Rohtak, March 18
Targets and achievements regarding the plantation drive each year seems to be completed mainly on the paper. This is the only conclusion one could draw after finding a bunch of saplings meant to be planted at a proper place lying dumped in a corner at a public place here. All the saplings had nearly dried up due to lack of care and water.

This is perhaps the first time that saplings lifted from a nursery and wrapped in poly bags have been found dumped at a secluded place in the town. The bundle was noticed lying adjacent to the wall of the Shri Ram Rangshala located in the rear of the famous Mansarover Park by a local resident.

The packets contained over four dozen of saplings prepared in a nursery. It is amazing that the saplings were normally supplied to various departments and individuals during the rainy season when a drive was launched throughout the state as the climate was favourable then. But the saplings at this time of season had been thrown in such a careless manner, claimed Pawan Bansal, a local resident.

The department concerned supplies thousands of saplings for plantation during the rainy season each year. A target is also fixed for each department of the state government, informed the officials sources. They revealed that a compliance report was also sought after the campaign.

But a large number of plants or saplings failing to survive due to lack of care and a proper look after seem to suggest otherwise.

Deputy Commissioner PC Meena said he had no information about it and added that someone might have forgotten after placing the saplings for plantation.

Kurukshetra, March 18
"Haryana is fast emerging as a favourite with investors, especially those from the private sector. About 81 per cent of the total investment has come from the private sector and the rest from government sources", says a study conducted by Assocham, the apex industry chamber, which sees Haryana achieving a double-digit growth rate and retaining its position as a growth leader.

At the macro all-India level, about 3.5 per cent of the total investments announced by both government and the private sector in India up to March, 2009, came to Haryana. While its share in the total investment made by different government sources worked out to be 1.79 per cent, the state accounted for 4.5 per cent of the total investment made by the private sector in the country.

The study pinpoints the proximity of Haryana to Delhi, its industry-friendly policies, availability of a vast pool of skilled labour at competitive costs, and the presence of a relatively good infrastructure as the factors for attracting investment.

Another key factor to boost the investment scenario in the state is the implementation rate of pledged investments. "If we look at the all-India scenario, the implementation rate of pledged investments has been very low (about 33 per cent) across states owing to the economic slowdown in 2008- 2009. But in the case of Haryana , 70 per cent of the projects are being put to implementation", the study points out.

Up to September, 2009, there were 625 live investment projects worth Rs 3.23 lakh crore in Haryana. The real estate industry got the lion's share of 55 per cent in the total live investment. Services and electricity are the next two important portals of investment.

Manufacturing attracted 8 per cent while the share of investment in irrigation is mere 0.17 per cent. It indicates the direction of growth in Haryana in near future.

Comparing Haryana, Punjab and Delhi, the study notes that these have totally different economic structures. While the contribution of the industrial sector is the highest in Haryana, agriculture is relatively more dominant in Punjab; and the services sector constitutes the backbone of the economy of Delhi. In all three sectors, Haryana has performed better than Punjab and Delhi.

However, as far as the overall growth rate is concerned, Haryana is placed after Delhi owing to its relatively lower share of services in the state domestic product.

One of the most prosperous states, the estimated per capita income in 2007-08 was 64 per cent higher than the all-India average.

The main success factor of the state's development strategy was the development of critical infrastructure. The state has taken major strides in the areas of irrigation, drinking water and rural electrification.

"However, Haryana has to cover a lot of ground for seeing commensurate developments in social sectors as well. Especially the state has to address the issues of skewed sex ratio and low literacy rates as compared to other progressive states in India", the study says.

Haryana's economy grew at a compounded rate of 9.2 per cent between 2000-01 and 2008-09. This growth rate is higher than the country's average of 8.7 per cent. 

Kaithal, March 18
Those stealing power by putting “kundi” connections or getting electricity without paying bills are in for a tough time since an intensive campaign has been launched by the UHBVN authorities to take stern action against such erring consumers.

The campaign to check power theft and recover arrears from defaulting consumers has already brought positive results, said RS More, XEN.

He said the employees had detected as many as 20 power theft cases in Sega, Shergarh, Deodkheri and Narar villages where the consumers had been drawing power through “kundi” connections. Heavy penalty had been imposed on such persons and if they failed to deposit penalty, an FIR would be lodged against them, he added.

