|
|
|
|
State to give more power to panchayats
Yamunanagar, October 20 The commission's six-member panel is expected to submit its final report in Thereafter, necessary amendments to the present laws would be made within two months for empowering the PRIs and the local bodies. The six-member panel comprises Dr Avtar Singh, director, Haryana Institute of Public Administration; R.K Khular, municipal commissioner, Faridabad; Barjinder Singh, deputy commissioner, Faridabad; S.K Monga, director, Panchayat Haryana; Ranbir Singh, consultant, Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Nilokheri; and Sunder Lal, director of NGO Sakaria, Rewari. The panel has already submitted its draft report to the commission. Confirming the development, Prof Ranbir Singh, who was here recently to provide training to officials and members of PRIs, said the commission had taken up the matter seriously and asked the panel to submit detailed report recommending necessary changes required to made in the present Act to empower PRIs and the local bodies. He said the panchayati raj institutions in the state needed to be given more power. The zila parishads, at present, were only playing the role of advisory, monitoring body and lacked executives powers, he added. Besides, there was a need to clearly define the powers of gram panchayats and panchayat
samities. "The HIRD has been providing training and capacity building to officials and elected representatives of the PRIs under the Gram Swaraj Yojana so that they can perform their role and responsibilities in an effective and fruitful manner. We have also been making efforts to ensure participatory mode of development planning and implementation and decentralised mode of governance through proactive functioning of the
PRIs, including gram panchayats, as envisaged in 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments,"
he added. "As a part of training, several batches of 90 members each of PRIs will be send for a 10-day training to Gujarat, Maharastra, Kerala and Karnataka to get exposure of the empowered PRIs of these states," he further said. He added that the first batch of selected members would be send to Gujarat and Maharashtra and second to Karnataka ad Kerala this month.
|
|
Forensic unit spreads wings
Rohtak, October 20 The forensic science facility, which was available only at range level till a few months ago, now covers most districts of
Haryana. At present, mobile forensic science units, comprising a mobile van equipped with various spot-test kits are stationed at 15 district headquarters. The latest state-of-the-art equipment have recently also been provided for DNA-profiling and computerised forensic facilities in the existing stream during the recent months. “Till recently, the DNA-profiling technique, which is quite useful in solving cases of rape and issues concerning paternity, was available only at the central forensic science laboratory in Hyderabad,” says senior scientific officer Ravinder Pal, who is in charge of the forensic units of the Rohtak range comprising Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar districts. Pal says the spot-test kits like those for the detection of blood and semen, firearm residues and narcotic drugs etc play a crucial role in providing prompt scientific aid to the investigating agencies. “The sensitive kits can detect even minute exhibits from the scene of crime, which can otherwise be overlooked,” he adds. The inspector-general of police (Rohtak range), V.Kamaraja, had recently launched a campaign to induce scientific awareness among the police officials of the entire range. Underling the significance of scientific investigation, he observes that the adoption
of a scientific approach at the scene of crime proves quite helpful to the investigating agencies. “In view of the complex nature of crimes, coupled with issues like witnesses turning hostile and allegations of biased investigations, scientific investigation is the need of the day,” he asserts. The IGP reveals that scientific training sessions and workshops were being organised across the range to create awareness about the importance of scientific investigation among the police officials. Forensic to the fore
Scientific inputs help the investigators in solving a number of cases of crime. For instance, in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case, it was only the presence of forensic material like hair fibre and bloodstain found at the scene of crime, which helped in nailing down the culprits. In the Naina Sahni “tandoor” murder case, the charred remains of the victim’s body recovered from the spot of occurrence of crime helped in her identification by establishing her paternity.
