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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Saturday, May 1, 1999 |
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24-hour power in Haryana soon CHANDIGARH, April 30 — Haryana is fully geared to supply power round-the-clock after June 30. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, after presiding over a meeting held to review the preparations by the state power sector to fulfil the long-standing demand of the people of the state to get power all through the day. Dry spell causes fire in Morni forest MORNI (Panchkula), April 30 — The prolonged dry spell is taking its toll in this picturesque hilly tourist resort of Haryana as ravaging fires are breaking out almost daily in one or the other part of the forest falling in the Morni forest division. |
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 AmbalaChandigarh Sonepat Panipat Rohtak Hisar Sirsa Yamunanagar
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86 cr for water supply in 850
villages INLD courts alliance with BJP Directorate
for ESI scheme in Haryana Another
DA instalment for Haryana staff
Haryana postings School
teachers' stir from May 3 |
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24-hour power in Haryana soon CHANDIGARH, April 30 — Haryana is fully geared to supply power round-the-clock after June 30. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, after presiding over a meeting held to review the preparations by the state power sector to fulfil the long-standing demand of the people of the state to get power all through the day. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that after June 30 there would be a two-phase round-the-clock supply of power in the rural areas whereas supply to the agriculture sector would be limited to eight hours a day. Minimum of two hours of power supply in the morning as well as in the evening would be provided for drinking water till August 31. In addition, there would be an all-round improvement in the quality of power. As many as 423 lakh units of power were supplied in July, 1998, which would go up to nearly 490 lakh units in the current year. Similarly, in August 1998, the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) supplied 423 lakh units whereas the requirement for the current year had been pegged at 510 lakh units. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that the first unit of 143 MW gas-based NTPC plant at Faridabad would supply 30 lakh units of power daily. It would be commissioned by May 5. The total power generated by this plant would be dedicated to Haryana. The induction of power to the Haryana grid would improve immediately the voltage profile and reduce power cuts. In addition, the HVPN had made an agreement with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board to purchase power in the coming paddy season, till the end of September, 1999. The second unit of NTPC gas-based thermal power plant at Faridabad would be commissioned in the middle of July. It would add another 30 lakh units to the available power. Thus the total availability would be more than 60 lakh units. The Chief Minister said the first refurbished unit of the Panipat thermal power station would start supplying about 10 lakh units by the end of September. Thus the supply of power would be more comfortable. He also reviewed the efforts made by the HVPN to strengthen the transmission and distribution since May, 1996, with the addition of 27 new sub-stations, augmentation of 133 sub-stations and 662 km of high tension lines with an investment of nearly Rs 212 crore. Mr Bansi Lal directed the authorities concerned that the efforts should be made to remove bottlenecks before June 30. If need be, the work should be done round-the-clock. The HVPN had reviewed the crucial bottlenecks early this year and has plans to complete 12 new sub-stations and augment 13 sub-stations during this period. As power from the NTPC plant would be costlier and on every unit of power supplied, the HVPN would lose about 97 paise, the total extra expenditure would be about Rs 220 crore. It was decided that the additional resources should be mobilised by minimising theft, increasing billing and collection efficiency and through the support of the state government. The Minister of State of
Power, Mr Attar Singh Saini, and others attended the
meeting. |
Dry spell causes fire in Morni
forest MORNI (Panchkula), April 30 — The prolonged dry spell is taking its toll in this picturesque hilly tourist resort of Haryana as ravaging fires are breaking out almost daily in one or the other part of the forest falling in the Morni forest division. Thick billows of smoke from hills can be seen from a distance at some spots as one moves along the Shivalik hills. Only late last evening workers of the Forest Department raced against time to control a major fire which broke out in about 242 hectares of pine plantations — close to an area inhabited by human population. Some pine trees were still smouldering in the area. Concerned at the continued dry spell which has till now resulted in atleast 59 minor and major forest fires in the Raipur Rani, Ramgarh, Morni, Pinjore and Panchkula ranges, forest officials say that the last time such ravaging fires broke out was in 1987. Most of the fires were fuelled by dry pine needles and Lantana weed, say the officials. The forest officials say that the major casualty in the ground fires have been tree saplings of different species, around 6200, which were planted last year. The total number of full grown trees destroyed in the fires will be ascertained by June, they maintain. When the Tribune team visited the area yesterday workers of the Forest