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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Wednesday, January 13, 1999 |
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End HVPN monopoly: industry |
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Haryana
sets up job panel Strike
hits bank services Dismissal
order quashed SI
placed under suspension Lecturer
suspended for molesting girl Haryana
exemption to farmers Housing
board to start registration |
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End HVPN
monopoly: industry GURGAON, Jan 12 — The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) today took cognisance of suggestions from the public on mechanisms to check possible "arbitrariness" by Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) in transmission and distribution of power. The suggestions were made to HERC at its first hearing relating to the licence applications of HVPN. A majority of the seven objections were filed by Gurgaon and Faridabad units of the PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, GT Road Industries Association and Gurgaon Industry Association. The Haryana Government, after dismantling the Haryana State Electricity Board, gave "provisional" licences to HVPN regarding transmission and distribution for a period of six months. The HVPN has filed applications to procure licences for a further period. The public hearings are a part of HERC’s role as the regulatory authority for the power sector in the state. The HERC had given a public notice regarding the applications, inviting comments and objections from the public. Talking to TNS, the Chairman of the HERC, Mr V.S. Ailwadi, said that the order was likely to be issued by February 15. According to him, the possibility of private companies being given licences for transmission and distribution in future could not be ruled out. In the eventuality of private companies being given the licences, the area of operation of HVPN was likely to be reduced. The organisations relating to industry also urged upon the HERC to give licences to private companies so that HVPN did not have a monopoly. Their representatives apprehended that the functioning of the HVPN, especially with regard to fixation of tariff, supply of power and response to grievances would be as lacklustre as that of the HSEB if proper checks and balances were not evolved in the process of restructuring. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ailwadi said, "The Commission, which has judicial powers, will be the authority responsible for monitoring Haryana power sector reforms and creating a regulatory regime in the Haryana power sector", he said. The HERC, an independent statutory body, was constituted under the Haryana Electricity Reforms Act, 1997, to monitor steps required for improving the power sector. It has the authority to fine defaulting utilities upto rupees one lakh. It can also act as an arbitrator in any dispute between licencees or between licencees and consumers, Mr Das added. In the proceedings today, the Commission distributed copies of "draft licences" to the "interveners" appointed by it. The concerned parties, including HVPN, have been directed to file their response to the "draft licences" as well as rejoinders to the objections and comments on the application of HVPN by January 21. The Commission will resume hearings from January 25. Mr Ailwadi said, that the commission would not interfere in day to day administration of the power sector. HVPN’s Chief
Engineer, Commercial, Mr R.S. Pabla, represented it
before the Commission. Delegates of the World Bank which
is extending financial support to the Haryana government
in its efforts to reform the power sector, also attended
the proceedings. |
Ambala
hospitals await vaccine AMBALA, Jan 12 — The immunisation drive against the hepatitis 'B' virus has suffered a setback due to the non-availability of the vaccine at civil hospitals in the district. According to information available from the Health Department, about 5,000 doses of the vaccine were received by the District Immunisation Officer, Dr LN Garg, in February last year. The drive was started at civil hospitals from April. Another instalment of 12,000 doses of the vaccine was received in May last and another 1,000 doses in September. Initially, the vaccination was done against payment. Later as per a decision of the state government, it was made free of charge for all children between 1 year of age and dependants of government employees. Since the quantity of the vaccine was inadequate to meet the requirement, the stock ended at most of the hospitals in the district in October. Since then, the people have been waiting for the stocks to be replenished. The problem has been causing concern among the parents as a fixed schedule has to be observed for proper vaccination in some of the cases, the children have received only one dose. The second dose has to be administered within two months of the first dose. In several cases, the children are awaiting the third dose without which the vaccination is not considered complete. Dr PL Jindal,
Director-General, Health Services, Haryana, said the
department had already placed an order with the
Smithkline Beecham Company for the vaccine. The dispute
over the pending payments and payments in foreign
