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MPs, MLAs hit jackpot
Govt moves to meet power shortage
Cabinet for quality education
VAT on certain items slashed
Expired drugs found dumped
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Flyover opening now on July 16
Mystery disease continues to threaten lives
Lovers commit suicide
Punam’s mother Soraj mourns the death of her daughter in Sangoi village in Karnal on Monday. —Tribune photo by Ravi Kumar
Less water, effluents plague Ghaggar
Student suffers due to board’s negligence
Work allotment to MDU VC’s son
Hearing adjourned in kidney case
Murdered trader’s kin to get Rs 1 lakh
Group clash leaves 2 dead
Teacher yet to be booked
Notice of motion issued
Nod to potable water project
Discretionary grants to be raised
Undertrial flees from police custody
3 die as truck runs over them
1 shot dead
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MPs, MLAs hit jackpot
Chandigarh, July 14 The state cabinet today approved framing of a policy to allot land to MLAs and MPs for the construction of houses or flats at Panchkula and Gurgaon. The cabinet unanimously passed this item without so much as uttering a single word. Sources said it had been decided to give a 14-marla plot in much-in-demand Panchkula while a flat each will be given to them in the coveted Gurgaon, being showcased as Haryana’s show window. There is, however, an exception to this rule. All MLAs and MPs who are already members of group housing societies formed for MPs and MLAs and allotted land by the draw of lots are not eligible under this new policy drafted by the government. Here, too, the government, given its magnanimity, has a solution for those ineligible. According to the policy, all MPs and MLAs, who are members of societies that have been given land, can surrender their membership to become eligible for plots and flats under this new policy. The sources said with this one decision, the government has “endeared” itself to all its rivals as well since there was growing pressure on the Chief Minister from all MPs and MLAs for the allotment of land for residential purposes. Ever since the draw for the group housing scheme was held and one society each got a plot, members of the remaining societies were bitter about being left out. There was a constant demand for finding out a way to “secure” land even as prices were soaring. There was also a proposal to dissolve the societies which had been allotted land. This was turned down and the elected representatives were asked to suggest another manner. With this policy, all MPs and MLAs will get land at the rates decided by HUDA which are likely to be the reserve price it usually sets for its plots and are very low compared to the market prices of the same plot. The government justified its decision for the allotment of land on the grounds that a request in this regard had been received from the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha since MPs and MLAs faced difficulties of non-availability of proper accommodation for them in Chandigarh during the session days as well as on the days of meetings. Similarly, they also faced problems of non-availability of suitable accommodation in Delhi and Gurgaon, which they had to visit frequently.
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Govt moves to meet power shortage
Chandigarh, July 14 Announcing this after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the finalisation of the tariff for specific power generation plants located in Orissa and Gujarat was taken through the process of transparent competitive bidding. The entire process, including the request for qualification (RFQ) and the request for proposal (RFP) documents were duly approved by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), as envisaged under the Guidelines for Procurement of Power, 2005, and the National Tariff Policy, 2006, of the Government of India. The Chief Minister said the levelised tariff for the lowest bidders was comparable to the best rates contracted by the other states in India. He announced that the thermal plants being established at Dhenkanal (Orissa), Kamalanga (Orissa) and Mundra (Gujarat) by Lanco, GMR (through PTC) and Adani would supply power to Haryana for a period of 25 years, beginning 2012 at a levelised tariff ranging from Rs 2.355 to Rs 2.940 per unit. He added that the process could offer 113 MW of additional power as well, subject to the approval of HERC. |
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Cabinet for quality education
Chandigarh, July 14 Amendment to service rules
The Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Education Department to amend the service rules of teaching categories by introducing a School Teachers Eligibility Test (STET). The Cabinet decided to amend the rules for introduction of the STET to improve quality of education in the state. With the STET, only best quality teachers will be recruited in the Haryana government schools. Posts of SMO
The Cabinet has given its approval for taking out 23 posts of senior medical officers (SMOs) HCMS-I of the Health Department out of the purview of the Haryana Public Service Commission. The Cabinet has also approved the amendment of the Haryana Health Department non-medical, Laboratory (group-B), the State Service Rules, 1998, and the Laboratory Technician (Group C) Service Rules, 1998. Framing of the service rules of the Group D employees of the Haryana Election Commission has also been approved by the Cabinet. Aid to dependants of deceased