Department assisted by the Additional Principal Conservator of Forest, Haryana, Mr R.S. Hooda, and the Chief Forester (North), Dr Amrinder Kaur, were seen chalking out strategies to control the fires. Wireless sets of the officials and the field staff came handy to exchange information about where and when a fire broke out. Not ruling out the possibility of deliberate fires, the officials say there have been atleast three cases of accidental fire at Ghajjan and Morni villages when sparking from transformers resulted in fire. The forest department has already lodged separate FIRs in atleast 51 cases since March 13 last. The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr M.P. Sharma, said during the last one and a half months forest fires broke out in Tirlokpur, Mirpur, Plasara, Berwala, Asrewali, Mandana, Thapli, Janauli, Dhagrok, Bhausala, Nanakpur, Dhamolia, Kedarpur and Bhawana. Besides fire broke out atleast five times in the Bir Shikargah Wild Life Sanctuary in Pinjore during the past few days. The forest officials are grappling with a strange situation which is indirectly related to the cases of forest fires. The locals are against the lantana weed — a high heat resistance weed — which had covered open spaces in the forest area including the agricultural land. With a view to get rid of the weed they set it on fire. But the end result is that weed survives the blaze but it results in ground fire, they claim. The ground fire , say the officials, was fanned by strong winds. When the Tribune team was in the area, a ground fire in a private forest area near Rasoon village fanned due to strong winds and soon the entire area was engulfed with smoke. Though concerted efforts by the workers — by maintaining fire lines and by putting cross fires — may have prevented the fire from spreading to other areas, shortage of staff and absence of latest fire fighting measures were quite visible. For example there was only a staff of 60 men with the Forest Department for fire fighting purposes. The Forest Department is not equipped with fire tenders for the Morni division. Whenever ravaging fires broke out in the forest, fire tenders had to be called from Panchkula. There was certainly shortage of funds to manage such natural or man made calamities, say sources in the Forest Department. Another issue raised by
the locals was shortage of water in the area. The workers
of the department could be seen bring water in buckets to
douse flames. Construction of earthen dams for such an
eventuality is suggested by the locals to overcome the
shortage of water. |
86 cr for water supply in 850
villages CHANDIGARH, April 30 — The Haryana Sanitary Board has decided to spend a sum of Rs 86.41 crore for improving water supply in 850 villages. Besides, a sum of Rs 7.51 crore has been allocated for augmentation of the existing water supply in 36 towns and for strengthening of sewerage in 30 towns. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held here under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal. The board also approved urban water supply schemes for Ambala sadar, Bhiwani and Kaithal towns at a cost of Rs 50 crore. Of this, Rs 20 crore has been allocated for the current financial year. Water supply to another 100 villages will be augmented to a level of 70 litre per capita per day (LPCD) in the desert-prone districts of the state. The problem of excess fluorides in the districts Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari and Mohindergarh will also be tackled on a war footing and all the remaining 131 villages will be provided with safe drinking water supply mainly from the canal-based water supply system. The board also approved an allocation of Rs 10 crore for improving the water supply infrastructure in seven towns and two big villages, while the drainage system of Panipat town is to be improved at a cost of Rs 2.30 crore. The Chief Minister directed that the works should be expedited and the projects completed as per schedule so as to extend maximum benefit to the people. It was decided in the meeting that in the current financial year the water allowance of 500 villages would be upgraded. The board decided to augment water supply to the desired level of 40 LPCD in 256 villages at a cost of Rs 49.46 crore. Under the desert development programme eight districts of the state had already been covered. Under the programme water supply system up to 70 LPCD would be augmented. Up to 31 March last, 792 villages had been benefited where the per capita water supply was augmented to 70 LPCD. In the last financial year water supply in 152 villages from the desert-prone areas had been augmented up to 70 LPCD. This was made possible by utilising the existing water potential of the tubewells. It was also decided that work on a scheme of over Rs 17.35 crore under the submission control of fluorosis which would cover 264 villages of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Mahendargarh and Rewari districts should be expedited to check the high fluoride content found in water. Till March-end as many as 133 villages were benefited under the scheme. It was also decided at the meeting that a training institute and testing laboratory should be set up at Rohtak. The board also approved the setting up of a library at a cost of Rs 2 lakh under the human resources cell at Panchkula. The sewage treatment plants being set up under the Yamuna Action Plan Project costing Rs 232 crore in six cities namely, Yamunanagar,-Jagadhri, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Gurgaon and Faridabad would be ready by June. An expenditure of Rs 178.45 crore had been incurred on the project till March 31. All ministers and senior
functionaries of the government were present at the
