and they all pledged their support and efforts towards the motive behind the panchayat i.e. the Buria-Khadri-Deodhar road on which there are thousands of pot holes, some more than 2 ft deep.
BSP leader Arjun Singh addresses a mahapanchayat to discuss the Buria-Khadri-Deodhar road that requires repairs. — A Tribune photograph

Citizens’ Grievances
Pro-VCs or 'anti-VCs'
The latest move of the state government of reviving the post of pro vice-chancellor in the state's four universities, Kurukshetra, Rohtak, Sirsa and Khanpur Kalan, is unwarranted and unwanted. The rationale behind the move is the increasing workload of VCs. However, the move may prove to be counter productive because of the fact that often pro-VCs tend to act as anti-VCs resulting in the creation of two parallel power centres, making the academic platform a political arena.