The official said during the past few days, connections of 107 defaulters in Padla, Narar, Ujhana and Nauch villages had been disconnected. Besides, 99 consumers in various villages of this division had been asked to clear their arrears amounting to Rs 4.8 lakh. The official has appealed to the defaulters to clear their pending bills and urged others not to indulge in power theft to avoid heavy penalty and disconnection. 

Kaithal, March 18
Mega star Amitabh Bachchan has lakhs of fans in India and abroad, but there won't be many like Mohinder, a native of Pundri town, here, who worship him.

Years ago, when Mohinder used to sell fruits on a rehri, he declared Amitabh as his God and started worshipping him at his house where he has numerous posters of the star. Recently, Mohinder was declared Big B's "fan no. 1" in a reality show, "Lift Kara De" on Sony TV.

Mohinder's dream to meet Amitabh was fulfilled and he received a gold medal from Big B. Amitabh had knowledge that Mohinder had vowed to remain barefoot till he meets his "God" and had been moving without footwear for many years. The star thus presented him a pair of Kolhapuri chappal and told him not to remain barefoot.

Mohinder use to observe fast on the birthday of Amitabh every year and cut cake and distribute sweets among children. Besides, when Amitabh fell ill a few years ago, Mohinder used to pray in a temple regularly for his early recovery and long life.

During the TV show, he refused to sit on a chair in front of the star and rather preferred to sit on the floor, but he was persuaded by Amitabh and the programme anchor to take a seat. He also asked Amitabh to visit his native place. The star promised to fulfil his desire in the near future as per convenience.

Earlier, auditions for the show were held in 12 cities across the country and out of thousands of fans, only 12 were selected and later three were shortlisted by Sony team. The selected candidates were given training in selling pan and they were asked to sell pan in Allahabad and mohinder topped the list and he was declared Big B's "fan no. 1".

However, during this period, Mohinder's mother dies, but he was informed to avoid any disruption in his "mission".

Mohinder said after the shooting came to an end, he was taken by Amitabh to his home, "Pratiksha" where he had an opportunity to dine with the Bachchan family. Mohinder said Jaya Bachchan treated him like her son. Mohinder also expressed his desire to work in films and Amitabh assured to fulfill his desire.

Pointing towards the generosity of Big B, he said, "Amitabh ji donated through me about Rs 11 lakh to a resident of Allahabad whose wife was suffering from paralysis and needed treatment".

Mohinder said he lacked words to express gratitude to the entire Bachchan family which bestowed love and affection on him. The Big B fan is optimistic that he would get an opportunity to work in films soon. 

Sonepat, March 18
Like previous few years, there has been no flow of water in the Yamuna for the past five months, which has made things difficult for residents of villages in the Yamuna belt. However, the open dry area does serve as a cricket ground for the youths.

As the river forms the boundary between Sonepat and Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, the entry of anti-social elements into the state has become easy.

After some incidents of loot and theft and on the demand of the villagers, deputy magistrate Ajit Joshi has ordered for “thikri pehra” by able-bodied persons of villages during night to check this menace.

The belt had become popular for the cultivation of watermelon and muskmelon as the soil in dried-up bed of the river used to preserve enough moisture for the cultivation of these crops. Now, there is no moisture in the soil up to 20 ft. The sale of watermelon seed, too, has gone down by 90 per cent this season, as stated by seed sellers in the town.

The prevailing situation is also proving helpful for cattle smugglers to carry livestock to butchering plants in Uttar Pradesh using the dried up bed of the river to cross over to the other side. The illegal transportation of cattle is common between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Sand mining activities in the belt have also stepped up and there are reports of unauthorised and illegal mining. The regulations for mining are being openly flouted, allege villagers and farmers who have leased out their land to miners. Representatives of many villages have lodged complaints against illegal mining to the district authorities.

During an inspection of Yamuna embankment recently, DC Ajit Joshi directed the police to initiate action against those involved in illegal mining.

Devotees reaching at Yamuna to take a holy dip on different occasions, particularly on Makar Sakranti and Basant Panchmi, were disillusioned when they did not find water in the river and returned without taking a bath. Sometimes, they take bath at a tubewell installed in the area.

Dr SS Ahlawat, superintendenting engineer of the irrigation department in Delhi office, informed that hardly 2,370 cusecs of water was available at Hathni Kund Barrage during these days and out of it, only 1,990 cusecs was flowing into the West Yamuna Canal in Haryana against the allocation of 5,600 cusecs. Similarly, the flow of water in the East Yamuna Canal in Uttar Pradesh was only around 217 cusecs against the entitlement of 3,500 cusecs. He also clarified that hardly half of the quantity of water released in the Yamuna from Tajewala headworks reaches Delhi because of seepage and vaporisation on the way.