|
|
Karan Lake loses out to flashy eateries
Karnal, October 20 With more and more food joints coming up in the periphery of the lake, the tourism department is finding it hard to compete with new players in spite of its soothing environs and fascinating beauty. A renovation-cum-beautification plan for the lake resort is on the anvil. Besides installation of a musical fountain to attract the tourists, a multipurpose commercial complex and an ultra-modern parking facility is coming up to give it a new look. The fall in clientage has forced the management to offer special packages for birthday and kitty parties on the pattern of private restaurants to increase business. “We have come up with special discount packages for special occasions”, says head of the resort Anil Bajaj. Admitting the challenges thrown by the private hoteliers, he said they had to match them in providing better services at competitive rates. He disclosed that the complex achieved sale target of Rs 16.30 lakh last month and succeeded in attracting groups like Kotak Mahindera, Reliance, Birla Sunlight, Maxlife and various other clubs to the resort besides managing a halt for Volvo and other tourist buses. Claiming that the hay days of 70’s and 80’s, when this resort had monopoly in the area, would return soon. Bajaj said the focus would be on customer-oriented services by catering to their taste. One thing that has remained unchanged is that it continues to be most sought after place for lovebirds for dating. It offers isolation, lakeside view, boating facility, sprawling lawns and gardens for leisure walk. Boating charges for half an hour are Rs 60 for two-seater and Rs 100 for four-seater, though there is special discount for senior citizens and children. Located at Uchana, 15 km from Karnal on NH-1, Karan Lake resort is flooded with tourists on the weekends. Facilities like A Motel for stay, Family huts, Restaurant, Bar, Conference Hall, Lake for boating, gift shop, dormitory and sprawling lawns are available at the resort which was once considered as a symbol of Highway Tourism. Karna Lake is beautifully landscaped with tourist facilities designed along the waterfront. The resort is still popular among highway travelers and the people of Karnal consider the lawns as an ideal place for picnics. The Karna Tal Park where the resort is located is believed to be the place where Karna, a legendary character of Mahabharata used to pray to the Sun God and proffer gold to his subjects after the bath. A temple of Goddess Kali, belonging to the same era, is also situated near the Karan
Tal.
|
|
First turmeric processing plant in Radaur
Yamunanagar, October 20 The decision to set up the plant has been taken to motivate the farmers for diversification and provide them proper platform to sell their produce at fixed rates. So far, the farmers have been finding it difficult to sell their produce in the absence of proper buyers and fixed rate. The cost of cultivation of turmeric is estimated at about Rs 22,000 per acre and the farmers would get Rs 50,000 per acre. The rate of crop is estimated between Rs 10 and 12 per kg. The farmers would be provided
subsidised turmeric seeds by the horticulture department. It was decided in a meeting here to fix the turmeric rates and review the work of the processing plant. “The Hafed would buy the turmeric from the farmers. The turmeric rates would be decided on the basis of current rate of the market. The construction of the processing plant has begun and it would be complete at the end of February. The Hafed is taking care of processing plant,” said DM Hafed S.C. Garg, to the Tribune. “India is the second largest producer of turmeric, particularly the gantour and gautam varieties that yield 50 to 60 quintals per acre. The farmers used to boil turmeric in the pans at about 50 degrees centigrade and used to remove the peels. The processing plant would prove boon for the turmeric cultivation, said additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Narender Singh who convened the meeting. While giving details about the district, horticulture officer Pahup Singh said this year they had given 2,280 quintal seeds to the farmers of the district with 75 per cent subsidy and have been expecting 4,000 produce. Besides it, Surinder Singh Hara, a progressive farmer, who had been cultivating turmeric for the past 20 years suggested that the rate of dried turmeric should be Rs 40 and Rs 10 for the raw turmeric.