The Cabinet had decided to grant with retrospective effect the assistance to the dependants of the deceased Group A and B government employees on compassionate grounds under the Rule 2006, as enshrined under the Article 309 of the Constitution of India. An official spokesman said this decision had been taken with the object of assisting the family of the deceased and the missing employees of Group A and B category. Board for smooth conducting of STET The Board of School Education, Haryana, is making all efforts for smoothly conducting the School Teachers Eligibility Test (STET), which will commence from July 27. Commissioner and secretary (Education and Languages)-cum-board chairman Rajan Gupta has directed all deputy commissioners and SPs of the state to make adequate arrangements to eliminate any possibility of malpractices during these tests. Transfer of land
The Cabinet gave its ex post facto approval to the transfer of land measuring 42 acre, 2 kanal and 6 marla belonging to the agriculture farm, Samargopalpur, in Rohtak district to the Forest Department for the extension of Herbal Garden. The land has been transferred for a period of 99 years lease at a token amount of Re 1 per acre per annum to be paid by the Forest Department. Revision of land revenue rules
The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department to amend Punjab Land Revenue Rules, 1909 framed under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887. The rules have been amended on the recommendation of the Subordinate Legislation Committee of the Vidhan Sabha with a view to updating the rules to bring them in conformity with the changed requirements of the time. The obsolete portions have been deleted. Annual reports
The Cabinet reviewed and approved annual administrative reports of the Higher Education Department for the year 2005-06, the Agriculture Department for the year 2005-06, the Food and Supplies Department for the year 2006-07 and the Horticulture Department for the year 2006-07. |
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VAT on certain items slashed
Chandigarh, July 14 It was decided to exempt “coarse maize bran chhilka” from tax. Also, now wooden crates, lith film and 19 chemicals and hardware inputs would be taxed at a reduced rate of 4 per cent. These chemicals are used as industrial inputs.
The cabinet also gave its approval to amend Schedule B and C of the Haryana VAT Act, 2003, to implement the tax relief proposed in the Budget speech of the Haryana finance minister for 2008-09. The finance minister had proposed to reduce tax on chokes of T-5, 28 W energy-efficient electronic tubelights with electronic ballast from 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent. Similarly, the finance minister had announced to abolish 12.5 per cent tax on sanitary, napkins and diapers. Also, now toys, excluding battery-operated electric and electronic toys, would be exempted from tax. This decision would benefit the trade, industry and consumers to the tune of about Rs.5 crore. The cabinet also gave its approval to amend Rule 25 of the Haryana VAT Rules to give exemption from VAT on sales made by various dealers of Haryana to diplomatic missions or embassies in India. The cabinet also gave its ex-post facto approval to the Haryana Value Added Tax Rules, 2003. |
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Expired drugs found dumped
Gurgaon, July 14 The district health authorities went into tizzy following a complaint by an NGO. Civil surgeon S.S. Dalal has marked an enquiry to a four member team headed by district immunisation officer B.K. Rajora. The team has started verifying the stock position and will submit its report in a week. Though the concerned senior medical officer, Sohna, and the staff had initially expressed ignorance about dumping of expired medicines on the hospital premises, sources said the matter was taken in all seriousness by the district health authorities after preliminary enquiries indicated substance in the complaint. The medicines were mainly antibiotics, which were allegedly dumped between 2003 and 2007. Allegedly, this happened despite mandatory provision of monthly and annual stock-taking and maintaining its record in the hospital register. Whether this was done or not was an important point in the enquiry, added sources. Interestingly, the hospital pharmacist during the period has since been retired. Deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta said the medicines were being segregated and an inventory would be prepared thereafter to ascertain whether all medicines were expired or not. |
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Mystery disease continues to threaten lives
Dera Halwana (Karnal), July 14 One of the two boys who had been referred to Rohtak on Saturday, died yesterday. The deceased had been identified as 17-year-old Jugraj Singh. Mohinder Kumar, a resident of the affected village, lost his new-born child to the disease. Till this evening, 25 more persons were taken to the trauma care centre at the district
headquarters. Residents of the village continued to throng the temporary dispensary set up here to get treatment. Sources in the Health Department said as the department was falling short of resources to deal with the situation, many referred to the trauma care centre were being discharged soon after given some medication. Though it was believed that the disease outbreak had been caused due to unhygienic conditions prevalent in the village, the district administration was yet to send sanitation teams to the village till late this evening. Senior officials of the district administration told The Tribune that they had written to the state government to allocate funds for undertaking cleanliness drive in the village. Meanwhile, some NGOs came forward and organised community kitchen (langar) in the village to provide food and clear drinking water to the affected people. Activists of these organisations also initiated a cleanliness drive in the village as an effort to prevent further spread of the disease. It was learnt that about 20 blood samples collected from the infected persons had been sent to different labs at New Delhi. Health officials said only after the reports came in, they would be able to ascertain whether the disease is chickenpox of some kind or other viral infection. |