meeting. |
INLD courts alliance with BJP HISAR, April 30 — Indian National Lok Dal leader Mr Om Prakash Chautala did not rule out a possible alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. However, he said, a decision on the issue would be taken in consultation with party leaders. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Chautala termed the recent statement of Chief Minister Bansi Lal about the HVP and BJP fighting the elections together, as an "act of desperation to stem the exodus of legislators from the party". The INLD leader claimed, the Bansi Lal government could fall at any time as the legislators were likely to desert him. The INLD leader attacked the Congress and its leader Ms Sonia Gandhi saying the party had deliberating created instability so as to raise the slogan of stability. Claiming the credit for "preventing a foreigner becoming the Prime Minister," Mr Chautala said it would have been unfortunate for the country had Ms Gandhi become the Prime Minister. Lauding the Pokhran-II blasts, he said after India became the nuclear power it is the duty of every citizen of the country to ensure that "the button of the nuclear bomb is not handed over to a foreigner". Mr Chautala said it was for the first time that the Congress has been beaten at its own game. He pointed out that the Congress had a history of bringing down governments and said the people of the country would not forgive it for foisting another election on the nation, at a cost of over Rs 1000 crore. The INLD leader favoured holding of elections before June 15, as the monsoon starts after that. He said it was not in the interest of the nation to prolong of uncertainty. He disclosed that his party plead its case for June elections with the Election Commission. Meanwhile, in an
interesting development, the district general secretary
of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Dr Kamal Gupta today urged
the party high command to withdraw its support to the
Bansi Lal government. Dr Gupta claimed the recent
statement of Mr Bansi Lal about the HVP and BJP fighting
the elections together, had been issued without
consulting the BJP leadership. |
Haryana postings CHANDIGARH, April 30 — The Haryana Government has appointed Mr R.S. Gujral, IAS, OSD, Planning Board, Haryana, as Commissioner, Finance and Ex-Officio Special Secretary, Finance, in addition to his present duties. Mr L.S.M. Salins, IAS, Managing Director, Haryana Financial Corporation, becomes Commissioner-cum-Secretary in the office of Lokayokta against a newly created post. Mr K.K. Khandelwal, IAS, OSD, Land Use Board, becomes Joint Secretary, Power and Director and Joint Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources against a vacant post. Mr S.K. Monga, IAS,
Director and Joint Secretary, Development and Panchayats,
will also look after the work of Director and Joint
Secretary, Rural Development, in addition to his present
duties vice Mrs Shashi Bala Gulati, IAS, who goes as
Director, Secondary Education and Inquiry Officer
Vigilance-II vice Mr N.C. Wadhwa, IAS, who has been
posted as Joint Secretary Political Services, Vigilance
and Training departments and Director, Training, vice Mr
Alok Nigam, IAS, who becomes Managing Director, Haryana
Financial Corporation. |
1.72 cr
spent
under Rozgar Yojna SONEPAT, April 30 — This district of Haryana has set a 'record' by spending Rs 1.72 crore for generating 1.80 lakh mandays under the Jawahar Rozgaar Yojna during 1998-99. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr PK Mahapatra, told mediapersons here today that the state government had also launched a number of self-employment schemes for the benefit of educated jobless youths in this district and elsewhere. Nationalised banks and other financial institutions had been giving assistance and loans to the educated jobless youths for launching self -employment ventures. The state government had constructed 755 houses under the Indira Awas Yojna in this district and 70 more houses were under construction. These houses had been allotted to widows and handicapped persons by the state government. The state government had spent Rs 1.66 crore on this scheme during the period under review. Similarly, a sum of Rs 278.08 lakh had been spent on the EIS scheme and another Rs 23.91 lakh on the construction of rooms and repair of school buildings in the district. The Revenue Department had already completed the 'jamabandi' work in the district and intensified the work for its computerisation. The state government, he said, has started the work of supplying pass books to the farmers in Sonepat tehsil at the initial stage. Referring to the
development of agriculture, he said area under wheat
cultivation was increased from 1.23 lakh hectares to 1.34
lakh hectares in this district and this had led to the
increase in the arrivals of wheat in the mandis of this
district. The bulk of the wheat marketed by the farmers
was being purchased by the official procurement agencies
in the district. |
Another DA instalment for