|
|
Communal Clashes
Majri Gubhana (Jhajjar), October 20 Residents of this village heaved a sigh of relief after this development as the conflict had created an atmosphere of insecurity and panic. The Rathis and Balians had a dispute over 10 acres of shamlaat land (village common land) in the village. The Rathis constructed a temple on a portion of the land while Balians built a dharmshala on the other piece so as to claim its possession. There had been clashes between members of both gotras over the land in the past. The recent row took an ugly turn when members of Rathi gotra allegedly damaged the dharmshala of Balian gotra with an intention to take control over the land and also to express their bitterness over the construction of the dharmshala. Some people of Balian gotra sustained serious injuries in the clash. The police had also booked several members of the Rathi gotra in this connection under various sections of the IPC. After this unpleasant incident, the row took deeper roots when members of Balian gotra allegedly vandalised Dadi Khima Wali mandir of Rathi gotra on September 21. They also damaged two police vehicles. The police registered a criminal case against over 24 persons, including six women, of Balian gotra. With a view to sorting out the continuing row and maintaining peace and social harmony in the village, representatives of Ruhil and Rathi khap panchayats had recently submitted a memorandum to the Jhajjar SP, urging him to interfere and help in ending the dispute peacefully. The SP recently called a meeting of both groups in the village to find out a solution. Members of both gotras not only attended the meeting with a compromising mood but also expressed their views and gave valuable suggestions to sort out the row. After a three-hour-long hectic discussion, members of both gotras agreed to end the conflict in the presence of district administrative officers and office-bearers of the various khap panchayats. On the occasion, they also embraced each other exhibiting strong bonds of maintaining social harmony and brotherhood in the village. Some vital decisions were also taken in order to strengthen the compromise under which 15-feet-wide road would be prepared between Dharamshala and the temple. Moreover, members of Balian gotra will get the Dadi Khima wali mandir temple reconstructed. Apart from this, members of both gotra agreed to withdraw the cases registered against each other following the dispute.
|
|
Power consumers in for better times
Sonepat, October 20 The Haryana Power Utilities has started construction of 132 KV substations in Mundlana village, industrial area Rai and Kundli and 33 KV substations at Bhogipur, Bichpari and Sisana. The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam
(UHBVN) and the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) have made a comprehensive plan to further strengthen the transmission and distribution network. This is done keeping in view the fact that a major part of the district is covered in the national capital region (NCR). The demand of electricity is going up rapidly due to rise in industrial load and urbanisation. The existing load here is much more as compared to the other areas. The existing capacity of 220 KV substation Sonepat, 132 KV substation Murthal, Rai, Kundli, Kharkhoda and Gohana and 33 KV substation Farmana, would be augmented during the current year. Simultaneously, the work of erecting double circuit lines has also been initiated to ensure reliability of power supply.
It has also been planned to set up a 220 KV substation at Mohana during 2010-11. The UHBVN has decided to implement high voltage distribution system (HVDS) and low voltage distribution system (LVDS) in 144 residential colonies and villages of the district at a cost of Rs 12 crore. It would ensure minimum damage to distribution transformers and interruptions. For segregation of load on 11 KV feeders supplying power to domestic and tubewell consumers in the villages, the nigam has identified 74 feeders in the district. The work of eight feeders has been completed so far and the consumers of 36 villages have been benefited. The segregation work on 65 feeders is in progress and the work on a remaining feeder would start shortly. The nigam has also planned to start 97 km long ACSR conductor of 33 feeders to strengthen the distribution system. The identification work of overloaded industrial, urban and mixed urban feeders has been completed. It has been proposed to bifurcate/trifurcate 17 feeders in the first phase. Nine overloaded feeders would be bifurcated in the second phase. The nigam has also targeted to release 950 new tubewell connections to the applicants in the district during the current year.
