Hisar, November 25
Water pollution being caused by some steel industrial units in the town is playing havoc with the health of people here. Though industrial units claimed to adhere to the pollution control norms and deny discharging liquid pollutants, the Pollution Control Board had recently served notices on two industries after finding pollutants in discharged liquid by industries.

Reports said the board had collected water samples from a nullah meant for the discharge of rainwater in the industrial area after residents complained about it during the monsoon season. Sources said the laboratory analysis of the samples showed that it contained suspended solid, oil, grease and iron, which exceeded the permissible limits.

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had served a show-cause notice to Jindal Stainless Steel and Hisar metal industries on the basis of these reports under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The PCB had collected the samples of effluent from the final discharge point of the unit in the drain near a cycle stand. A similar notice was served to Hisar metal industries, which said results of the analysis report of effluent had exceeded the permissible limit of the total suspended solid, oil, grease and iron.

Terming it a gross violation of the Act, the PCB asked the unit to reply within 15 days of serving the notice. Regional officer of the HSPCB at the Hisar branch office Vinay Gill, while confirming to serve notices to the two industrial units, said both the units had denied discharging the effluents in the nullah. He, however, maintained that the units had promised to upgrade their effluent treatment plant (ETP). “The pollution board would not allow any violation of norms and we would inspect the upgraded ETPs in the next visit to the units shortly,” he said.

However, even after denying discharge of effluents, the rainwater nullah flows through the town filled with coloured water that emanates just at the start of the cycle stand near the Jindal unit. The PCB official maintained that the industries were not allowed to discharge effluents in the rainwater nullah.

The information gathered under the RTI information revealed that the Jindal Stainless unit, which is one biggest units in the country, with a capital investment of Rs 1,413.45 crore, used 4,19,686 metric tonnes (MT) hot rolled strips/SS plates, 12,389 MT nitric acid, 1,416 MT hydrofluoric acid, 455 MT sulphuric acid and 1660 MT ammonia during 2010-11. The sanctioned power load of this unit is 1.25 lakh KW.

Krishan Kumar Lohia, an RTI activist, who is the president of the Hisar Small Industries Welfare Association, alleged he had asked the pollution board to provide him a sample report and two sealed bottle of the same water sample for sending the same to other laboratories for the reconfirmation of the board report. “But the board refused to provide the sealed bottle, which raises suspicion about the results of the analysis report. The effluents discharged through the nullah is being drained out in the fields, which results in environment degradation and causes harm to the people,” said Lohia.

OP Agrawal, an official of the Jindal industries, however, maintained that they had installed a treatment plant, which is bigger than the required capacity at the unit, so there is no question of releasing untreated water in the nullah.

Sirsa, November 25
A class X student of the Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School here was taken to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak with the complaint of loss of hearing after a schoolteacher allegedly beat her up at the school on Saturday.

Kulwinder Kaur allegedly beat up the girl on Saturday. Incensed at this, the girl's mother created a scene at the school and allegedly manhandled the teacher.

The police yesterday booked Sapna's mother Baby, a resident of Balmiki Chowk here, under Sections 332 and 353 of the IPC for voluntary causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing duty.

The police today said they had received the medico-legal report, indicating an internal injury to the girl's ear, and they would make a cross-case from her side accordingly.

In her complaint to the police, Sapna alleged that the teacher told her to come to her house to perform some domestic chores. She alleged that when she refused, the teacher beat up her, slapped her on the ear and pushed her to the ground.

At that time, she did not realise the impact of the beating she received, but slowly, she felt that she had suffered loss of hearing in the ear on which the teacher slapped her, alleged Sapna.

She was taken to the General Hospital here, where doctors referred her to PGIMS in Rohtak.

Earlier, Kulwinder Kaur, teaching social studies at the school, alleged in her complaint to the police that she had reprimanded the girl for some action.

She maintained that the girl fell on the ground while rushing out.

She claimed that the girl called her mother, who manhandled the teacher.

Chandigarh, November 25
Keeping in view the enthusiasm shown by people in depositing their property tax, the state government has extended up to December 10 the period to avail one-time rebate on property tax dues. Earlier, today was the last date for the purpose.

The government has amended its notification to extend this period.

