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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Tuesday, December 22, 1998 |
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Cows starve in
‘powerless’ village Dowry
deaths rise in Hisar |
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Sops for
non-conventional energy production Naveen,
Shashibala are best artistes Haryana
‘raid raj’ criticised "Need
to focus" on polythene hazards Arrangements
for rabi reviewed Stone
of Bal Bhavan laid MDU
council meeting put off |
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Cows starve in
‘powerless’ village ROHTAK, Dec 21 — Nearly 4000 cows, several of whom are blind and disabled, at the gaushala in Khidwali village of the Kiloi assembly segment, have been paying for the 'fault' of villagers in the form of severe scarcity of the fodder and potable water. Some old and sick cows are on the verge of collapse due to starvation, it is learnt. The whole village has been plunged into darkness for the past six days as the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has suspended power transmission to the village from the neighbouring Sanghi village. Consequently, the villagers have been finding it very difficult to provide fodder and potable water to such a large number of cows properly without electricity. Mr Nand, Manager of the gaushala, said the cows have been suffering due to scarcity of fodder and water. He said although they had been providing fodder and water to the cows to some extent by installing diesel pump sets, it would not be easy for them to continue this arrangement for long. A delegation of the Gaushala Managing Committee met the Deputy Commissioner and Mr Surender Singh, MP, and General Secretary of Haryana Vikas Party yesterday, seeking their intervention in the matter. Meanwhile, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former labour and employment minister, has criticised the government for not taking any action in this regard. He said the cow is considered a holy animal among Hindus and the 'negligent' attitude of the government towards the animal was shameful. He said although the Gaushala Managing Committee and the villagers had been striving hard to provide adequate fodder and water to the helpless animals by installing diesel pump sets, this was only a temporary arrangement. The problem started when a checking party of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) reached Khidwali village on December 15 to cut the power connections of defaulters who had not been paying bills for the past several months. But the visit cost them dear as the agitated villagers pelted stones at the officials, damaged their vehicle and forced them to flee the spot. Reacting to it, HVPN officials suspended the power transmission to the village from the neighbouring Sanghi. As a result, the whole village has been plunged into darkness for the past six days. The villagers, who have been paying their power bills regularly, also fell victim to this 'wide ranging' punishment of the HVPN. They have been facing acute hardship in routine affairs like fodder cutting, churning of milk etc. It is pertinet to mention here that the Bharatiya Kisan Union has called for non-payment of power bills, following which a majority of the villagers stopped paying electricity bills. According to reports,
power bills amounting to nearly Rs 60 lakh have been
pending only in Khidwali village and the amount is in
crores in the Kiloi assembly segment. |
Man, kids burnt to death, wife
injured ROHTAK, Dec 21 — At least three members of a family — a serving paramilitary jawan and his two minor girls — were charred to death in their sleep under mysterious circumstances on Friday night at Ajaib village in the district. The fourth victim of the fire incident, the mother of the two children, is reported to be battling for life in the burns ward of the PGIMS hospital here. According to information, Ishwar Singh a serving BSF personnel, his wife Sunita and their two minor daughters, Renu (9) and Ritu (3 months), were sleeping in their room on the first floor of their house in the village on Friday, when suddenly all of them got engulfed in a fire which broke out mysteriously after midnight. While Ishwar and his two daughters succumbed to their burn injuries on the spot, his wife Sunita, aged about 24 years, survived despite receiving cent per cent burns. She was shifted to the hospital here by her brother and some villagers at about 10 a.m. on Saturday. Her condition is reported to be very critical. As per the account of some villagers and family members of the victim Sunita, she (Sunita) had told the persons who had gathered at the time of incident that the wife of the younger brother of her husband identified as Sumitra had allegedly doused them with the kerosene and set them ablaze while they were in their sleep. Sunita had reportedly claimed that relations between her and Sumitra were strained and this was the reason that her husband during his absence or when he was on his duty, he used to send her and her children to her parents' house at Jaijawnti village. It is learnt that Ishwar Singh had come