|
|
|
Yamunanagar’s date with art
Yamunanagar, October 20 Shewta Oberoi has exhibited paintings of the two renowned artists Babita Biswas and Ravinder Sharma at a local hotel where visitors with special taste for art can see them. The visitors can give their feedback and also buy these. “The artists might not be here but the people can catch the sight of their paintings. If they desire to buy, they can do that after talking to the artists over telephone,” said Shweta, who is also running Sarahh art gallery in Sector 17 here. “The work on display is refreshing, beautiful and exquisite. A painting is something you would like to look at everyday,” she says. The painting of Babita Biswas titled “The Blue God”, a saga of immortal love, is a maharastra folk art that has been prepared ornamentally. Unlike the traditional art, the colour scheme is bright and colourful. While Ravinder Sharma’s paintings reflect the creative expression of the spiritual aspect of the artist. The paintings are not only the reflection of real world but also an expression of the spiritual aspect of life. Creative fashion designer
Similarly, another creative person a city fashion designer, Mitu Saluja, who is also director of “Sajee Swary” made her presence felt at the national level. Mitu not only got display of her work in different magazines but has also been invited as judge in many fashion competitions. She has exhibited her new collection of sarees here this week. She says from a small district it is not easy to find a place at national level. It took her seven years to prove herself. “Although even after seven years the fight to reach at the level of professional fashion designers is on. It’s not for money but to explore the creative look of myself,” she adds. “My work on sarees reflects colonial splendour. Accent is on heavy embroidery and embellishments to lend a sparking effect. I have also revived the era of 70s through my collection. Besides, I also did experiment of presenting sarees with antique zari, dabka, sequins and semi-precious stones,” Mitu says.
|
|
Sonepat rally
Chandigarh, October 20 The two parties will organise a public rally in Sonepat on that day. It will be addressed, among others, by BJP prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, BJP president Rajnath Singh and INLD president Om Prakash Chautala. For the INLD, it will be an opportunity to reassure national leaders of its once-estranged partner that they had not made a mistake by over ruling the views of their state unit to renew its alliance with the former. The party has again geared up its cadres to mobilise crowds for the Sonepat rally just a month after they did so for Bhiwani rally, held to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal. But then the INLD has a reputation of organising big rallies at a short notice.
Earlier, the BJP was to hold this rally in Sonepat on October 31. Chautala requested the BJP to postpone the rally by a day to coincide it with the Haryana day and term it as the NDA rally. Proving wrong the predictions of mass desertions from the saffron party if it goes for an alliance with the INLD, no one has quit the state BJP so far. This has encouraged the central leadership of the party. But the BJP high command and the INLD leadership realise that a vast chasm has been created between the cadres of the two parties at the grass-root level in the past years of estrangement. To make the alliance workable, it is necessary to bridge this chasm as early as possible. The leadership of the two parties has decided to hold joint meetings of its workers in each district. The district leaders would also hold joint press conferences as part of confidence building measures. On behalf of the INLD, its secretary-general Ajay Singh Chautala is leading the “ruthon ko manaana” campaign. The elder son of the party chief has either met or rang up several BJP leaders, irrespective of their seniority in the party, to assure them that the INLD leadership would not repeat its past mistake of treating the BJP men in a shabby manner. He urges them to “forget and forgive”. Ajay is considered to be much milder and more polite than his father and younger brother, Abhay Singh. Sources say Ajay is succeeding in his campaign. The sources say though the BJP is also mobilising its cadres for the rally, the green turbans of the INLD would far outnumber the saffron patkas of the BJP in the rally.
|
|
Semester system introduced at PG level
Sirsa, October 20 The government wanted to introduce the system at the undergraduate level too but it has been postponed to see the results at the PG level first. Various educationists have expressed different views on the move of the government. While some have hailed the decision, others say it has made a farce of education. Director general of the Jannayak Devi Lal Vidyapeeth Sirsa Kuldeep Singh
Dhindsa, said introduction of the semester system is a welcome move of the state government. "The semester system means more emphasis on the studies. In this system, a student is required to focus on studies throughout the year. While in the annual system of examination, students hardly study for three to four months in a year," Dhindsa said. Professor and chairperson of the English department Anu Shukla said semester system is better than the annual system provided it is implemented in the right manner. "We are short of teachers keeping in view the annual system. But after the semester system is in place, the shortage would become even more severe," she
adds. Shukla says before implementing the semester system of examination, the authorities should change syllabus too as it is not possible to cover the present syllabus in a short period of four to five months. "If the system is to succeed, the government will have to provide infrastructural facilities first," Shukla adds. A lecturer in English in the Manohar Memorial College Anu Shukla said the semester system has created more problems for the students than it
has solved. "The system has been started in haste and no infrastructural facilities have been provided," adds
Jakhar. Former university vice chancellor Bhim Singh Dahiya is more severe in his criticism of the new system, "The bureaucracy perhaps thinks that two examinations in a year make it semester system. To my knowledge most of the universities and colleges are yet to cover even one forth of the
syllabus and the examinations are due sometime in December," says Dahiya. "If they want to shift to the semester system, they should study how it is being implemented in countries like the USA. There is no pedagogy like India. It is a participatory kind of teaching. But here teachers have to take a class of up to 100 students,"
he adds.