Urban Local Bodies Minister Savitri Jindal said here today that a one-time rebate of 30 per cent would be allowed for those property owners who clear all their property tax dues up to 2012-13 by December 10. Similarly, a rebate of 10 per cent would be admissible to those assesses who pay their total tax for the assessment year 2013-14 by July 31.

She said various residents' welfare associations had given representations to extend the time period for deposit of property tax dues with rebate.

No official present to accept house tax

Kalka: Hundreds of house-owners of Kalka had to face much inconvenience today in the zonal office of the Panchkula Municipal Corportation here as there was no official to collect house tax till 10-30 am.

Long queues could be seen in the offce for depositing house tax as today was the last date for the purpose.—OC 

Chandigarh, November 25
Seven acres of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) are allegedly being cultivated without authorisation despite the land being a part of a project to develop Sector 19 of Panipat.

If allegations in a petition filed in public interest in the Punjab and Haryana High Court are to be believed, HUDA has paid compensation for the land.

Taking up the matter, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has set a month's deadline for the HUDA Chief Administrator to take follow-up action as deemed necessary.

The directions came on a petition filed by Ranjit Singh against the State of Haryana and other respondents. The petitioner was seeking initiation of action on his representations in this regard dated January 3 and April 25.

The petitioner had contended that an inquiry report was submitted by Panchkula Additional Superintendent of Police on November 22, 2012, regarding unauthorised cultivation of seven acres allegedly belonging to HUDA and forming a part of development of Sector 19, Panipat.

Taking up the matter, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih asserted, "It is alleged that HUDA has even paid compensation for the land.

"It appears from the averments that the Chief Administrator, HUDA, vide a letter dated February 5, had asked the Administrator, HUDA, Rohtak, and the Estate Officer, HUDA, Panipat, to take action within a week. But it is alleged that no action has been taken.

"We are of the view that appropriate directions to be passed in this petition would be for the Chief Administrator, HUDA, to take such follow-up action and inform the petitioner within a maximum period of one month."

Ambala, November 25
Standing guard against siphoning of subsidised wheat seeds, a large number of farmers in Shahzadpur stopped two tractor-trolleys loaded with subsided wheat seeds and handed those over to the police last night.

Alleging the involvement of officials, the farmers asked why the tractor-trolleys loaded with subsidised seeds were brought from the Naraingarh seed centre on Sunday, which was a holiday, and at night to boot.

Ashwani Thakur of Bita village said farmers approaching the seed centre of the Agriculture Department at Naraingarh to buy subsidised seeds for the upcoming wheat season were regularly being turned back as those posted at the centre were telling them that wheat seeds had not yet arrived for distribution.

Some farmers who spotted hundreds of bags being taken to the centre on Friday evening spread the word among farmers of the area that seeds were available at the centre, but famers were not being provided those.

Following this, groups of farmers sat on a night vigil and spotted two tractor-trolleys being driven out of the centre last night.

They immediately caught hold of the driver of one of the tractor-trolleys and found that both were loaded with wheat seeds. The police were informed, after which a team reached the spot and impounded the tractor-trolleys.

The farmers demanded action against the staffers of the seed centre, but a case was not registered. Deputy Director RS Sangwan reached Shahzadpur and tried to pacify the farmers.

He claimed that there was no dearth of seeds and anybody could have the seeds after producing a self-attested affidavit of being a farmer.

Farmers stuck to their stand and demanded an inquiry into the siphoning off of wheat seeds, which they said were being taken to be sold in the open market instead of being distributed among farmers.

Satpal Singh, a local farmer, said connivance of local Agriculture Department officials could not be ruled out as senior officials who reached the village in the afternoon were trying to pacify the farmers instead of telling the police to register a case.

Chandigarh, November 25
A 9.9 MW biomass plant has been set up in Mahendragarh district with a total cost of Rs 60 crore and a similar project of 9.5 MW in Bhiwani district is at its final stage.

While stating this here today, an official spokesman of the Renewable Energy Department said three more biomass projects of 12 MW each were under installation in the state. He said for power generation from industrial waste, 14 projects of 34.11 MW capacity had been setup in the industries and one project of 3.5 MW capacity was under installation.

He said to run computer labs in government schools, 21 schools in Rohtak, three in Kaithal and two in Kurukshetra had been provided 26 solar power plants of 2.7 kW each with an investment of Rs 2.8 crore. A project to install 9117 SPV street lighting systems with an investment of Rs 17.27crore in 457 villages having 50 per cent or more Scheduled Castes population has been completed.

