Decks cleared for setting up N-power plant at Gorakhpur
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Fatehabad, September 10
After two years’ uncertainty over its future, decks have now been cleared for the setting up of 2800-MW nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur in Fatehabad. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has already started its pre-project activities on the land acquired for the Gorakhpur Atomic Power Project (GAPP), which, its officials maintain, will be the biggest in northern India.

The upcoming plant will have four nuclear reactors of 700 MW each and a sum of over Rs 25,000 crore would be spent on the project.

The GAPP will have Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) that have been developed indigenously by Indian nuclear scientists.

The PHWR is a nuclear power reactor, commonly using unenriched natural uranium as its fuel that uses heavy water (deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant and moderator, according to NPCIL officials.

Initially, the NPCIL plans to complete the first of the four reactors of 700 MW each within five years of the zero date (the date of first pour of concrete) and the next within the next one year and the next two would also follow in succession.

However, the NPCIL and the local authorities had to face stiff opposition to the project from farmers as well as Parmanu Virodhi Morcha for over two years before they could start their activities.

Farmers started their agitation immediately after the authorities issued a notification to acquire over 1,500 acres of land for the project.

The agitators received support from several quarters, including Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan, Yog Guru Baba Ramdev and former Army Chief Gen VK Singh.

All Opposition parties supported farmers’ agitation and among those who visited farmers on their dharna site were late former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, the INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala, Samast Bhartiya Party chief Sudesh Agarwal and Trinamool Congress northern India chief KD Singh.

Senior BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani also met the agitating farmers during his Rath Yatra.

Though the dharna by farmers continues outside Fatehabad’s mini-secretariat, more than 95 per cent farmers, whose lands have been acquired for the project, have accepted compensation for their lands.

The Parmanu Virodhi Morcha has declared that it will continue its opposition to the project, but its activists are unlikely to make any impact in absence of support from the farmers. Meanwhile, the INLD continues to oppose the project and it has announced that the party would annul the project after coming to power in Haryana. 

Fatehabad hamlet to be developed as model village
Sushil Manav/TNS

Fatehabad, September 10
Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad, where Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is in the process of setting up a nuclear power project, will soon be a model village with facilities of education, healthcare, sports and others spheres available to the villagers.

“The authorities have a plan to develop Gorakhpur as a model village,” Deputy Commissioner ML Kaushik told a deputation of villagers who met him at his office with a resolution passed by the village panchayat.

He said the NPCIL would also contribute towards development activities in Gorakhpur. Kashmiri Lal, village sarpanch, said the panchayat had demanded an industrial training institute, a sports complex with modern facilities, a hospital, drainage system, a JBT centre, a tourist place, a herbal park, a community centre and some other projects for the village in its resolution.

The villagers have also demanded 24-hour power supply and jobs to the village youths in the upcoming nuclear power project.

Under its corporate social responsibility (CSR), the NPCIL spends 2 per cent of its net operating profits on carrying out development activities in the villages, where these projects are set up.

According to a senior official of the NPCIL, the funds for the CSR are utilised by the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Wing of the NPCIL by carrying out development activities in villages from where the corporation acquires land for the project.

The development projects on which the money is to be spent are decided by village panchayats and their resolutions are routed to the NPCIL through the district authorities, who verify that funds from other schemes of the state or the Central government might not be already sanctioned for these projects.

Meanwhile, a survey for the identification of trees, dhanis, tubewells and other fixtures on the land acquired for nuclear power project will begin on September 10 and it will continue till September 15.

Meanwhile, the NPCIL will start geo-technical and topographical surveys for the project this week. According to a functionary of the corporation, the survey teams hired by the NPCIL have already arrived at Fatehabad. 

Gurgaon MC to shift dairies to city outskirts
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, September 10
The state government has approved the plan of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) to shift all dairies in the area under its jurisdiction to one place on the city's outskirts.