on 15 days' leave on December 17 and had brought his wife and daughters to the village on Friday only. On the other hand, some of the neighbours and other villagers have stated that the incident was an accident and no one from the family was involved in this case. They have reportedly claimed that the fire broke out accidentally as a night lamp which was burning at the time caught fire as a can of kerosene was in room. Some villagers reportedly met police officials in this connection. The Meham police said that the case was an accident and no complaint had been lodged against anyone so far. It said the police was taking action under Section 174 of the IPC. According to some villagers, the possibility of the alleged involvement of the wife of the deceased could also not be ruled out. The victim, Sunita, is reported to be unfit to give any statement in this regard. Meanwhile, the incident
has shocked the village and the nearby area. |
Dowry deaths rise in Hisar HISAR, Dec 21 — There has been an alarming rise in dowry death cases in Hisar during the year 1998 over the previous year. Against nine dowry deaths reported in 1997, 22 deaths were reported this year. According to the Superintendent of Police, Mr Manjeet Singh Ahlawat, 70 cases under the Dowry Act were registered this year against 33 during last year. This is despite the fact that there has been growing awareness among people about the laws. But the low rate of conviction of the accused is said to be one of the main reasons of this alarming increase. Mr Ahlawat said, most of the cases were settled by rival parties out of the court. One senior lawyer who takes up mostly dowry cases said, in several instances discarding of brides by families was the main reason of such unnatural deaths. "The disputes", according to Mr Praveer Arya, a senior advocate, "rises from petty issues. The inability to resolve them in the beginning results in tragedies. Most of the deaths are said to be suicides. However, they are made not to be dowry deaths. Such cases are mostly reported from the average middle class families. The investigations also revealed that the marital discord, rather than the demand for dowry is the main cause for the suicides, that are made to be dowry deaths. If the death occurs within seven years of the marriage it is registered under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code, which exclusively deals with dowry deaths. The police has been admitting that sometimes the Dowry Act is misused. It has been found in most of the cases that in such type of deaths the husband and his parents are made the natural party. But along with them the other relatives like, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are also made co-accused in these cases. In one case the sister-in-law of the victim who was settled abroad was also made a co-accused in the case. One senior female IAS officer attributed this trend more to make adjustments within the family than to monetory demands made on the bride. Her argument was substantiated by Mr Arya who said the most cases he has dealt with, started with the accusations of dowry deaths, but ultimately ended up in a compromise between the two parties". "However, one thing
that is regrettable is the increase in number of deaths
off the newly-weds. Whatever may be the cause of death
the fact is that deaths have been taking place, which
needed to be taken seriously", the IAS officer said. |
Sops for non-conventional
energy production PANIPAT, Dec 21 — The Haryana Government has decided to exempt the generation of power through non-conventional energy sources like the sun from electricity duty. This was announced here today by Mr Atar Singh Saini, Minister of Power, Haryana, while inaugurating a seminar on the "Use of application of solar energy in heating system in textiles and other establishment." The seminar was organised by HAREDA and the Government of India. Mr Saini further disclosed that power from non-energy conventional sources would be purchased at the rate of Rs 2.75 per unit, keeping 1994 as the base year. Thereafter, the government would allow escalation at the rate of 5 per cent on the purchase price of previous year. Mr Saini further stated that wheeling of power has been allowed at a nominal charge of 2 per cent.Similarly, the plants and other machinery to be used for power generation from non-conventional sources had been completely exempted from sales tax. The Minister disclosed that a committee of administrative secretaries had been constituted for scrutiny and early grant of clearance to investment proposals from private investors in the non-conventional energy sector. He said HAREDA is working on a plan to add 60 mw of power to the state grid from non conventional energy sources in the next two years.This would be arranged through private investment worth Rs 300 crore. The government is also preparing a report of projects which would generate 7 mw of power in Jind Sugar Mills and 5 MW of power in Shahbad Sugar Mill.The total cost of these projects is Rs 42 crore. This power would be available by March 31,2000. The state government has already submitted the projects to the Union Government for approval. The Minister asked the textile industry in Panipat to take full advantage of the concessions allowed by the Government of India and Haryana in the form of subsidy and soft loans etc for installing the systems which used non-conventional energy. Mr S.V. Quarishi, Commissioner and Secretary for Power and Non-conventional Energy Sources, Haryana, while inaugurating the seminar said that the state government had prepared a plan to use municipal civic body garbage to produce energy. These plants would be set up in the districts of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Panipat, Yamunanagar and Ambala. Mr Quarishi stated that
