Chandigarh May 2
Sportsmen in Haryana are in for bonanza with the Haryana Government today approving major amendments to its Sports Policy-2009.

The state Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, gave approval to these amendments, including increasing the cash awards to outstanding sportspersons, provide similar incentives to differently-abled sportspersons, scholarships to SC categories sportspersons honorariums to the Dronacharya, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand awardees and cash awards to sportspersons, who have represented Haryana or who were born in Haryana or one whose parents were born in Haryana.

According to the new policy, the cash awards to physically challenged winners at the Paralympic games will be equal to those given to general sportspersons from the national level to the Olympic level. Now the cash awards for Olympic/Paralympic Games for 2016 has been hiked from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 5 crore for the gold medal winner, from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 3 crore for the silver and from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore for the bronze winner. The participation amount will remain Rs 11 lakh.

Similarly, the winners of the Special Olympics will get Rs 15 lakh (now Rs 5 lakh) for gold medal, Rs 10 lakh( up from Rs 3 lakh) for silver medal and Rs 5 lakh( up from Rs 2 lakh) for bronze medal and Rs 1 lakh for participation.

Besides, Fair Play monthly scholarship to medal winners will be given for different levels. At the state level, the sportspersons will get Rs 3,500, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,500 for winning gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. At the national level, the scholarship amount would be Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,000. And at the international level, it will be Rs 7,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 5,000.

In addition, Rs 1,500 monthly scholarship will be given for participation in the state-level championships to the SC sportspersons.

Similarly, the Dronacharya, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand awardees will get an honorarium of Rs 5,000 per month with effect from May 1, 2010. The Cabinet has also approved a cash award of Rs 5 lakh to those who have climbed Mount Everest after March 2005.

Preventing chit fund frauds

In an apparent bid to prevent the recurrence of West Bengal type chit fund scam, the Cabinet today approved the Haryana Protection of Interests of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Bill, 2013, to improve the regulatory coordination and consequently protect the interests of the depositors. Currently, there are 88 registered Non-Banking Financial Corporations (NBFCs) in the state.

The state government has been empowered to prosecute these companies in case the general public is cheated by them. The depositors can have recourse to the Company Law Board and other government machinery in case of default by these NBFCs.

Policy on SEZs

The Cabinet approved the recommendations of the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to suggest the alternative use of land blocked under the notified Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and revision of the policy of the Town and Country Planning Department regarding the grant of licences to industrial colonies.

In the case of SEZs notified with land measuring 50 acres and above and situated in "non-residential" land use zones, they will be given the option to apply for an "industrial colony licence" or a "cyber city/ technology city" and the Town and Country Planning Department will grant licences for the development of industrial colonies/cyber/ technology cities in these cases by one-time relaxation of the designated land use zone conditions.

The SEZs, notified with land measuring less than 50 acres in the non-residential zones, will be given the option to apply for grant of licence for the development of IT/ cyber/technology parks as per provions of the Industrial and Investment Policy-2011. The Town and Country Planning Department will grant the licence for this purpose.

While the roads, infrastructure services, public utilities and open spaces will be allowed to cover 35 per cent of the total area, the plotted/saleable area will be 65 per cent.

Of the plotted area, the industrial use area will be 45 per cent while the residential/housing component will be 15 per cent. Out of the 15 per cent area for housing, 3 per cent will be used for provision of industrial worker/labour housing.

The developers will have to complete the infrastructure facilities and allot at least 1/3rd of the plotted industrial area in respect of the industrial land use before being given permission to occupy the facilities created under the residential or commercial uses, Principal Secretary(Industries) YS Malik said.

Communication policy

The Cabinet approved the Policy for Communication and Connectivity Infrastructure in Haryana in order to strengthen the core information and communication infrastructure.

The policy addressed all related aspects of laying of communication and connectivity infrastructure in the state and grant of approvals and clearances across the state following a uniform set of guidelines.

The process of grant of permissions, timelines, the supporting documents required along with the applications and the timelines within which such permissions will be granted has also been laid down under the policy. The permissions for laying the communication infrastructure will be valid for up to 20 years or for the period as applied for by the applicant.

Other key decisions… Facilities for ex-Chief Ministers on a par with Cabinet Ministers at Chandigarh Amendment to service rules relating to qualifications for junior coaches and junior yoga coaches approved Police Recruitment Board for direct recruitments okayed. Pardon of four convicts, Rambir, Vinod alias Lakhmi, Satpal and Rajiv, recommended to the Governor Sub-tehsil for Rai (Sonipat) approved Transfer of 1.4 acres of irrigation land to HUDA for development of a park named after Shaheed Hukam Chand Jain in Hansi (Hisar) approved

Chandigarh, May 2
The Hooda Government today modified its land pooling scheme making it more attractive for landowners.

The major decision has been taken with a view to taking care of the major vote bank of the Congress, the farming community, ahead of next year’s parliamentary and state assembly elections, sources told The Tribune here today.