At present there are about 450 dairies in the corporation area. A committee constituted by the Municipal Commissioner has selected a 50-hectare plot in Dhankot village for this purpose. Once this site is developed, all the 450 dairies will be shifted there. The Municipal Corporation will develop this place and provide water, electricity and roads before it shifts the existing dairies to this place. “We feel that at present those dairies that are operating from residential areas are laying extra strain on the existing civic infrastructure and cause sewer lines to get jammed. Once these dairies are shifted to the outskirts, the strain will reduce," said an official.

"At the new site, dairy owners will be given plots according to their requirement and the plots will be decided by lots. We also plan to shift the cow shelters from their present location in Carterpuri to an area close to these new dairies," he added.

The state government has approved the Gurgaon-Manesar Urban Complex 2031 plan and the dairy project is a part of this plan. 

USE OF SHAMLAT LAND BY UPPER CASTES
Dalit families camp outside mini-secretariat
Raman Mohan/TNS

Hisar, September 10
Dalit families from Bhagana village of the district have been squatting outside the mini-secretariat here for the past 113 days. They shifted here after the upper-caste villagers raised a wall around an area which is included in shamlat land of the village.

Virendar Singh Bagoriya, who has been leading the protest, said a delegation of Dalits would leave for Delhi tomorrow to meet Union Home Minister Sushil Shinde.

He said a prominent Dalit leader Jai Bhagwan Jatav had arranged a joint meeting of the officials of Scheduled Caste Commission, Human Rights Commission and Union Home Ministry to resolve the issue.

Bagoriya said the district administration had not implemented the decisions taken by the Scheduled Caste Commission during hearings in Delhi. As such the affected Dalits had lost faith in fairness of the district administration.

He alleged that the shamlat land of the village was being used by the upper castes in violation of a government order issued under Section 145 of the Land Act. The Dalits had been barred from using the land even as a play ground.

He added that the administration had failed to restore harmony and peace in the village and the influential high-caste villagers ware bent upon harassing the Dalits.

Charan Samaj holds convention
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

A view of the Charan Samaj Convention at Govindpuri in Rewari. Photo by writer

School orchestra team in national competition
Manish Sirhindi
Tribune News Service

Ambala, September 10
The orchestra team of SD Vidya School qualified for the national competitions after it won the second spot at the 19th Haryana State Youth Festival organised by the Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Department in Sirsa.

The team comprising of Shivang Kaushik, Chirag Malhotra, Tanveer Singh, Abhinav Goel, Tushar Narula, Vivek Handa, Rishabh Chhabra, Anirudh Jindal and Navdeep Singh won the top laurels in the age group of 13-35 in the competition, which was an open-for-all contest.

The group competed with local school teams to win the district-level competitions following which it went on to participate in the state-level competition. It competed with many teams from all over Haryana and secured the second position, qualifying for the National competition to be held in Patna in January, next year.

While congratulating the students, Principal Rupinder Saini said it was a matter of pride that besides excelling in academics, the school students were carving out a niche for themselves in other fields also. 

Kurukshetra to be popularised as global tourist spot
Shekhar Singh
Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, September 10
Plans are being made to popularise Kurukshetra as an international tourist and pilgrimage destination because the land of Mahabharata has a big scope to be a national as well as an international tourist spot. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar here recently.

He said the district administration was ready to launch short, medium and long-term projects to promote tourist inflow. Highlighting the value and scope of tourism, Brar said experts’ suggestions and contributions had been taken at personal and institutional level. He also invited people to post suggestions regarding Kurukshetra tourism on the official website.

Referring to the new guide map for Kurukshetra, designed and developed by the district administration, Brar said it was inspired by the London city map and would be used as a tool to promote tourism.

“The city is both an educational and a traditional hub. Tourists visit it in every season and we are doing our best to make the city more beautiful. We have redesigned the website, giving every information to tourists. Hotels are also linked to the website, with their location. We have advised all hotels in the city to start online booking,” said Brar.