exchange had also been sorted out with the company. He
hoped that an instalment of 5 lakh doses would reach the
department within a week. He said the required funds for
the vaccine had been received. |
Haryana to
move SC CHANDIGARH, Jan 12 — The Haryana Government has decided to appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which has restored the cancelled prime plot of land allotted to Orbit Resorts owned by the family of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. A division bench of the High Court while setting aside a judgement of a single-judge Bench had yesterday restored this 17.5 acre plot to the Badal family. While the market cost of this land, meant for the development of a health-cum-tourist resort, is over Rs 100 crore, the original price cited is around Rs 5 crore. The Orbit Resorts had paid Rs 4.2 crore when its allotment was cancelled in January, 1995. The allotment was made by the then Chief Minister, Mr Devi Lal, who is a close personal friend of Mr Badal in 1989 and was cancelled by the then Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal. At that time many more plots were cancelled as either the parties had not paid the instalments or had violated the terms of conditions of allotment. This case fell in this category. The Orbit Resorts later went to the Punjab and Haryana High Court where a single judge bench upheld the cancellation. Later, the Badals filed an appeal against this order. Official sources here said that the government stood by its earlier decision and would file an appeal after studying the Division Bench's order. The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation which had allotted the plot still holds that the Orbit Resorts had not started construction as per the schedule and had been just putting up one plan after another plan to delay. Payments were not made on time, HSIDC officials here said. The Orbit Resorts had
contended that the cancellation was without any merit and
was mala fide due to political considerations. Also, the
company was not heard. |
Haryana sets
up job panel CHANDIGARH, Jan 12 — The Haryana Government has constituted a 21 member District Committee on Employment for Ambala under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner. The committee will advise
the Divisional Employment Exchange, Ambala, on problems
relating to employment, creation of employment
opportunities and working of the employment services. It
will also review the employment position and assess
employment and unemployment trends, both urban and rural,
and suggest measures for expanding employment
opportunities. It will also advise on the development of
vocational guidance and employment counselling of
employment exchanges. It will also assess the requirement
of trained craftsmen and advise the National Council for
Training in Vocational Trades. |
Surajkund
mela from Feb 1 CHANDIGARH, Jan 12 — The Surajkund Mela Authority will organise the Surajkund Craft Mela 99 from February 1 to 15 at Surajkund which will be sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with Haryana Tourism and Development Commissioners, Handlooms and Handicrafts. An official spokesman today said the theme of the mela this year was Andhra Pradesh, the fifth largest State in India. He said this crafts mela
would help in promoting handloom and handicrafts in the
State besides encouraging the craftsmen of the country.
He said it would also be helpful in supplementing the
income of handicrafts and small cottage industries. |
Strike hits
bank services ROHTAK, Jan 12 — Response to the call of a one-day strike by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UBUF) was total in this district today. All employees and officers joined the strike in support of their demand for "expeditious comprehensive industry and level wage settlement for officers and workers". The agitating employee of nearly all branches of public sector banks assembled in front of the building of the State Bank of India's (SBI) main branch on civil road here. They raised slogans in support of their demands and criticised the Central Government for not acceding to them. The banking services here and in Jhajjar district remained paralysed following the strike. BHIWANI: No transaction took place in the banks here on Tuesday following the strike. The striking bank employees of the district assembled in front of the SBI building and raised slogans against the Central government and held a demonstration. Mr Om Parkash, Convener, state unit of the BAIFI, criticised the IBA's attitude. KAITHAL: The functioning of commercial banks remained paralysed here. The employees including officers, clerks and others observed the strike and raised slogans against the Central Government. Union leaders speaking on the occasion, criticised the government for its step-motherly treatment. PANIPAT: The call for the nationwide strike hit work in banks here, adversely affecting industrialist and businessmen. SONEPAT: Employees of various banks observed a day's token strike here in support of their demands. Banks activity came to a standstill leading to a lot of inconvenience to customers. The striking employees
assembled in front of their respective banks and shouted
slogans against the government. At some places, they
staged dharnas. Strike has also been reported from