Rewari, March 18
Of late there has been a spurt in looting and stealing incidents in the district. While those seeking lifts in cars are falling an easy prey to the looters, women wearing jewellery and bikers, with money bags, too, are not beyond their criminal clutches.

All this is keeping the police on tenterhooks.

Car-borne miscreants are virtually on a looting spree on the Jaipur-Delhi highway stretching from Kasaula to Dharuhera and vice versa.

Dharampal Yadav (33 of Bolni village, an employee of a factory at Manesar, who sought a lift in a car at Kasaula Chowk for Manesar on March 15, was robbed of Rs 5,000 by four armed miscreants.

The miscreants later dropped Dharampal in a field near Majra Sheoraj village.

In a second incident, car-borne miscreants looted Rs 10,000, an ATM card and a mobile phone from Davenderpal Singh Tomar, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Tijara, in Dharuhera on March 11. They also withdrew Rs. 15,000 from the victim's account by using the ATM card.

The incident took place when Davenderpal sought a lift from the miscreants up to Banipur Chowk.

Similarly, a miscreant riding a cycle looted jewellery worth Rs 60,000 from Bimla Devi in Mohalla Jainpuri here on March 11. The incident occurred when the woman was going to a temple.

Some miscreants stole Rs 2.5 lakh by breaking open the dicky of a motor cycle in at a restaurant in Model Town here on March 9.

The money, which had been withdrawn from the State Bank of India by forest official Brahm Prakash, was meant for disbursement among workers of the Forest Department.

Worried at the rise of such incidents, a delegation of prominent traders and functionaries of the Beopar Mnadal, met KV Ramana, SP, here on March 15.

Mentioning about the looting of jewellery from Bimla Devi while on her way to a temple here, they said such a situation was causing panic among the citizens.

They sought speedy and firm police action. The district police chief reportedly assured the delegation not to be panicky about it.

Chandigarh, March 18
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited is the first private sector general insurance company to be given mandate for weather-based insurance of wheat crop for the farmers in Haryana.

The insurance of wheat crop has been taken up as a pilot project in Ambala district. The state government has made it mandatory for the farmers who have taken loans to take the insurance cover. The scheme covers the risk of high temperature and excess rainfall which can affect the produce of wheat cultivators.

Under the scheme, of the total premium of Rs 1,158 per acre, the Central and state governments pay a subsidy of Rs 910 and the farmer has to pay only Rs 248 to get coverage up to Rs 15,000 per acre.

A spokesman for the company claimed here today that the claim settlement was a hassle-free process, as the beneficiary was not required to file a claim for the loss. Instead, the company would compensate the beneficiary at the end of the crop season for any deviations from the normal conditions on the basis of the certified data collected from independent third-party bodies such as the Indian Meteorological Department and the National Collateral Management Services.

This transparent and objective method of claim settlement, removed the need for carrying out field surveys, he added.

The weather-based crop insurance, which is an index-based insurance product pioneered by ICICI Lombard in the country in 2003-04, is now successfully running in 14 states comprising of 64 districts and covering as many as 26 varieties of crops.

Panipat, March 18
In its campaign against the franchisee system, the Haryana Power Engineers Association has called upon the state government to undertake the restructuring of discoms instead of introducing the franchisee system in Panipat and Gurgaon. President of the association RS Dahiya said as per government directives, the discoms were supposed to restructure themselves by March 31, 2006.

However, even though four years had lapsed, the restructuring process had not been completed, which had resulted in reduction of working staff up to 48 per cent in the discoms. He claimed that this had also caused widespread discontent among consumers as the services had been affected to a great extent.

Claiming that the franchisee system was not needed, Dahiya said the authorities should fill the posts lying vacant in the discoms and strengthen the workforce at the subdivision level so that the employees could work towards reducing line losses and engage in the recovery of the defaulting amount for improving the financial health of the discoms.

He said the borrowing capital loan of both discoms had increased manifold, whereas the capacity to repay the loan had gone down in the present set-up. He said this might have been the main reason that the authorities had decided to go ahead with the franchisee system.