Hisar, November 25
The Hisar range police introduced the citizen charter and an employees' charter in five districts of the range from today. SS Kapoor, Inspector-General of Police, said 11 services would be provided.

"The charter will bring transparency and efficiency in the functioning of the police. SSPs of all the districts in the range have been directed to set up police suvidha kendras at the district-level," he said.

The services included are character attestation, passport attestation, untraced reports in theft cases, vehicle passing, driving test, new arms licence attestation, investigation report of parole cases, providing copies of FIR to the complainant, redressing complaint in which no DDR/FIR is registered, redressing complaint against any police personnel and providing copy of DDR.

In employees' charter, complaints of seniority, promotion, allowances, government quarters allotment, GPF withdrawal, medical claim, pension/family pension cases, leave encashment sanction and withdrawal, TA/LTC bill clearance and recovery of salary and allowances would be addressed.

Sonepat, November 25
The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industries (HCCI) has constituted a new chapter in Sonepat, its ninth in the state.

Yudhveer Nain, Ashish Guptaand Ramesh Wadhva were elected president, general secretary and finance secretary, respectively, of the HCCI Sonepat chapter.

Arun Singh, SP, Sonepat, was the chief guest. HCCI president Pankaj Kapoor presided over the meeting, attended by members of the state executive committee and around 50 members of the new Sonepat chapter. — OC

Chandigarh, November 25
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has given approval to declare 89 colonies falling under the Municipal Council, Jind; Municipal Council, Hansi; and Municipal Committee, Uchana; as civic amenities and infrastructure- deficient municipal areas. The government would provide basic facilities in these municipal areas.

An official spokesman said here today the government earlier shortlisted 543 colonies situated within 30 municipal limits as civic amenities and infrastructure- deficient municipal areas. Now, it has been decided to include 89 colonies of Jind, Hansi and Uchana in this list.

The colonies included Ajmer Basti Extension, Ashram Basti, Basant Vihar, Bhagat Singh Colony behind courts, Bhagwan Nagar Rohtak Road, Bhatnagar Colony, Bhupinder Nagar, Bhupinder Nagar Extension, Buda Bada Basti, Chabri Colony, Chanderlok Colony-1, Chanderlok Colony-2, Colony near Saint Mira School (Jawahar Nagar), Daya Basti Kaithal Road, Durga Colony Extension, Ekta Nagar, Employees Colony behind Court, Employees Colony opposite Jail Gohana Road, Geeta Colony, Gupta Colony Amarheri Road, Gupta Colony Bhiwani Road, Hanuman Nagar, Hari Nagar Extension, Harijan Colony Narwana Road, Jain Nagar Extension, Kamboj Nagar, Khem Nagar Extension, Krishana Colony Extension, Model Town, Netaji Colony, New Krishana Colony Extension Rohtak Road Bye Pass, Om Nagar, Panchpeer Colony, Patel Nagar Extension, Prem Nagar Kaithal Road, Raghu Nagar, Raj Nagar-1, Raj Nagar Extension, Ram Baksh Colony, Ram Colony Gohana Road, Ram Nagar Extension, Rambir Colony Extension, Rattan Colony, Roop Nagar, Sainipura Colony, School Basti Pindari, Sharma Nagar Bhiwani Road, Sheetal Puri, Shiv Colony, Shivpuri Colony Narwana Road, Shorgar Basti Extension, Shyam Nagar Extension, Solu Colony, Somnath Basti Colony, Sunder Nagar Extension, Vijay Nagar Colony, Vikas Nagar Colony, Vishav Karma Colony-1Ara Road, Vishavkarma Colony-2 Ara Road and Vishavkarma Colony Rohtak Road.

He said that similarly, Colonies under Municipal Committee Uchana included Area behind Hanuman Mandir Ward Number 1 near Bye Pass, Area between Outer Mandi Gate and Palwa Chowk, Area between Palwa Chowk and Vishavakarma Colony, Area between Railway Phatak, Main Bazar and Anaj Mandi, Chottu Ram Colony in Ward Number 3, Rajendra Colony and Vishavakarma Colony.