“The Governor has approved of two golf carts on Brahmsarovar that will help senior citizens to do parikama of the sarovar. A proposal to build a tourist information centre at Pipli has been sent to the Chief Minister’s Office. As Pipli is the starting point of the city, a tourist information centre there might help people reach the tourist spots. Suggestions to start open hop-pop buses were also given by the administration,” Brar added.

INSO ‘catalyst’ for social change
Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 10
Indian National Students Organisation -- students’ wing of the INLD – will play a greater role in the party and also a more positive role by involving itself in social activities.

This was stated by INLD secretary-general Ajay Singh Chautala while addressing a meeting of INSO office-bearers here recently.

Ajay Chautala said during the past 10 years, INSO had established itself as a unique organisation involved in the welfare of the student community. It was also becoming a catalyst for social change by engaging in social activities.

He said the party now wanted INSO to expand its activities and play a greater role in the party. The first step, he said, would be to enrol more members to expand its base. He asked the INSO activists to launch a special membership drive.

He said no educational institution of Haryana should be left out and efforts should be made to set up an INSO unit in each of the institutions.

He stated that the INLD was publishing literature for distribution among its workers and activists of various cells. These publications would include the party’s ideology, its political and social roadmaps.

He asked INSO office-bearers to organise monthly meetings of members to keep them active. 

HIT holds interaction programme for students
Ravinder Saini

Jhajjar, September 10
An interaction programme between senior and junior students of BTech was organised on the campus of the Haryana Institute of Technology (HIT) at Aasudha village under Bahadurgarh subdivision here recently.

The programme was inaugurated by the Founder-Chairman of the HIT group of Institutions, BL Gupta, while the Chairman of the HIT, Umang Mittal, was also present. During the programme, senior students had taken the introduction of their juniors and also assured them to extend full cooperation and guide them throughout the course. The juniors showed their talent in dance, singing, skit, mimicry, etc. Vamika was chosen as Miss Fresher and Sahil Kumar won the title of Mr Fresher while Ankit Bhardwaj and Monika were chosen for Mr and Miss fresher runner-up respectively. Dr Vijay Kaushik with the help of Pooja and Subham coordinated the programme.

Calling upon the students to toil hard for making their future bright, BL Gupta said there was no short cut for success hence the students should concentrate on their study and make efforts to achieve their goals.

Pinjore school student creates record
Hemant kumar

Kalka, September 10
Shipali Sharma, a student of plus two (science) of St Vivekanand Millennium School, Pinjore, has brought laurels to the school as she participated in a programme, “Dance for Oneness”, organised by Nirankari International Samagam (NIS 2012), under the aegis of the Sant Nirankari Mission, recently at National Indoor Arena, City of Birmingham, UK, where an international gathering of over 2,500 people danced for oneness and created a Guinness World Record. The event was the first of its kind, bringing together an international blend of devotees, guests and dignitaries to experience a spiritual festival themed “Oneness”, to promote a more unified and joyous world with a peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding.

Shipali Sharma basked in the glory of registering her name in the Guinness Book of World Records and making her school feel proud. Bubbling with elation, she said, ”I owe this achievement to my school, which provided me meticulous training in dancing to hone my skills to perfection.” Piyush Punj, Principal of the school, felicitated her with a Certificate of Appreciation and a memento. He urged the students of the school to sharpen their potential so that they may scale pinnacles of excellence and glory.

K’taka legislators visit KU museum
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, September 10
A 14-member delegation of the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha Members visited the Dharohar Museum at Kurukshetra University here recently. DH Shankarmurthy, leader of the delegation, said, “Dharohar Haryana Museum is a window to the culture and life of Haryana. The museum is a great treasure of the state’s culture, people and their history”.

The delegation was received at Dharohar by curator Dr Maha Singh Poonia while Lt-Gen (Dr) DDS Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor Kurukshetra University, presented mementos to the team members.