energy from non-conventional sources was useful in terms
of protecting environment and ecology. It could also
reduce the gap between demand and availability of power
in the state. |
Naveen, Shashibala are best
artistes HISAR, Dec 21 — The Mahindergarh and Gurgaon districts bagged the overall trophy in the boys and girls categories respectively, in the three-day state cultural meet organised here. The Ministry for Animal Husbandry, Mr Jaswant Singh, distributed prizes to the winners. In the drama category, Naveen Kumar from Gurgaon was declared the best male artiste and Shashibala of Faridabad the best female artiste. In the folk song category, among the boys the Mahendergarh, Rohtak and Jind team bagged the first, second and third positions, respectively, while among the girls from Hisar, Rohtak and Ambala came first, second and third. In the solo dance among boys, the Jind, Gurgaon and Mahendergarh teams scored first, second and third positions while among the girls from Ambala, Mahendergarh and Gurgaon clinched the first second and third positions. Rohtak, Mahendergarh and Ambala boys bagged first, second and third position in the classical music, while the girls from Faridabad, Gurgaon and Hisar scored first, second and third positions, respectively. In group song; Hisar boys bagged the first position followed by Mahendergarh and Jhajhar, while among the girls, Gurgaon Hisar and Ambala bagged the first three positions. In group dance, Hisar boys scored top position, while second and third positions went to Mahendergarh and Jhajar district, the girls from Ambala, Gurgaon and Rohtak bagged first the three positions in this category. In the on-the-spot painting competition, Mahendergarh boys came first followed by Gurgaon and Hisar, while Gurgaon girls topped in this category followed by Mahendergarh and Hisar. Hisar boys topped in fancy dress competition. They were followed by Mahendergarh and Faridabad. In the girls' category, Faridabad topped this competition followed by Mahendergarh and Gurgaon. Jind boys topped in mono-acting, while Mahendergarh and Hisar boys came second and third. Mahendergarh girls topped in this category, followed by Gurgaon and Faridabad. In the one-act play among
boys, Jind, Mahendergarh and Jhajhar came first, second
and third, while among girls Hisar, Mahendergarh and
Gurgaon bagged first, second and third places
respectively. |
Haryana ‘raid raj’
criticised CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — Mr Chander Mohan, Congress MLA from Kalka, has criticised the HVP-BJP Government in Haryana for establishing what he described as "raid raj" in the State. In a statement issued here today, Mr Chander Mohan alleged that the Excise and Taxation Department of the State had been indiscriminately conducting raids on not only the business premises but also residential premises of traders which had created a fear psychosis in the mind of the business community. Mr Chander Mohan said the industry and trade all over the country, including Haryana, was facing a severe recession. This had resulted in low tax recovery which was a natural phenomenon under the recessionary circumstances. But the bureaucracy encouraged by the political leadership of the State had resorted to large-scale raids on industrial units and business houses. Mr Chander Mohan accused
the Bansi Lal Government of browbeating honest
bureaucrats who dared to defy its illegal and irrational
dictates. He said a few weeks ago the Government
unceremoniously transferred the then Excise and Taxation
Commissioner, Mr R.N. Prashar, when he dared to check
evasion of passenger tax by close relatives of an
influential HVP leader. In a similar fashion the
Government transferred the Managing Director of the
Haryana Tourism Corporation, Mr K.K. Khandelwal, when he
refused to withdraw suspension order against an employee
who enjoyed the patronage of another influential HVP
legislator. |
"Need to focus" on