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Lovers commit suicide
Karnal, July 14 It is learnt that Joginder and Punam were having a “secret affair” and hoped to get married once the girl became a major. However, Joginder’s family fixed his marriage for July 18, following which they decided to end their lives. The two were immediate neighbours and belonged to different sects. The two left their houses late last night without letting anybody know about their intention and went to the railway track near the village and jumped before
a train. Jasbir Singh, sarpanch of the village, said Joginder never spoke to anyone about his relationship with the girl. He said after the girl’s parents found her missing in the morning, a number of the villagers formed groups to search for her. In the meantime, the railway police recovered the bodies and the SIM, using which it managed to inform the family members of the boy. The bodies were later shifted to the mortuary of the local Civil Hospital for post-mortem following which these were
handed over to their family members. The railway police has initiated legal proceedings in this regard. |
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Less water, effluents plague Ghaggar
Sirsa, July 14 Unscheduled long power cuts offering little time to farmers to irrigate land, an abysmally low water table and erratic flow of water in the Ghaggar are giving sleepless nights to tillers. Farmers with land along the river in the district are more concerned. A farmer of Khareka village, Baijnath, who cultivates nearly four acres located near the Ghaggar, says these days one notices From Mansa district of Punjab, the river enters Sirsa from Musahibwala village and after passing through several villages like Burj Karamgarh, Nagokim Pharwai Khurd and Nejadela eventually crosses over to Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district. The Ghaggar originates in the Morni Hills and passes through Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Farmers complain that the river waters contain effluents which enter it in Kalka, Pinjore, Panchkula and Ambala. The pollution in it is caused by the discharge of untreated industrial waste and sewage from
Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Punjab. Another farmer, Joga Singh of Panihari village, however, is hopeful the rainwater, “enriched with manure-like qualities” will help improve crop yield. C.L. Ganda, superintending engineer, canal department, said seven canals received water from the Ghaggar. These were the north Ghaggar canal, the south Ghaggar canal, the Sherawal parallel channel, the Kasaba minor, the Manjala direct minor, the Ghaggar-Bani Sadewa Mamman Khera link channel and the Ghaggar Sukhchain link. Of these, the Mamman Khera link channel and the north and south Ghaggar canals were drawing water. He expressed the hope that within a couple of days, the remaining canals would start receiving water. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to deal with any untoward situation during the monsoon. It had set up offices across the district, which started functioning round the clock from July 1. They will remain active till September 30. Besides, flood-prone areas have been identified and divided into five equal zones. Trained professionals have been put on alert. Six flood-monitoring cells have been set up, including three at the district headquarters and one each at the Dabwali, Rania and Ellenabad subdivisions. The area had witnessed floods due to a swollen Ghaggar in 1988, 1993, 1995. |
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Student suffers due to board’s negligence
Fatehabad, July 14 A faux pas by the board authorities has shattered the career of Priyanka, a meritorious girl from Saniana village of this district. The girl, who once aspired to compete for competitive examinations for civil services and bank officer, is now a depressed lot. She has lost the confidence she earlier possessed. Priyanka, a student of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Saniana, appeared in second semester of the class XII examinations in March this year. In the results declared by the board, Priyanka was shown to have failed in English scoring 12 marks out of 90. The result came as a shock to her as well as school principal Gulab Singh as Priyanka was a brilliant student of the school and had passed the first semester with distinction. Going by her result in the first semester, the school authorities had given her nine out of 10 as the internal marks in the subject. Priyanka, who aspired to do BA with English Honours, failed to get admission in college of her choice at Hisar and had to settle in getting admission into a private coaching college. She applied for appearing in her supplementary examination for English by paying Rs 1,500 as compartment fees. Her family had to cough out another sum of Rs 1,000 for revaluation and a further sum of Rs 100 for rechecking. Priyanka received a letter from the board at the end of last month informing her that after revaluation her marks in English have been reduced from 67 to 55 but looking into her previous records, the board is not deducting her marks. The letter bearing reference number 6967-86 dated June 9 now in possession of The Tribune nonplussed Priyanka completely. She could not understand if she had scored 67 marks in English, why these were shown to be 12 in her result. But the board had still more surprises in store for her. When the result was finally declared by the board, Priyanka was shown to have scored neither 12 nor 67 or 55 marks but 72 marks. Though Priyanka has finally got the marks she deserved, but not before her dreams has been shattered. Principal Gulab Singh said the board due to its negligence had ruined the career of a promising girl. He said that the board must compensate her for what it had done to the girl.