Haryana staff CHANDIGARH, April 30 — The Haryana Government has released another instalment of dearness allowance to its employees on the Central pattern with effect from January 1, 1999. Now the employees will get DA at the rate of 32 per cent of their basic pay, thus registering an increase of 10 per cent in DA. Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, Finance Minister, Haryana, said today that the employees would get the enhanced DA in cash with their salary for May paid in June. The arrears from January to April would be credited to their GPF accounts. He said that with the release of this instalment, there would be an additional burden of Rs 205.80 crore on the state exchequer. He added that the employees would not be allowed to draw arrears of DA deposited in their GPF accounts for one year. The employees whose grades have not been revised so far would be given the DA instalment from January 1 at the rate of 228 per cent to those drawing basic pay up to Rs 3500 a month, registering an increase of 25 per cent. Those drawing a basic pay of Rs 3500 to 6000 a month would be given 171 per cent DA subject to minimum of Rs 7980 a month, registering an increase of 19 per cent and those drawing above Rs 6000 a month would be given DA at the rate of 148 per cent registering an increase of 16 per cent but subject to a minimum of Rs 10,260 a month, he added. Mr Shorewala said the
employees who did not have GPF accounts would be given
the amount of arrears in the shape of National Savings
Certificates. But these conditions would not be
applicable in the case of those who retired and death or
voluntary retirement cases. |
Directorate for ESI scheme in
Haryana CHANDIGARH, April 30 — The Haryana Government has created a separate directorate for the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme, and its administrative control has been given to the Labour department to improve the implementation of this ambitious scheme. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, in a message issued on the eve of May Day. He said the minimum wages were the highest in Haryana in northern states except Delhi. The minimum wages of unskilled industrial labour had been raised to Rs 1901.30 a month or Rs 73.12 a day and that of agricultural labour Rs 74.12 (without meals) or Rs 70.12 (with meals) a day with effect from January 1, 1999. The minimum wages of the labour were being revised from time to time, and these had been linked to the price index. Mr Bansi Lal paid tributes to all those labourers who in 1886 launched a long and decisive fight for their rights and sacrificed their lives while fighting for justice at Chicago. He said May Day was being observed in the entire world to commemorate the memory of these labourers. Keeping in view rapid
industrialisation in Gurgaon and Sonepat, the government
had decided to set up 50-bed hospitals in these
industrial towns to provide modern health care services
to ESI beneficiaries. |
Hisar records high of 47.8°C CHANDIGARH, April 30 (UNI) — The whole of the north-west India sizzled as mercury soared to new heights in years today and Hisar in Haryana turned out to be the hottest place in the region registering a record high of 47.8°C, eight degrees above normal. People in and around Chandigarh stayed indoors as hot winds below across and the day temperature rose to a record high of 43°C, seven degrees above normal. Weathermen here said never before had the month of April witnessed heat wave conditions as this year. This was mainly because of unprecedented dry weather conditions. Since March 9, the region had remained without rains thus far. According to records available with the meteorological office here, Hisar had witnessed a high of 43 on April 19, 1996. In Chandigarh frequent and prolonged electricity trippings not only added to the misery of the people, but also hampered normal functioning in government and private offices. While April this year had been sans rains, last year the city and surrounding areas had recorded 48.8 mm of rainfall in the month and in previous year 47.2 m m. The national Capital, Delhi, has been experiencing the hottest month of April in 50 years. The mercury hovered around 43° C, seven degrees above normal since yesterday. The hottest April temperature in Delhi was recorded at 45.6°C in 1941. A report from Jalandhar
said the day temperature shot to 42.6°C today. |
SIRSA: The sewer system in Sirsa is in dire need of overhauling. There are regular complaints about blockage and overflowing of dirty water through manholes. A little rain turns the condition from bad to worse. Recently the sewerage in the petrol pump street of Gobind Nagar overflowed and dirty water entered houses, creating the danger of an epidemic spreading out. According to a resident, the problem is because of sub-standard material having been used in the construction of the manholes. *** The Dabwali sub-division of Sirsa district has long been demanding a government college. There are two colleges in this area and both are private and for women only. There is no college for boys. According to reliable sources, the DHE has instructed the Principal of Government National College, Sirsa to go to Dabwali and give a report to him on the viability of having a college. This has kindled the people’s hope of the area. Yoga classes have been started at the community centre, police lines exclusively for policemen and their families. The classes were started ceremoniously according to the Vedic tradition by the district police chief, Mr B S Sandhu. It is believed that the classes will go a long way in restoring the physical and mental fitness of cops besides helping the drug addicts to get rid of this social evil. *** ‘Setu’, a local police-public social organisation has taken up the responsibility of looking after children studying in Government Primary School in the police lines. Disclosing this the district police chief, who is also the president of the organisation, said certain members of the organisation listened to the problems of parents of students. It was decided after this that Setu would not only provide uniforms to the students but also conduct a regular medical check-up of the students. *** The hey days of the farmers have become bad days for those living in the local Mandi area. The heavy arrivals of wheat in the grain markets has blocked almost all roads around the mandi. Residents of B-Block, New Mandi, Additional Mandi, Janta Bhawan Road, Old Housing Board, etc., have to leave their vehicles tread their way to their houses. According to a resident of Anaj Mandi, he has to go to his shop which is hardly 200 metres away by walking almost 2 km. *** A village, Mauju-ki-Dhani of the district, 5 km from Ellenabad sub division on the Hanumangarh road has 250 houses but is devoid of the basic amenities. There is no potable water supply to the area and women fetch water from tubewells. The villagers demanded a new water works because the one at Talwara Khurd could hardly meet their requirements. There is no dispensary