The Colonies under the Municipal Council Hansi included Agarsain Colony, Amar Market-2, Bhatia Colony-2, Employees Colony, Friends Colony-1, Friends Colony-2, Ganesh Colony, Jagannath Mandi Colony, Jawahar Nagar-2, Jawahar Nagar-3, Karan Kunj Colony, Kharar Chungi Colony, Model Town Extension, Multan Colony-2, Nand Nagri Colony, Patel Nagar, Ravidas Nagar, Sai Baba Colony, Sisai Bhati Colony, Vikas Nagar, Vishwakarma Colony and Vakil Colony.

Chandigarh, November 25
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today extended the period for waiving water connection fee of Rs 500 for all categories of houses in rural areas for one year so as to give them free water connections up to March 31, 2015.

An official spokesman said here today that this decision would encourage the people to take private water connections and to save precious water. Earlier, the state government had waived the water connection fee for all categories of houses in the rural areas up to March 31, 2014.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Government has decided to waive recovery of the balance outstanding principal amount of computer advance and interest thereon due from its those Class III and IV employee who die while in service.

An official spokesman said earlier it was decided to waive the recovery of outstanding principal amount of house building advance, marriage advance, wheat advance, festival advance, cycle advance, plot loan and interest thereon due from deceased government employee of Group C and D, who died in service. However, the outstanding principal amount of house building advance and plot loan would be waived only in those cases where not more than one surviving member of the family of the deceased government employee is employed.

Kurukshetra, November 25
A large number of teachers belonging to the Haryana College Teachers' Association (HCTA) will join the dharna, being organised by the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisations (HEUCTO), outside the Higher Education Directorate in Panchkula tomorrow.

HCTA state president Dr Narender Chahar and general secretary Dr Ravinder Gasso alleged that all problems cropped up due to the negative attitude of the authorities. They said they had been compelled to observe the dharna as their demands had not been met. The leaders said the HFUCTO had demanded to implement UGC rules for the appointment of Principals in government and government-aided colleges. They said their demand to implement medical scheme to aided colleges had not been met for long and they had already submitted a memorandum to the Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana, demanding to make the working of college management committees transparent and democratic.

Their other demands include the unconditional provision of MPhil and PhD increments granted by the UGC, the provision of duty leave to attend seminars, regulation of work load in government college as per UGC rules, implementation of old-age pension scheme for the teachers who have been appointed after 2006, fixing 65 years as retirement age and creating posts for Professors in colleges. 

Ambala, November 25
Praveen Togadia, international working president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), today backed the stand adopted by the village Khaps against same-gotra marriages claiming that it was important to protect the genetic code. 

Speaking at the special assemble of the representatives of the VHP from Ambala and the adjoining districts, Togadia said khaps were an important part of the Indian social system and these should continue the fight against the social evils. He said same-gotra marriages could lead to genetic mutations and even weakening of society as a whole, therefore, this should be discouraged. — TNS 

Faridabad, November 25
Two women were found murdered in two incidents in the city today.

Reports said the first incident was reported from Ballabgarh town last night when Meena Devi lodged a complaint with the police that her married daughter (22) was found dead at her in-laws house in Vishnu Colony of the city. She told the police that she got her daughter, Shanky, married to Amit of their colony in April. She said she was informed by her mother-in-law on Sunday that Shanky had expired. The complainant alleged that her daughter had been murdered by her husband and her in-laws. She said Shanky had told her earlier that she was beaten up regularly by her husband after she came to know about his affair with another girl. The victim had fallen ill last month due to the alleged ill-treatment by her in-laws. The police have registered a case.

In another incident, a 23-year-old woman was found dead at her in-laws house in AC Nagar here on Sunday. Habbal, the mother of the victim, Kavita, told the police that she found her daughter dead in the house of her in-laws. She said Kavita was married to Kanhiyya four years ago and had a daughter from their marriage. Alleging that her daughter had been strangled to death. The police have arrested Kanhiyya.

Fatehabad, November 25
Two persons, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed and five injured in two road accidents in Fatehabad today.

Jasanpreet (10) was killed and five were injured when the canter in which they were travelling overturned near Jakhal in this district early today. All victims were followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda and they were returning after attending a “Rubru Nite” to their village in Sangrur district of Punjab.

In another accident, Hanuman, a shopkeeper, was killed on Ratia road of Fatehabad when his car was another vehicle. —TNS