All members visited different sections of the museum and appreciated the efforts of the university in creating such a vibrant museum on the campus. They were happy to see many similarities between the cultures of Haryana and Karnataka, said Dr Brajesh Sawhney, Director, Public Relations, Kurukshetra University.

Haryana to digitise maps for land administration
Raman Mohan
Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 10
Haryana will soon become the first state to digitise cadastral maps for state-of- the-art land administration.

The Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) here is digitising the cadastral maps. Under the newly launched centrally sponsored National Land Record Modernisation Programme (NLRMP) funded by the Ministry of Rural Development, the entire revenue record of the state will be digitised and updated using high-resolution satellite imageries.

All the cadastral maps (mussavies) available at the district headquarters are being digitised and updated using the Sajra maps and other available land records. The updated maps are being geo-referenced using the benchmark Ground Control Points (GCP) being identified and fixed in the entire state using advanced technology of Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS).

Finally a seamless database of the land records will be prepared for the entire state. The geo-referenced 0.5 metre resolution World View (WV) satellite data has been acquired for the entire state which will be overlaid on the digitised cadastral maps used to correct inaccuracies in the data. These cadastral maps will also be linked to Records of Rights (RoR) data already computerised by NIC in the state.

The project also has provision for digitisation and management of old revenue documents like Misal Hakiat, Field Book and Jamabandi. Besides all the deeds registered during the past 12 years will also be scanned. All these documents will be catalogued, indexed, stored in soft format and linked to the cadastral maps.

Survey work will also be taken up under the project where consolidation has not been done yet, like in Morni Hills. Similarly resurvey and updating of land records will be carried out in areas like Gurgaon and Faridabad where lots of changes have occurred.

This information can be used in land acquisition and rehabilitation, land value assessment, preparation of field-level soil health cards, smart cards for farmers to facilitate e-governance and e-banking, settlement of compensation claims, crop insurance and grant of agricultural subsidies.

According to Dr VS Arya, Senior Scientist, HARSAC, recognising the pioneering work being done in Haryana, the Union Ministry of Rural development has decided to share Haryana’s success story with other states. Accordingly, a two-day national workshop will be organised here on September 6 and 7. The Principal Secretaries, Directors Land Records and other senior officers of Revenue Departments of 28 states will acquaint themselves with the Haryana experience and implement the project in their respective states. 

Cong leader for extension of ‘lal dora’ areas
Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 10
Former spokesman of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee and state PCC delegate Ved Prakash Vidrohi has expressed his "anxiety and concern" over the decision of the government not to extend the "lal dora" areas and the Bill passed in this regard by the Vidhan Sabha during the recent monsoon session.

The concept of "lal dora" was introduced about 58 years ago after land demarcation in 1954 to enable people in the villages to construct their houses. The population of the villages had multiplied during this period but instead of expanding the "lal dora" area to give relief to the people, the government had withdrawn the partial relief given to the people by repealing the 2003 Act.

Thousands of villagers have constructed houses outside the “lal dora” area and after the new Bill passed by the government, they have been left in the lurch and face the threat of demolition. The Congress had assured people to extend the "lal dora" area but after coming to power in 2005, nothing concrete was done in this regard and people have constructed a large number of houses beyond the "lal dora” areas.

Accusing the Congress government of not taking any effective step to provide relief and a permanent solution to the problems of the people who have constructed houses outside the "lal dora” area, he said it was intriguing that the government took no time in changing the master plans for towns to benefit the colonisers but was indifferent in case of poor people.

Urging the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to extend the "lal dora" area, he said the government must ensure that no house constructed outside the "la dora" areas were demolished.

HC judge Masih inspects courts in Sirsa
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Strategy on graphic solutions
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, September 10
Hewlett Packard (HP) announced its go-to-market strategy for graphic solutions business, with focus on environment-friendly and innovative printing solutions in the commercial market here recently.