polythene hazards HISAR, Dec 21 — Experts at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Guru Jambeshwar University here have emphasised the need for creating awareness about hazards of polythene bags. A study conducted by students of the department revealed that though a large number of people were aware of environmental issues, most of them were not environmentally conscious. The study put those interviewed into six categories. These included junior students, senior students, housewives, shopkeepers, teachers and others. Interestingly, the maximum level of environmental awareness was found among the students while the shopkeepers were found to be least aware. It revealed that the male students, in general, had greater awareness and consciousness as compared to females. The awareness among housewives was quite low. Hence the consciousness was also low. Women in the age group 31-45 with medium education (up to matric) scored better on environment consciousness. The level of awareness among the shopkeepers was quite low and environmental consciousness poor. The shopkeepers being the biggest consumers of polythene, there was urgent need to induce eco-friendly values in this section. In the 'others' category of professionals, females showed greater awareness as well as consciousness. This was in sharp contrast to the response of housewives. This showed that females who were exposed more to the outside world had a better perception of the polythene problem. They were found not only to perceive realities, but also put in sincere efforts to face them. Educational status was not found to have any direct bearing on awareness or consciousness among them. The consumption pattern of
polythene showed that while 85 per cent of people used up
to 15 polythene bags per week, the use was up to 300 bags
per week among 50 per cent shopkeepers and 500 per week
among 40 per cent. |
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Arrangements for rabi reviewed CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today requested the Railway authorities for speedy movement of wheat and rice stocks so as to make room for the ensuing rabi procurement. The Food Corporation of India has also been asked to take up the wheat stocks lying in different parts of the State. The Chief Minister was reviewing the arrangements for the ensuing rabi procurement in the State. The arrangements were being made for 32 lakh tonnes of wheat procurement as the State Government expects a bumper crop in the rabi season. The Chief Minister directed that CCS HAU, Hisar authorities to produce certified seeds of improved varieties of different crops. For this purpose, an additional area of 400 acres had been made available to them. This would increase the availability of quality seeds and the farmers would not face any scarcity of seeds. Mr H.C. Disodia, Commissioner, Agriculture, said the area under wheat and gram cultivation had increased considerably. The area under wheat cultivation had increased to 20.85 lakh hectares as against 20.64 lakh hectares last year and 4.10 lakh hectares under gram as against 3.55 lakh hectares last year. Mr Naseem Ahmad,
Commissioner, Food and Supplies, said the government had
placed an indent of 1,09,440 gunny bales. |
Stone of Bal Bhavan laid MAHENDRAGARH, Dec 21 (UNI) — Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad today stressed the need for grooming children in such a way that the country is rid of casteism, terrorism and regionalism. Laying the foundation stone for a Rs 16-lakh Bal Bhavan, the Governor said that as the future of the nation lay with the children, they should be provided all basic facilities for development. The Governor said that a survey should be conducted at the village level to identify the needy, handicapped, lepers, deaf and dumb and those suffering from polio so as to provide them necessary facilities. He also inaugurated a blood donation camp. He urged the people to keep their surroundings clean and plant as many as trees to make the environment more greener. The Bal Bhavan would be completed within six months, he hoped. The Governor gave away 100 tri-cycles, 15 artificial limbs, five sewing machines and 25 hearing aids to the handicapped and destitute persons. Earlier, the Haryana
Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, said that a
large number of people from Mahendragarh district were
serving the Indian Army. |
MDU council meeting put off ROHTAK, Dec 21 — The meeting of the Executive Council of Maharshi Dayanand University scheduled to be held tomorrow at Chandigarh has been postponed without assigning any reason. Earlier, the meeting was fixed for August 11, 1998 but it was postponed as the government reportedly had certain reservation about the appointment of certain lecturers and deans. Besides advising the Vice-Chancellor to postpone the meeting, the government had also imposed a ban on new appointments. Though the ban on appointments has not yet been lifted by the government, the Vice-Chancellor convened the meeting of the Executive Council on December 22. The government has reportedly again advised the Vice-Chancellor to postpone the meeting. Mr Vazir Singh Nehra, convener, Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations, has hailed the decision and urged the government to hold an inquiry into the process of selection of candidates in July and August. The university authorities claim that the meeting has been postponed as the government was yet to calculate the financial implications of certain items on the agenda. They, however, refused to disclose these items. It is learnt that the
revision of pay scales has adversely affected some heads
of departments promoted under the merit promotion scheme.