|
|
|
Community policing must to check crime: IGP
Rohtak, October 20 IGP V. Kamaraja stated this while addressing a gathering on the occasion of a medical check-up camp organised on the premises of Saini Girls School here recently. "Timely and accurate information about any crime plays a crucial role in taking appropriate action against the criminal elements," he pointed out. The IGP disclosed that to enable all residents to file their complaints, concerns and grievances, complaint boxes would be placed at several points in the entire range. "The complaints and other inputs would be scrutinised and appropriate action would be taken as and when required," Kamaraja asserted. Laying emphasis on the concept of community policing, he exhorted the residents to play a proactive role in crime prevention and to come forward to share information with the police. The IGP appreciated the efforts put in by the school management in organising the camp and underlined the need for holding more such camps.
|
|
|
Panipat police gears up to combat cyber crime
Panipat, October 20 According to the police, the cyber cell at the district headquarterswas established as the nodal agency for providing all possible technical assistance to the different investigative units. The cell is rapidly developing expertise in areas like call monitoring, tracking of stolen mobile phones and other such crimes. The cell is equipped with sophisticated hardware. As per a report, there are over 1 billion internet users the world over. In India, 55 million people use internet. The plummeting prices of computers and the availability of cheap, high-speed internet access is likely to drive this growth further. A parallel development has been the telecommunication revolution with the advent of the mobile phone technology. India already has over 100 million mobile phone users and the number is expected to rise with falling call tariffs and availability of cheap handsets. The two areas of technology are getting integrated over time with internet providing PC-to-PC call facilities and with mobile phones providing mobile access to internet. The use of internet and computer systems has led to new types of cyber crimes like malicious emails, fraudulent electronic transfer of money and misuse of stolen
credit cards. The police said there is a need to have a specialised group with the requisite technical skills to assist and guide the investigative arms in overcoming challenges posed by technological advancements in the sphere of information technology. Thus, the cyber cell is constantly upgraded to enable the police to combat the latest modus operandi adopted by the criminals. Cyber cell has become an important part of the department and improvements in this department were inevitable.
|
|
Attack on Kaithal ADC
Kaithal, October 20 A woman accomplice allegedly involved in this case is also at large though her anticipatory bail had been rejected by a local court. The police inaction has caused resentment among district officers. The ADC was attacked while he was trying to console a woman whose son had died in a rain-related mishap on the outskirts of Kalayat. A large number of villagers had resorted to protest by blocking the Chandigarh-Hisar national highway. The accused, a handicapped person named Pona, attacked him from behind with his walking stick. Verma had sustained fractures in his fingers, besides injuries on the head. A number of officers are of the view that it is strange that a senior officer of the district administration was attacked in full public view in the presence of a DSP and other police personnel, but the disitrict police has failed to arrest the
culprit. Another interesting aspect of this incident is that the assailant, who was a maternal uncle of the deceased, was handicapped and how he managed to flee after attacking the ADC despite the presence of police force. This also puts a question mark on the functioning of district police.