“We are also looking to spearhead the growth of new experiential markets in publishing, photography and other key areas to drive newer growth opportunities, expand our printing portfolio and enrich our engagement with print partners,” said Gido van Praag, HP vice-president and general manager of graphic solutions business for Asia Pacific and Japan.

He maintained that HP’s strategy hinged on three key pillars: Adding value to printed page, ensuring profitable printing for print service providers and graphic arts businesses; and enabling environment-friendly and sustainable printing.

“With our new strategy in place, we are now enabling graphics and signage businesses to strongly pursue new growth markets and opportunities in digital printing,” said Puneet Chadha, director (market development) of graphic solutions business for Asia Pacific and Japan. 

Ambala admin gets firm with violators
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, September 10
Following the order of the Supreme Court, the Ambala administration has taken up all the necessary steps to fill all the abandoned bore-wells in the district to prevent children falling prey to fatal accidents. A survey has been launched in the district in this regard.

The incident of a child Mahi falling in the abandoned bore-well in Manesar a few months back has put the limelight back on the issue. The National Commission for Protection of Child Right has also asked the Haryana Chief Secretary to put all preventive measures in place.

In a meeting held recently, Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Shekhar Vidyarthi, asked the concerned officers to comply the apex court order strictly and said that if any incident of children falling into bore-wells took place, the concerned officer would be held responsible for it.

He asked the municipal council to keep a record of tube wells and bore-wells in the area and maintain a register in the Revenue Department and the Municipal Council. The sarpanches and the ‘numbardars’ were also directed to keep a watch on the abandoned bore-wells and defunct tube wells and in case of any incident, report the matter to the concerned authority immediately.

The DC asked the Public Health and Irrigation Departments to keep record of the contractors and agencies which are engaged in digging bore-wells and tube wells. The contractors and farmers must seek prior permission from the administration for digging tube wells and bore-wells, he added. The administration would take strict action against the contractors violating the guidelines, he said. 

INLD members slug it out in public
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, September 10
Following a slanging match between two conspicuous rivals of the INLD -- former minister Jagdish Yadav and the state party vice-president Rao Ajit Singh -- at the Berli Kalan rally recently in the very presence of party supremo Om Prakash Chautala, Singh had to face the humiliating ire of Yadav’s sympathisers soon after the conclusion of the rally, when Chautala had left the dais.

While the frenzied crowd, mostly comprising Yadav’s sympathisers, hurled chapplas, banana peels and even stones at Singh’s vehicle, the latter’s supporters somehow managed to take him away safely.

It is noteworthy that Singh, a scion of the Rampura House (a prestigious political seat of Ahirwal region), younger brother of Rao Inderjit Singh, Congress MP from Gurgaon, and elder brother of Rao Yadvender Singh, Congress MLA from Kosli (Rewari district), had joined the INLD in October 2007 and was now the state vice-president of the INLD.

Contrary to this, Yadav, who was a minister in the Chautala government during 2000-2005, and had subsequently quit the INLD in disapproval of Rao Ajit Singh vis-à-vis Rampura House’s increasing clout in the INLD, had rejoined the INLD recently with Chautala’s robust blessings.

While delivering his speech at the rally, Yadav criticised the “non-performance” of the Congress MP as well as his legislator brother. This apparently did not go down well with Singh, who said aspirants for party tickets should bear in mind that he, as a vice-president of the party, would have a say in the allocation of the tickets.

He also went on to say that the very activists who claimed that they had previously strengthened Chautala’s hands, had virtually deceived him when they later quit the party and left Chautala in the lurch.

His bitter remarks infuriated Yadav’s sympathisers, who started hooting and even snatched the mike from Singh’s hands.

Such chaos in the rally angered Chautala who sternly reprimanded the troublemakers while categorically stating that party ticket would be allocated to dedicated party activists alone.

Irrigation Dept to construct new guest house
Ravi S Singh/TNS

Faridabad, September 10
Facing pressure from the public at the NIT Assembly constituency, the Irrigation Department has finally decided to construct a new guest house as an alternative to the one at Dhoj village, which lay discarded for several years as the building is in a dilapidated condition.