The rectification of anomalies in their pay scales was
one of the agenda items. |
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Haryana posting CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — The Haryana Government has promoted Mr M.S. Sheokand, Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies, to the post of Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies. Mr Sheokand has been
posted as Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, at
Chandigarh against a vacant post. |
Cong meeting on Dec 30 CHANDIGARH, Dec 21 — The Haryana Congress has convened a meeting of its Executive Committee, office-bearers, Presidents of DCCs, MPs, MLAs and heads of the frontal organisations and cells to finalise steps for the implementation of the AICC decision to reserve 33 per cent of the party posts for women and 20 per cent of those for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the other backward classes. Announcing this here today the party President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said the meeting would be held in the party headquarter here on December 30. Mr Hooda said under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi the 113-year-old premier organisation had not only thought of but had also given a practical shape to provide representation to women and weaker sections on the organisation set-up. He said the decision would help these sections come forward and contribute in the overall betterment of the country. He also hailed the other
amendments in the Congress constitution like enhancement
in terms of party units and their office-bearers from
biennial to triennial. |
Villagers build school without govt
finance REWARI, Dec 21 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, inaugurated the newly constructed building of the Government Senior Secondary School at Nangli Godha village, near here, yesterday. After, addressing a gathering, he said that he was highly pleased to know that without seeking any financial assistance from government, the residents of various neighbouring villages had erected such a grand school building with their own contributions. He was also happy to note that Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancelor of Kurukshetra University and native of the nearby Dhaliki village had received his early education in the above school which was recently upgraded. In response to the
villagers' demand, he said he would ask the minister
concerned to provide potable drinking water in their
villages which all had brackish water. |
2 children die as truck hits
'khokha' FARIDABAD, Dec 21 — Two children were killed and two others were seriously injured when a truck dashed against their 'khokha' in Pali crusher zone last night. The injured include their mother. The dead have been identified as Kanchan (6) and Sharda Prasad (13). Supiari, the mother and her another daughter Vidya who were seriously injured have been admitted to hospital. The truck driver escaped
after the accident leaving the vehicle behind. |
Teachers observe protest day ROHTAK, Dec 21, Teachers of MDU, university college and the P.G. Regional Centre, Rewari, observed a protest day here today to highlight "faulty" policies of the Vice-Chancellor. The secretary of the M.D. University Teachers Association alleged that the Vice-Chancellor was violating the varsity rules and regulations and had adopted "vindictive" attitude against certain teachers. He threatened that the
association would resort to an agitation, if "undue
harassment" of teachers was not stopped. |
Bansi inspects work of barrage YAMUNANAGAR, Dec 21 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, inspected the construction work of the Hathnikund barrage on the Yamuna about 45 km from here yesterday. He directed the officers to complete the barrage by its stipulated time of June, 1999. The Hathnikund barrage is being built in place of the more than 100-year old Tajewala headworks. An amount of Rs 167 crore will be spent on it. A powerhouse will also be constructed on this barrage so that Haryana could get more electricity. Work on 12 bases of the 18 bases has been completed. According to Mr T.V.S.N.
Prasad, Project Director, Irrigation, the capacity of old
Tajewala headworks is 16,000 cusecs while that of
Hathnikund barrage will be 25,000 cusecs. |
CM's claim on pay panel report
'false' BHIWANI, Dec 21 — Mr Sher Singh, president of the Haryana State Sarv Karamchari Sangh, today criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, for falsely claiming that his government had implemented the Fifth Pay Commission's recommendations and paid arrears to employees. In a statement here, Mr Sher Singh said the civic staff had not been paid salaries and allowances as per the commission's report. Similar was the case with thousands of sugar mills and Haryana Tubewells and Minor Irrigation Department employees. Mr Sher Singh said as per
a directive of the high court, the civic employees were
to be paid salaries by the seventh of every month, but
they had not been paid salaries for four months. |
Dharna by DCC FARIDABAD, Dec 21 — The District Congress Committee (Urban) today organised a dharna outside the office of the Municipal Corporation to protest against its failure to provide basic civic amenities to the citizens. Addressing the party workers Mr B.R. Ojha, president of the local unit of the Congress, said no development had taken place here since the Bansi Lal Ministry came into power in Haryana. The city presented a dirty look as the sanitary situation had deteriorated. Streetlights were not functioning. Drinking water was scarce and the roads were in a bad shape. A financial help of Rs 10 crore be given to the corporation to complete development. Strongly opposing the proposal to increase house tax the party wanted that instead efforts should be made to realise the tax arrears of crores of rupees. Taxes imposed in the wake of prohibition should be withdrawn as the state had again become wet. Later, a memorandum
addressed to the Governor was submitted to the Deputy
Commissioner. |
Hooda predicts mid-term poll SONEPAT, Dec 21 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, MP, and President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), has said mid-term poll in Haryana was imminent. He was addressing public meetings at Mehndipur and Qumashpur villages near here yesterday. Mr Sultan Singh, former Governor of Tripura, Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, former MP, Mr Anand Singh Dangi, former Haryana minister, Mr Ajit Singh Toofan also spoke. These leaders also
extended their support to Mr Hooda. |
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