Ganaur, Kharkhauda, Gohana and other villages of the
district. |
Police
vehicles in bad shape YAMUNANAGAR: The Haryana Government is in a fix. For reasons best known to it, outdated vehicles have not yet been replaced by it. The result — cops fail to effectively check the crime. According to the information available, in 1992 bullet-proof Gypsies were provided to all district headquarters because of an era of terrorism in Punjab. In the past seven years the old vehicles have not been replaced, specially in district Yamunanagar, which falls on the borders of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Most of the vehicles are in bad condition. Even there are no doors in some vehicles. Cops have to cover them with clothes. According to the information, in Yamunanagar district there are 42 vehicles, out of which 22 have already been declared unserviceable and can be auctioned any time. It is gathered that there are six bullet-proof Gypsies but all of them have been declared outdated by the government. Due to non-allocation of new vehicles by the government, the cops have to manage their vehicles on their own. It is also alleged that the district is being neglected as no political bigwig represents the area. In the district there are 10 police stations, 14 police chowkis, 800 police constables, 70 assistant sub-inspectors, 20 sub-inspectors and six inspectors. It is stated that a number of police chowkis and even police stations are functioning from rented buildings. Hamida police chowki has already been declared unsafe but nothing has been done in this direction so far. It is further learnt that the government has sanctioned money to upgrade three police posts at Khizrabad, Buria and Jathlana. It may be added that there
is also a proposal to upgrade two more police posts in
Yamunanagar. |
Dismissal
order quashed CHANDIGARH, Jan 12 – The Punjab and Haryana High Court today quashed the order of the Haryana government dismissing Mr Sat Pal, Head Constable, from service. Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, who delivered this order, observed: "I am of the opinion that the impugned order of dismissal from service is liable to be set aside. I accordingly allow the petition and direct the respondents to pay all consequential monetary benefits to the legal representatives of the petitioner from the date of his dismissal to the date of his death and also grant family pension payable to his dependants as if he was in service till death,". Mr Sat Pal had joined the police department in 1974. He was promoted Head Constable in 1988. In 1990 he had kidney trouble and applied for leave which was not sanctioned. Later, he was proceeded against for absence from duty. He was dismissed from service. The petitioner preferred an appeal against his dismissal before the authorities. His appeal was partly allowed and he was reinstated in service but his rank was reduced. After his reinstatement the enquiry officer found him guilty for absence from duty and he was charge-sheeted. He was dismissed from service on August 31, 1992. Mr Sat Pal had contested
his dismissal from service in the High Court. However, he
died during the pendency of the case. |
SI placed
under suspension PANCHKULA, Jan 12 — A Sub-Inspector of the Haryana Police has been placed under suspension for alleged dereliction of duty. He failed to register an FIR in an incident of robbery and assault of two Haryana Police personnel. The victims of the alleged incident, Joginder Singh, a Class IV employee, attached with the Director-General of Police, Haryana, and Gulab Singh, posted at the state police headquarters in Sector 6 here, had been assaulted and subsequently robbed of their valuables by four men, brandishing knives. According to information available, the victims — one residing in Rajiv Labour colony here — were returning home on January 5 when the four-men waylaid them. They were robbed of their valuables, including Rs 300 in cash. The incident was reported in writing to the Sector 16 police station on January 7. Police personnel instead of registering a case of robbery and assault, filed a DDR about the missing valuables. The victims had identified one of the robber as Lala, a resident of Partapgarh in Uttar Pradesh. When the matter came to the knowledge of senior police officials, the SI, Mr V.K. Mehta, was placed under suspension. A case under sections 392 and 394 of the IPC was registered against the assailants yesterday. Meanwhile one of the
suspect, Lala, has been arrested. |
2 boys
missing ROHTAK, Jan 12 — The mysterious disappearance of 7-year-old Sandeep, son of Mr Purshottam Lal, and 6-year-old Amit, son of Mr Hawa Singh, both residents of Dighal village, has shocked the residents. According to an FIR lodged with the police, Sandeep and Amit had gone to view television at their neighbour's house on Sunday and failed to return home. The agitated villagers today blocked traffic on the Rohtak-Jhajjar road for over four hours in protest against the police laxity in tracing the two children. The blockade was lifted after the DSP, Mr Sat Parkash, and the SDM, Mr Radha Kishan, assured them that efforts would be made to trace the children. The SSP, Jhajjar, Mr
Navdeep Singh Virk, said police parties had been
despatched to various places in search of these children.