in this village and for even minor medical problems,
villagers have to rush to Ellenabad. Besides villagers
also complain of irregularity in the clearance of mail
and delivery. |
School teachers' stir from May
3 YAMUNANAGAR, April 30 — Haryana school teachers have decided to intensify their agitation against the "step-motherly" treatment by the state government. In a press statement, Mr Jarnail Singh Sangwan, vice-president the Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh, said here today that the government had neglected their genuine complaint against pay anomalies, discrimination in pay scale, political interference in transfers, ban on new recruitment, reduction in leave and enforcement of ESMA etc. Mr Sangwan said more than 35,000 teachers had signed a protest declaration and would demonstrate in front of the District Primary Education Officer and give a memorandum on May 3. Demonstrations would also be held at Sirsa, Gurgaon, Karnal, and Kaithal on May 3 at Jind, Panchkula, Jajhjhar and Bhiwani on May 6, at Hisar, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Rohtak on May 10 and at Fatehabad, Ambala, Sonepat, Rewari and Faridabad on May 12. On May 25 the teachers
would stage a dharna in front of the office of the
Director Primary Education at Chandigarh and present a
memorandum to the Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas
Sharma, he added. |
HVPN recovers 7.75 lakh as
fines AMBALA, April 30 — The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has recovered fines totalling about Rs 7.75 lakh from consumers found stealing power last night. Disclosing this here today, the Inspector-General of Police (Vigilance), HVPN, Mr R.S. Dalal, said that the fines were imposed by several raiding parties in the state. A penalty of Rs 5.85 lakh was imposed on the owners of M/s Veer Foods Ltd at Kundli as the meter seals were found to be fake. At Panipat, the owner of Nanda Guest House was fined Rs 63,000 as the meter seals were found tampered with. A cane crusher at Yamunanagar owned by Issar Ali was raided around midnight. A penalty of Rs 48,000 was recovered from him. Mr Dalal said the HVPN was continuing its drive against roadside dhabas and three dhaba owners were found stealing power last night. Karamvir, the owner of Shiv Dhaba at Panipat was fined Rs 30,000 for power theft. Similarly, Rohtas and Gopi, owners of Sooraj Dhaba at Samalkha, were found stealing power and a fine of Rs 35,000 was imposed on them. He said that criminal
cases had been registered against three persons in this
connection. |
Release pay package, urge nurses ROHTAK, April 30 — The nursing staff of Pt. B.D. Sharma Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) has demanded the immediate implementation of the agreement reportedly reached with the state government on June 23, last. In a statement issued here today, Ms Santosh Hooda, General Secretary of the PGIMS Nursing Association, said a delegation of nurses met the Chief Minister on March 20, who reportedly assured them that the package would be implemented in April, this year. The nurses have been
demanding a pay package on the pattern of central
government and the removal of pay anomalies. |
5 killed, 2 hurt in mishap SIRSA, April 30 — Five persons were killed and two injured in an accident on the GT Road near Sikenderpur village in the district today. According to informed sources, Som Nath (20), a taxi driver of Sikenderpur village, along with his wife, sister, her newly born child and Surinder Kumar was returning to their village on cycles after attending a marriage party at Bajekam village. The accident took place when a Canter collided with them near the Swastik Pipe factory on GT Road. Sources claimed that Sham Lal (25), driver of the Canter, lost balance, crushed to death four persons and dashed against a tree in which he also died. The deceased were identified as Surinder Kumar, Santosh, her child, Gagandeep, and Bhajan Kaur, wife of Somnath. The injured included Ramnath and Beg Raj, cleaner. A case has been
registered. |
Steps to improve power supply PANIPAT, April 30 — During the past three years the Haryana Government has taken several steps to improve power supply situation in the state. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Rastogi. He said the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) had installed 474 new transformers in the district to improve the supply of electricity. Besides these, 5,396 transformers had been replaced. As many as 1,502 electric poles had also been installed in the district to augment the power supply. The HVPN had also constructed a new power substation here benefiting 40 villages. The Deputy Commissioner said 73.815 km-long new power lines had been laid in the district during the past three years which had led to an increase of 55.9 MV. He said 18,073 domestic
connections, 3034 commercial connections, 1032 industrial
connections and 27 tubewell connections had been released
by the HVPN in Panipat district during the past three
years. |
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