The building that houses the guest house has a sprawling 1.5 acre complex and was constructed during the British era. Its ownership was transferred to the Irrigation Department after Independence. The department has agreed to construct a new guest house.

Haryana Labour Minister Shiv Charan Sharma, who represents the constituency, has also interceded on behalf of the public. Last week, Sharma inspected the building following representations to him from the people of the constituency alleging apathy on the part of the authorities with regard to renovation of the building. Subsequent to his visit, he took up the issue with the irrigation authorities.

He said several village panchayats had offered land for the construction of the guest house. Indications are that the department will zero in on 1.5 acre land at Pakhal village. The land falls on Sohna road.

The guest house at Dhoj had not been used for the past more than a decade. Duleep Kumar, Superintending Engineer of the department, confirmed that the building was unsafe. However, the department is in favour of a new guest house at a separate place. Irshad Kunwar, sarpanch of Dhoj, alleged that several representations had been made to the authorities for renovation of the guest house, but in vain. 

Rs 120-cr water augmentation schemes for Hisar, Palwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10
The High-Level Monitoring Committee, Haryana, today approved two schemes of Rs 120 crore for augmentation of water supply of two towns of the state, Hisar and Hassanpur (Palwal), under the Thirteenth Finance Commission Grants.

The approval to this effect was given at a meeting of the High-Level Monitoring Committee chaired by Haryana Chief Secretary PK Chaudhery here recently. The meeting was held for the review as well as for approving the projects and schemes of several departments for the utilisation of the 13th Finance Commission Grant-in-aid as provided by the Government of India for the period 2010-15.

The Principal Secretary, Finance, Sanjeev Kaushal, apprised the meeting about the grants made available to the state by the Government of India, the actual status of their utilisation and the implementation of schemes and projects related to this.

Briefing about the water augmentation schemes which were approved, he said both the schemes would be completed within a period of three years and water supply would be augmented to 135 LPCD in both the places as compared to 120 LPCD at present in Hisar town and 55 LPCD in Hassanpur Town. A sum of Rs 112 crore would be spent for augmenting water supply in Hisar town and Rs 8 crore in Hasanpur town.

The state would also strengthen fire services during the next five year at a cost of Rs 100 crore. A sum of Rs 25 crore had already been utilised for purchasing firefighting equipment in the last financial year and in the remaining period of the Thirteenth Finance Commission up to 2015, fire protection equipment of Rs 75 crore would be purchased for the purpose. Another project for the rehabilitation, renovation and modernisation of critically damaged channels of the state’s irrigation network of Rs 53.67 crore for 2012-13 was also proposed in the meeting.

The Chief Secretary directed the officers that in case the funds could not be utilised in any sector, the same should be utilised for other schemes so that the funds did not go waste. He said in renewable energy, much could be achieved in generating energy by tapping the potential of solar and biomass energy. 

YMCA varsity asks govt for land to expand
Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, September 10
The YMCA University of Science and Technology here has embarked upon a plan to expand itself in a big way and, to this effect, it has urged the Haryana Government to make available a piece of land it has identified in Dudhola village in nearby Palwal.

The university has identified 164 acres and has also shortlisted alternative sites in Bhairola and Phulwari, which are also in Palwal.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Lt Gen (retd) Karan Singh Yadav said the government had committed to make available 200 acres to the university to carry out its expansion project. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had made a public announcement to make the land available to the university. The terms and conditions for providing the land were yet to be finalised.

The university, erstwhile YMCA Institute of Engineering, Faridabad, was established in 1969 as a joint venture of the National Council of YMCAs of India, the Haryana Government and the Central Agencies for Development Aid, Bonn, Germany. The state government, however, took complete control of the institute in 1996 and ugraded it to the university status in December 2009.