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Lecturer
suspended for molesting girl FATEHABAD, Jan 12 — Students of the local Manohar Memorial College are up in arms against the college management, demanding the dismissal of a lecturer who allegedly tried to molest a girl in an inebriated state on Saturday. The students who went on a strike yesterday attended classes today only after getting an assurance from the management that it would take appropriate action against the erring teacher. Meanwhile, the parents of the girl have informed the police. The district police chief, Mr Rajbir Deswal, has ordered the arrest of the lecturer. When the police went to arrest him last night, he was found lying in his house in a drunken condition. He was arrested and admitted to the local General Hospital under police custody. The management has
meanwhile placed the services of the lecturer under
suspension and is contemplating action against him. |
Haryana
exemption to farmers SONEPAT, Jan 12 — The Haryana Government has exempted farmers from the payment of stamp duty and registration fee on loans up to Rs 3 lakh for the purchase of agricultural machines and other equipment. Mrs Krishana Gahalawat, Minister of State for Agriculture, said here today that a similar exemption had also been given to fish farmers for loans up to 60 lakh for pisciculture. She said sugar mills had cleared arrears totalling Rs 54.21 crore. Referring to the concessions and facilities being provided to farmers by the Bansi Lal Government, the minister said the state government was supplying electricity to then at the rate of 50 paise per unit for running tubewells. The government had given a subsidy totalling Rs 256 crore on fertilisers, seeds and pesticides. The state government, she said, had also reduced the rate of interest from 16 per cent to 14 per cent on crop loans. Earlier, the minister held
an open darbar and listened to public complaints. Most of
the complaints were related to bad roads, erratic power
supply and harassment by officials of the HVPN. |
Housing
board to start registration CHANDIGARH, Jan 12 — The Haryana Housing Board has decided to start registration of about 3,000 houses of different categories to be constructed at Panchkula, Sonepat, Palwal, Bahadurgarh and Faridabad by March 31 next. An official spokesman said the construction of houses would be taken in hand subject to the public demand for these houses. He said construction of 2731 houses of different categories was in progress at Panipat, Faridabad, Rewari and Hansi. A sum of over Rs 6 crore had already been spent till December 31 last on these development works. The construction work of 482 LIG (double-storey) houses in Sector 55 of Faridabad was also allotted in the first week of the current month. The construction work of 3430 houses of different categories at Faridabad, Rewari and Panipat would also be taken in hand by March 31. The board also proposed to
take-up the construction of about 3500 houses during the
year 1999-2000 subject to the availability of
registration. |
Mushroom
output to be 3,200 tonnes CHANDIGARH, Jan 12 — Haryana hopes to achieve a record production of 3,200 tonnes of mushroom during the year 1998-99. Out of this 1,200 tonnes of mushroom had already been produced so far. An official spokesman
today said during 1997-98 the state's production was
2,680 tonnes. He said that the main mushroom growing
districts were Sonepat, Karnal, Panipat, Gurgaon, Ambala
and Yamunanagar. |
Theft of
coins: police clueless ROHTAK, Jan 12 — The police is reported to be clueless about the theft at the museum of a gurukul at Jhajjar in which some gold and silver coins were stolen about four days ago. The gurukul run by the Haryana Arya Pratinidhi Sabha is one of the oldest institutions in the state and is also the residence of Swami Omanand Saraswati, President of the Pratinidhi Sabha. While the value of the coins and other items stolen has not been calculated officially, it is said that the coins belonged to the Mughal era. Various leaders of the
Arya Samaj and local residents have sought the immediate
arrest of the culprits and adequate security. |
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