Under the new policy, the landowners can now opt for the scheme within one month from the date of determination of compensation for land by the committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner. The Divisional Commissioner would hold the meetings at least three months prior to the last date for announcement of the award. Further, the compensation so determined or proposed to be awarded would be made known to the landowners so that they can exercise their option under the scheme, the Principal Secretary (Industries), said here today.

In a major benefit to the landowners, they will be free to opt for the scheme in any ratio and not 50:50 as prescribed in the current scheme. However, a minimum of one acre land will have to be offered under the scheme.

According to the existing policy, the landowners had the choice to opt for developed land measuring 1,200 square yards for each acre of land in lieu of the compensation package and all other benefits admissible under the Relief and Rehabilitation (R & R) Policy.

The landowners are eligible to participate in this scheme only if a minimum of half acre or more of his land was acquired.

Kaithal, May 3
After a fortnight of bitterness and animosity, members of the Ror and Dalit communities embraced each other in the Harijan Chaupal at Pabnawa village here today. They pledged to restore brotherhood of a violence-torn village in the days and weeks to come.

They decided to sink their differences after Haryana Government emissary PWD Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala brokered peace between the two communities, at war since April 13 following an attack by the upper class Rors on the Dalits. The trigger for the violence was that a Dalit boy of the village had married a Ror girl in contravention to village traditions.

After separate meetings with the specially constituted committees of the two communities, Surjewala brought them around to conciliation, urging them to sink their differences, convincing the Dalits to call back their families who had left the village following the attack.

Accepting all demands of the Dalit community unconditionally, Surjewala announced the compensation package for the Dalits who had suffered injuries or any damage to property. “While all 282 families will get 10 quintals of wheat and Rs 5,000 to buy husk for their cattle, 80 families with damaged property will get Rs 21,000. Six shop owners will get Rs 1 lakh each as also those injured in the violence. Further, a compensation of Rs 51,000 and 41,000 will go to the two families which have suffered a greater loss of property. As demanded, those with damaged vehicles will get Rs 15,000 and this compensation will reach all families by May 15. Ambedkar Bhawan will also come up in the village where four chaupals of the Dalits will get Rs 2.5 lakh each for repair. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has authorised me to broker peace and we will do so at all costs,” he stated.

A police post will also be established in the village till the Dalits are “comfortable and feel secure” while a nodal officer, a DSP, will also monitor the progress of the confidence-building exercise between the two communities.

Accompanied by local MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sultan Singh Jaudala, Surjewala urged the Ror community to help arrest those guilty of violence. He sought their cooperation in a compromise.

Speaking at the Ror Chaupal, sarpanch Ushan Singh and former sarpanch Om Prakash, who were also present at the Harijan Chaupal, said they would extend help to re-build confidence of the Dalits and both communities agreed to hand over any member who misbehaved or created any nuisance. While Surjewala announced Rs 11 lakh for the Ror Chaupal of the village from the Chief Minister' fund, he gave Rs 4 lakh from his kitty.

The communities also agreed to set up a 30-member joint committee for confidence-building measures in the village while Surjewala, Jaudala, Deputy Commissioner Chander Shekhar and Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh, announced that they would visit the village and hold joint meetings of the two communities.

Chandigarh,May 2
SS Dhillon,Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, has been moved to Chief Minister’s Office(CMO) as Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.

Dhillon, who was among the four contenders for the post of Hooda’s Prinicipal Secretary in March this year, has been posted against a vacant post. With current incumbent Chattar Singh’s three-month re-employment period ending on June 30, Dhillon’s appointment in the CMO at this juncture is being linked to the appointment of next Principal Secretarty to the Chief Minister.

In fact, in today’s reshuffle, TC Gupta, former Director-General of the Town and Country Planning Department, was brought back in the old department as Principal Secretary, besides retaining his current charge as nodal officer for monitoring the Chief Minister’s announcements and monitoring and coordination.

Meanwhile, Dhanpat Singh, Principal Secretary, Technical Education Department, has been posted as Principal Secretary, Food and Supplies Department. Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary, Environment Department, will hold additional charge as Principal Secretary, Technical Education.

Chandigarh, May 2
Taking a dig at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today asked him to thank the UPA Government for the decision to scrap wealth tax on farmland.

Addressing a press conference here today, Hooda claimed that the UPA Government had secured the future of the farmers by taking this decision .

On the issue of bonus on wheat, Hooda said he had already written to the Prime Minister seeking a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal on wheat for farmers.

When asked whether the Congress would contest the MC elections on the party symbol, he said the party would take an appropriate decision in this regard. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 2
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that a retired employee, yet to be paid pension, can be allowed to retain government accommodation for additional time by paying enhanced fee. This was to enable the employee to make alternative arrangements.