Following the upgradation, need for its expansion had arisen. It is in this context that Hooda had assured the university to provide additional land.

The university has also sent a proposal to the state government to grant affiliating status to it. The status will enable it to allow affiliation of technical/engineering colleges in Faridabad and Palwal. Its academic council and executive council have already approved of the move.

The Vice-Chancellor said there was a plan to set up a faculty of environment sciences in addition to the three existing faculties. Besides, the university proposes to introduce, among others, new departments like civil engineering and nano technology under its Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

He said the university had sent a proposal to the UGC for grant-assistance of about Rs 70 crore in the 12th Plan under the latter’s central scheme. The university has become eligible for assistance under UGC’s central scheme, he added.

DLF’s Sohan shines at caddy golf event
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, September 10
Sandeep, Sohan Lal and Vikram teamed up to take the top honours at the 11th edition of the DLF Inter-Club Caddy Golf Championship organised at the DLF Golf and Country Club here recently.

This edition touched another milestone with 102 caddies participating from 34 clubs across the country.

In a pulsating play-off in the individual category, Sohan Lal from the DLF Golf and Country Club was declared the winner of the championship. He was awarded a Maruti Alto K10 car. Mahesh from Forest Hills, Chandigarh, and Amjad Ali from RCGC, Kolkata, emerged as the first and second runners-up and won a Hero motorcycle and IGU-sponsored golf set, respectively.

The team championship and DLF gift vouchers worth Rs 30,000 were won by Sandeep, Sohan Lal and Vikram from the DLF Golf and Country Club. The team from Air Force Golf Club, New Delhi, comprising Azam, Arshad and Rizwan bagged the first runners-up team prize, while the second runners-up was the team of Sandeep, Bappa and Jiten from the Tollygunge Golf Club, Kolkata. Aakash Ohri, who heads the DLF Golf and Infra, congratulated the winning teams. 

Govt circulars must be clear: HCCI
Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS

Karnal, September 10
The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) has favoured the formulation of pragmatic policies in consultation with captains of the industry for creating a healthy business and industrial environment in the state.

It has urged the government to ensure that the circulars and notifications issued are unambiguous. “The ambiguity in government circulars and notification is resulting in different interpretations of law, leading to multiple litigations and delays, hampering industrial growth,” newly elected president of the HCCI Pankaj Kapoor said.

He added that due to the difference in interpretation of notifications regarding deferment of payment, over 200 cases were pending in courts and the reason was ambiguity in language of notification.

“Such unnecessary and avoidable litigations are harming the interests of the industrialists, as besides spending lakhs of rupees in fighting these cases in courts, investors are suffering losses due to the delays,” he said.

Another major cause of concern for the industry was higher tax rates and duties on raw material and finished products, high power tariff and costly land, he said.

He added that unless fixed flat rate system on the pattern of Meerut was introduced, it would be difficult to develop an industrial hub in the state. Kapoor said it was natural that the industrialists would purchase raw material from Meerut at cheaper rates instead of producing the same in the state and suffer in competition.

The chamber would urge the state government to provide for infrastructure in Panipat where the chamber could build an office and auditorium for daily working, he assured.

Referring to the banking system, Kapoor pleaded for total transparency in functioning of the banks and said hidden charges should be specific and instead of monthly or quarterly reports, daily business reports should be prepared in case of industrial houses having heavy daily transactions.

Noting that environment protection was emerging as a major issue, Kapoor said environment-friendly and local raw material-based industries should be encouraged and railway networks should be expanded to connect the industrial hubs so as to check pollution and traffic congestion.

Stressing the need for a super-speciality hospital on the GT road, Kapoor said setting up Kalpana Chawala Medical College in Karnal was a welcome step, adding that the industry would not hesitate to contribute to make its modest contribution for the project. 

Vocational training centre for women
Ravinder Saini

Jhajjar, September 10
With a view to imparting training of tailoring and embroidery to family members of the labour fraternity and their acquaintances, HSIL Limited, a leading sanitary items manufacturing company, has established a Vocational Training Centre on its premises in Bahadurgarh town here.