The president of the association said till date the discoms had suffered losses up to Rs 4,099 crore and there was a monthly deficit of over Rs 500 crore. The capital loan was Rs 10,836 crore, while the average and commercial losses were 35 per cent in the UHBVN and 32 per cent in the DHBVN. He lamented that the management of both discoms depended on advisers and consultants, but never took into confidence government engineers and workers working with them. 

Kaithal, March 18
The district administration has claimed that due to efforts of officials, employees and volunteers, the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan has made much headway and succeeded in ensuring enrollment of maximum children in the age group of 1-14 years.

Addressing teachers, parents, village education committees and students during an award function organised here recently, Deputy Commissioner Amneet P Kumar said in Kaithal out of 263 village panchayats, 219 have achieved the target of 100 per cent enrollment. She stressed upon importance of girls education among the community. She asked the community members to ensure that all girls are provided quality education in the district as the female literacy rate of three blocks - Kaithal, Kalayat and Rajound - is below national average.

She further said the SSA was an attempt to provide quality education to all children through active participation of community in a missionary mode. The programme aims to provide useful and relevant elementary education to all children in the age group of 6-14 years by 2010.

ADC-cum-Chairman, SSA, Ramesh Verma, gave details about the progress of SSA in the district. He said to ensure that all children were enrolled in schools effective steps had been taken. He said in Kaithal there were 2,33,044 children in the age group 6-14 years, out of which 2,32,335 enrolled in either public or private schools; only 709 children were still out of school. Verma said 2,26,961 free textbooks had been distributed to primary students and 4,83,969 to upper primary students studying in government schools from Class I to VIII. Moreover, 3,84,013 workbooks had been given to the students. Girls have been provided with 1,146 bicycles in all blocks. Grants have been approved for better school infrastructure , with focus on construction of toilets, new classrooms, school maintenance, etc.

In this award function, 212 meritorious students of class VIII were honored as they had topped in the Middle Exam-2009 Besides, the best village education committees, best employees who had rendered exemplary services in the field of SSA at block and district level were also honoured. In this function those schools that had performed best in the field of girls education and sanitation programme were too honoured.

Chandigarh, March 18
The Haryana State Flood Control Board, which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today, approved 66 new schemes to be implemented by the Irrigation Department at a cost of Rs 49.76 crore and 20 schemes of the Public Health Engineering Department costing Rs 14 crore.

Hooda directed that the schemes should be implemented by giving them district-wise priority so that urgent schemes were not delayed. He also stressed the need for focusing on construction of water bodies to recharge the water table. He said such a beginning should be made by setting up a water body in 100 acre to 150 acre at Kotla and that could be followed at Bibipur.

It was decided that in case of flooding, the district administration could now resort to field dewatering after October 1 so that recharge of water table be made possible to some extent. However, deputy commissioners would be able to launch dewatering of fields earlier than this date depending on the prevailing situation, but they would have to inform the state headquarters in the regard. They would be able to dewater the abadi areas on a priority basis, as and when required.

While reviewing the issue for the renovation of 1,000 ponds in all districts, Hooda directed that the task force headed by each DC be constituted for the renovation of ponds. He also directed all four divisional commissioners to consult their respective DC to enlist irrigation schemes that could be implemented under the NREGA and submit a report within 15 days. It was also decided that an orientation workshop for field engineers be undertaken so as to apprise them with the works that could be undertaken under schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Hooda also stressed the need for holding post-flood meeting in October so as to assess the work to check floods and review the shortcomings, if any.

He also directed the Rohtak DC to launch dewatering operation in two villages of Rohtak district where water was still stagnated.

Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav said under the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC), the Union Ministry of Water Resources had already approved flood-control works costing Rs 173.93 crore. These works aimed at strengthening the right banks of the Yamuna.

He said works amounting to Rs 22 crore had already been tendered under the GFCC and it was expected that these would be completed before the onset of monsoon. Also, 74 ongoing schemes of the Irrigation Department would cost Rs 203 crore to the state exchequer.

Naresh Gulati, Financial commissioner and principal secretary, Revenue, said 67 irrigation schemes had been completed at a cost of Rs 58 crore during this year. He said out of the 66 schemes of the Irrigation Department, which had been approved today, included 22 of repairs and seven schemes pertained to improvement in the existing schemes.