|
|
After wrestling, it’s painting
Bahadurgarh (Jhajjar), October 20 Rustic landscapes, pastoral customs and traditions, rich environment and different moods were the foremost attraction of this exhibition of paintings that not only fascinated viewers but also recalled history and culture in many strange and heart-warming ways. A former wrestler and artist, Mahesh Dalal, used vibrant colours to convey his feelings in the exhibition. “As the villages are more close to nature, my creations revolve around the rustic scenes and I also try to make such paintings which depict the stages of rural life,” said Mahesh. He added that the preservation of our cultural heritage and social customs was his top priority and he was making all efforts to conserve it through his paintings. Born in Mandhothi village of Jhajjar district, Dalal started making paintings with sand in his infancy. However, due to some family reasons, he started going to akhara to learn technicalities of wrestling, but could not maintain interest in that field. After his stint in the field of wrestling, he restarted putting frantic efforts to develop his god-gifted talent of creating paintings without any resources. Ultimately, his hardwork bore fruit and he performed in several painting competitions held at college and university level. These competitions not only enhanced his self-confidence but also paved the way for going ahead in this field with new
creations. About 15 exhibitions of his paintings have been held at various places of the state and around. Mahesh is now attempting to challenge himself by exposing the audience to the contrast of his creations.
|
|
No stopping when sky is the limit
Jind, October 20 Hailing from Safidon, primarily known as paddy hub of the state, Rachna has brought laurels to this sleepy town. This 23-years-old girl has emerged as the first woman commercial pilot from the district. Born and brought up in a teachers’ family, Rachna did her matriculation from local Hindu High School. While her father R.S. Dalal has retired recently as head teacher of a government school, her mother is still working as PTI in a nearby school. Rachna later shifted to Karnal and did her plus two and then B.Sc from DAV Her stay in Karnal provided a new direction to her career when she noticed planes hitting the skies from a nearby flying club. After finishing her B.Sc, she declared that she wanted to fly a plane, claims her mother, saying that this decision left them little perturbed as no one from the family or known ventured into the field and they had no inkling about such a course or career. She adds that the family finally decided to back her move and got her admitted in one-year course at the flying club in Karnal. Rachna then went for advanced two-year course at Rajiv Gandhi Rastriya Udan Academy in Rai Barelly, Uttar
Pradesh. Soon after completing her course, she was appointed as co-pilot by Jet Airways. “This job has not only given her a high flying status in the society but she has been getting a compensation package which anyone could envy,” says her elder brother Manoj, an engineer in the Merchant Navy. Her achievement should motivate youth from the rural background, especially girls and their families to strive harder for success in the field they choose, say her parents.
|
|
Gurgaon solid waste plant in nine months
Chandigarh, October 20 According to a spokesman, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has acquired 30.51 acre for setting up the plant at a cost of Rs 7.03 crore. He said the plant would be set up as per the design prepared by the NBCC, appointed as its consultant. One plant of this type is already functional at Rajkot in Gujarat. He said the plant would have the capacity of 1000 tonne. According to current estimates, Gurgaon and Faridabad together generate about 500 tonne of waste everyday.
A greenbelt would also be developed around the plant. He said the existing garbage dumping sites at Gurgaon were likely to be shifted once the plant was commissioned.
Meanwhile, adequate bacterial spray is being done at the existing dumping sites. The official said the municipal corporation Gurgaon had already invited tenders to set up 10 big dustbins for the dumping of waste and as much as Rs 1 crore would be incurred on these dustbins. The administration was also considering imposition of penalty on those persons who dump waste material on the roadsides, he added.
|
|
JJ Club win Aloe Vera cup
Sirsa, October 20 The team of JJ Club, Chandigarh, emerged winner in the three-day Twenty20 cricket tournament while the team of Moody Club, Chandigarh, was the runners-up. President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee Phool Chand Mulana was Jasmit Insan, a son of the dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and president of the Shah Satnamji Cricket Academy presided over. Punjabi artists Major Khan and Pragat Bhagu enthralled the gathering with their cultural items while a satirical Punjabi skit by students of Shah Satnamji educational institutions provided a hearty laugh to the audience.
|
|
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