Taking up a petition filed by Prem Lata against the State of Haryana and other respondents, Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath allowed her to retain government accommodation till July 31. As the case came up for hearing, the Bench issued notice of motion to the state on the limited issue of determining ground “as to why the petitioner be not allowed to retain government accommodation for additional three months for the reason that after her retirement on December 31, 2012, the retirement dues have been paid to her on March 29 only, though her pension is yet to be released".

After the notice was accepted in the court by Deputy Advocate-General RD Sharma, the Bench added it was not necessity to seek counter-reply from the respondents at the current stage, in view of the nature of the order proposed to pass.

The Bench added liberty was, however, being granted to the respondents to seek review or recall of the order, if facts averred by the petitioner were found to be contrary to the record.

The Bench asserted: “Since the petitioner who is said to have retired on December 31, 2012, on attaining the age of superannuation, has been paid her retirement dues on March 29 and her pension has not been released so far, making it nearly impossible for her to make an alternative arrangement, we dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondents to grant extension and allow the petitioner to retain the government accommodation till July 31.”

The orders were passed with a rider. The Bench specified the extension was being granted on payment of licence fee at 50 times the rate. 

Faridabad, May 2
Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, GM, Faridabad telecom district, has been booked for sexual harassment of a woman officer of his department.

Dr Hitesh Yadav, Assistant Commissioner of Police, said an FIR was registered against the accused on a complaint from a Junior Telecom Officer based in this district last night.

The case has been handed over to a team of women police officers

The victim complained that the accused had been harassing her since 2009. She alleged she had been transferred over 10 times during this period.

The police said the accused would be arrested only after preliminary investigation was over.

Meanwhile, a three-member team arrived here from Ambala Telecom Circle for a fact-finding inquiry

Local telecom employees have expressed solidarity with the victim. The workers union has demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Sonepat, May 2
A senior secondary class student of Garhi Bala village was allegedly raped by her classmate Vijay, a resident of Narwana, in the village school. Her another classmate and resident of her village Rahul allegedly helped them to run away.

The police arrested the alleged rapist from Rohtak today and restored the girl to her parents. The police got the victim medically examined in the Community Health Centre at Badhkhalsa and her statement was recorded before the magistrate in Sonepat. A case under was registered against the accused.

According to information, the girl's father lodged a complaint in Kundli police station stating that her daughter was missing from the house on April 29 morning. He suspected the involvement of the accused. Before eloping, Vijay had reportedly promised to marry her. — OC

Kurukshetra May 2
A robbers' gang member, who had impersonated as an SHO at the time of a robbery here on April 19, has been arrested.

District police chief Rakesh Kumar Arya said the arrested person had been identified as Bhim Singh of Barwala (Hisar). With his arrest, the number of arrested gang members involved in the looting of Rs 3 lakh from Punjab-based trader Pawan Kumar here on April 19 has raisen to four.

A Bolero car(HR 80-5143), Rs 30,000 in cash, an ASI's uniform, had also been seized from him. He was produced in the court here today, which had remanded him in judicial custody.

Three culprits involved in this robbery - Ramesh and Vikki of Bainsi village in Rohtak district and Balwan Singh of Kharak Jattan village in Rohtak district, were arrested and sent in judicial lockup on April 27. The police had already recovered Rs1.5 lakh from them.

Arjun of Bainsi village in Rohtak district , the master mind of the robbery plan, and Naresh are still at large. 

Karnal, May 2
The Karnal administration today freed 22 labourers, including seven women and a child, from a brick-kiln in Bal Pawana and Jhimri Khera villages in the district.

Following a tipoff that some migrant labourers from Rajasthan and UP were in captivity of brick-kiln owners, the administration swung into action and freed the labourers.

They were sent to their native villages in Rajasthan and UP. However, the brick-kiln owners dubbed the allegations as baseless, claiming that no labourer was detained as "bonded labourer".

SDM Vikram Singh said the released labourers had not said that they were kept as bonded labourers.

However, local advocate Rajesh Verma said that these labourers were forced to work as bonded labourers and a complaint was sent to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard and labourers were freed today. 

Chandigarh, May 2
The government has given additional charge to three IAS officers .

Chander Parkash, Commissioner, Gurgaon Division, Gurgaon, Special Commissioner, Health and Nutrition, Mewat Area, Gurgaon, Chairman, Mewat Development Agency and assisting Dr NC.Saxena, who has been appointed Commissioner by the Supreme Court of India in PUCL Vs Union of India and Others case, has been given the additional charge as Commissioner, Rohtak Division, Rohtak , during the leave period of Suprabha Dahiya.

ML Kaushik, Special Secretary, Forests, and Deputy Commissioner, Jind, has been given additional charge as Deputy Commissioner, Hisar, and Commissioner, MC, Hisar, during the training period of Amit Kumar Aggarwal.

Phool Chand Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, and Chief Administrator, Shree Mata Sheetla Devi Shrine Board, Gurgaon, will also look after the work of Commissioner, MC, Gurgaon, during the training period of Ashok Sangwan.