The centre, which has been set up in collaboration with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry under its branch PHD Rural Development Foundation, New Delhi, was inaugurated by RK Somany, chairman and managing director of HSIL Limited, at a function recently.

While addressing the gathering, Somany called upon the trainees to get maximum benefit of this practical training by learning all technical aspects of tailoring and embroidery.

AK Mohanty, AVP (Personnel & Legal) of the company, informed mediapersons that the project aimed at making women and girls of labour fraternity self-dependent so that they could earn money by sitting in their homes.

"In the first session of the project, as many as 60 trainees will be trained in tailoring and embroidery work in two shifts. Merely Rs 100 each from the trainee has been taken for registration in the course. Besides, all expenses will be borne by the HSIL," said Mohanti, adding that the trainees would be able to open their boutique after completion of the training programme.

Apart from the vocational training centre, HSIL Ltd has also constructed an orphanage in Sector 6 in Bahadurgarh town. RB Kabra, president of the company, and Anjana of PHD Chamber were among those who were present at the inaugural function.

Balhara calls it a day
Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, September 10
Noted playback singer of Haryanavi cinema Bhal Singh Balhara has contributed to more than 20 films as an actor and a singer during the past three decades. He started his career as a hero and singer in 1980 with the film, ‘Bahurani’.

Golden jubilee Haryanavi film “Chandrawal” had broken all the records and to some extent the credit goes to playback singer Balhara. His devotion as an actor and playback singer has always been recognised throughout his film career. Recently, he as a director contributed to film “Tera Mera Vadaa”.

Talking to mediapersons here recently, local district information and public relations officer Dev Raj Sirohiwall, who had earlier worked with Balhara in Haryanavi film “Mahari Dharti Mahari Maa”, said the shooting of the film was conducted at his native village Kiloradh. Well-known Haryanavi cinema director Arvind Swami directed films like ‘Bahurani (1980), the first Haryanavi film and the one in which Balhara played the key role as a hero, and ‘Mahari Dharti Mahari Maa’, he said.

In order to bring the Haryanavi culture to limelight at global parameters, his dedication and devotion always remained splendid, Sirohiwall said. As far as his contribution as public relations (PR) man is concerned, Balhara had done a lot to upgrade the culture and heritage of the state through different mediums.

He was often called the ‘Mohammad Rafi’ of Haryana. Balhara retired on August 31 as the additional director, Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Haryana.

Passing-out MTech students hold poster exhibition
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 10
On the occasion of the passing out of the first batch of MTech in Material Sciences and Nano-Technology of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, a poster exhibition was organised on the university premises to display nano-particles as well as the research projects 
carried out by the passing-out students.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Vice-Chancellor of the university HS Chahal congratulated the students and asked them to continue research which could benefit the future of mankind.

He added that the university was providing every possible help, including financial help, for research works and students should avail of it.

Tushika explained in her poster how silver nano-particles can be obtained from raw soil samples collected from cottage industries. This nano-silver can be used for purifying polluted water coming out of textile and chemical industries.

Another student exhibited how fighter planes can be shielded from radar detection by coating a newly designated EMI-shielding material on the fighter planes. This material can also be used for protecting satellites from sun’s heat and nuclear blasts.

Through their posters, students said that for syntheods of silver nano-particles using bacterial cultures, raw soil samples were collected from the places where silver works are done. The bacterial cultures are prepared and preserved at a certain temperature and silver nitrate was added to these cultures. Then silver nitrate was converted to silver nano-particles. In the same way, zinc and copper metal nano-particles can be synthesised by using zinc sulphate and copper sulphate which is a pollution-free method.

Another student presented his research on carbon nano-tube for storage and conversion of energy. By making composite of nano-carbon tube with conducting polymers, advanced materials can be obtained having superior mechanical strength and improved conductivity.