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Work allotment to MDU VC’s son
Rohtak, July 14 In a press statement issued today, the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations said the exposure of the practices of the MDU vice-chancellor raises a vital question of ethical and accountable governance of the institutions of higher learning. The HFUCTO president, Dr O.P. Gahlawat, who is also the president of the Kurukshetra University Teachers Association, said Professor Hooda should exhibit a sense of propriety by disclosing the earnings of his son for services rendered at KU and MDU during his tenure as vice-chancellor at these universities. The teachers’ federation urged the state government to constitute a judicial probe into the grant of architectural contracts to his son Ramneek Hooda and include the viability of these projects, the purchase of construction material, dismantling and reconstruction, in the ambit of the probe. The vice-president of the organisation, Prof U.V. Singh, said the teaching community was experiencing a “sense of anger and frustration” at the baffling silence of the state government on the matter. Prof U.V.Singh advised Professor Hooda to remove his son from all construction-related projects of the university with immediate effect and step down from the post of vice-chancellor to save the prestige of the universities of the state.
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Hearing adjourned in kidney case
Ambala, July 14 The CBI has already filed a chargesheet in the case, a copy of which was supplied to the accused. The case will now come up in the court of the Special Judge of the CBI where arguments on framing charges against the accused will begin. The CBI has listed nine accused in its chargesheet. Besides Dr Amit and his brother Dr Jeevan, three anaesthetists - Dr Surj, Dr Upender and Dr K.K. Aggarwal - have also been made accused by the CBI. A nurse, Linda, who was employed in Dr Amit hospital in Gurgaon, is the lone women accused in the case. A lab assistant, two drivers and a kidney agent have also been named accused in the chargesheet. |
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Murdered trader’s kin to get Rs 1 lakh
Hisar, July 14 This information was given by deputy commissioner Deepti Umashankar during a meeting with Nyaya Sangharsh Samiti representatives, who called on her for the purpose here today. Deepti said the amount would be given under the Rajiv Gandhi Insurance Scheme. Besides, Rs 50,000 would be given to a friend of the deceased, Vijay Kumar, who was seriously injured while trying to save his friend from the assassins. She said the meat market near Telian Pul would be shifted from there and a proposal in this regard would be sent to the state government shortly. This market has
been closed since the murder took place. Meanwhile, SP Satish Balan said all seven accused had been arrested. He said the cases against some local residents who indulged in violence after the murder would not be withdrawn. |
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Group clash leaves 2 dead
Faridabad, July 14 After the attacking party fled from the scene, the other group “organised itself” and retaliated with an attack. In the counter-attack, another person, Khazan Singh, was injured, who succumbed to his injuries in the Badshah Khan hospital last night. The clash was a sequel to an incident in which Prem Pal’s brothers intervened and rescued one person who was allegedly being beaten up by relatives of Khazan Singh. This infuriated the family members of Khazan Singh who later attacked the family members of Prem Pal. The police has registered two FIRs on the basis of complaints from both sides. Fifteen persons have been named in the two FIRs. The police has arrested four family members of Khazan Singh. |
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Teacher yet to be booked
Sonepat, July 14 Even after receiving a complaint against the teacher from the girl's father, Ramesh of Om Nagar, the police has not yet registered a case against the teacher. In the complaint, Ramesh alleged that the teacher was pressurising his daughter for tuition. After being allegedly beaten up by the teacher, the girl was taken to the Civil Hospital for treatment and a complaint lodged in the Gohana road police post. |
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Nod to potable water project
Chandigarh, July 14 As many as 100 villages will be taken up Mewat, Mahendragarh, Jhajjar, Kaithal and other districts. A committee with the deputy commissioner or the additional deputy commissioner as the head, Naandi Foundation, and the panchayat representatives concerned as members will be formed to implement the project at the local level. |
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Discretionary grants to be raised
Chandigarh, July 14 The limit of discretionary grants of the Chief Minister has been raised from Rs 6 crore per annum to 10 crore, the Speaker from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore per annum, the Cabinet Minister from Rs.75 lakh per annum to 1 crore each, the Deputy Speaker from Rs 50 lakh per annum to 75 lakh and the state ministers from Rs 50 lakh to 75 lakh each.
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Undertrial flees from police custody
Sonepat, July 14 A case has been registered in the Sikka Colony police post against three police personnel - Ravinder, Ikbaal and Inder Jit - who were on duty in the Civil Hospital here where Ram Karan was admitted two days ago after he complained of chest pain to the local jail authorities. |
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3 die as truck runs over them
Faridabad, July 14 The deceased have been identified as Chandan, Sujeet and Chander Prakash. The one who has been critically injured has been identified as Neeraj. The driver of the truck, Javed, has been arrested. |
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1 shot dead
Panipat, July 14 He was shot at by three armed men, who were identified as Vikas, Jitender and another Vikas of Baroda village in Sonepat district. According to sources, Roki and the three had some property dispute. |
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Karnal, July 14