Yamunanagar, March 18
The indiscriminate use of DAP, urea and pesticides has led to a rise in human diseases, besides being an environmental hazard, said Amit Kumar Aggarwal, deputy commissioner, during a meeting with agriculture and horticulture officials and farmers here.

He said: "Diseases like cancer, allergies and skin diseases are on the rise. A WHO report says every year, 20,000-25,000 people die untimely due to diseases caused by the excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers. Besides, the fertility of soil has been decreasing at an alarming rate. All this has necessitated the need to adopt organic farming".

"Our traditional crops are on the verge of extinction and the dependence on hybrid seeds and chemicals has increased manifold. This has definitely increased the yield, but their ill-effects cannot be ignored," he said. "With a view to spreading awareness about organic farming, the Agriculture Department is organising a kisan mela-cum-exhibition on organic farming on March 21 at Anaj Mandi, Khizrabad. More than 3,000 farmers will be given training about organic farming, production, certification and marketing of organic produce. Besides, farmers will also be educated about integrated pest management, integrated nutrient management, crops residue management, sustainable agriculture and water management," he said.

Pardeep Meel, deputy director, agriculture, said chemicals did not provide balanced nutrients to plants. "It disturbs soil health, leading to acidification, micronutrient depletion, soil degradation, reduction in activity of micro-flora and micro-fauna, poor crop health and lower crop yield and quantity. The use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides also contribute to environment risk like increase in global warming, soil, air and water pollution". "It is thus desirable that we follow eco-friendly organic farming and check nutrient depletion and sustain quality food production. The kisan fair will help the farmers understand the need for organic farming and its benefits," he added.

Kurukshetra, March 18
Explaining about his collage exhibition at Multi Art Cultural Centre (MACC), here, a local artist, Harpal, says that he has tried to demonstrate an acute understanding of human psyche and a sincere concern for deteriorating social values in his creations.

Besides being an intrepid explorer of style and technique, he has experimented a great deal with his material that includes fiber, wood, bamboo, glass and beads. His work seems to be a perfect blend of traditional, folk and contemporary art. He says his collages deal exclusively with social and environmental issues and he employs his art as a means to repay his debt to society. Working on almost every relevant subject, whether it is female foeticide, women empowerment, environment conservation, moral degradation or excesses of Khap panchayats, he has displayed his vast and expansive range.

Harpal is particularly concerned about the status of women in society and has therefore dealt extensively with this complex theme in his creations. His collage titled "A Hen and a Woman, Happiness thereof, lies on the Edge of a Knife", illustrates the short-lived happiness of women in the male-dominated world.

In another collage, "A Woman is Certainly Not That", the artist asserts the dignity of women and makes one ponder over and feel sorry for the way women are disrespectfully and derogatorily referred to by men in their social circles. Apart from that, he has also tried to draw attention towards man's thoughtless exploitation of environmental resources through his work "Crisis of Water, Crisis of Life". Dominated by bright colours, the collage shows how man has captured the sources of water and denied its access to all living beings.

Watching the appreciative expressions on the faces of visitors, he feels content that his years of labour has not gone futile. However, he feels anguished when asked about the present scene of the art world. "The blatant commercialisation of art has changed the priorities of artists and resulted, to some extent, in the deterioration of the standard of art. If we want art to maintain its integrity and purpose, we must prevent the mingling of corruption and materialism with it. So artists as well as art lovers should unanimously work to raise the level of contemporary art," he says.

Harpal is one of those few artists who have transformed their vision into a mission of making a better world by stripping society of its fallacies and urging it to replace them with values and ethics. 

Directed by: Vikram Bhatt
Music: Chirantan Bhatt
Starring: Aditya Narayan, Rahul Dev, Subh Joshi, Murli Sharma, Shweta Aggarwal
Story: A horror flick in which a young girl is trapped in a generational curse.

Shweta Aggarwal makes her debut with Aditya Narayan (Udit Narayan’s son) in director Vikram Bhatt’s “Shaapit”. It opens today at Fame Shalimar-Panchkula, PVR Cinemas, INOX Leisure, SRS Pristine Mall, SRS Sector 12, SRS Shubham, Parshavnath MM, Parshavnath CM (Faridabad), PVR MGF, DT City Centre, DT Mega Mall, PVR Ambience, PVR Sahara, SRS Omaxe, SRS Wedding, Big Adlabs (Gurgaon), Movie Time, Harsha (Karnal) Glitz-Kurukshetra, Fun, Cinemax (Panipat).