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| Sunday, January 2, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Unruly traffic makes NH-22 killer road Hectic lobbying for Samalkha, Panipat seats |
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Ambala to have a home for the aged The only subdivision without bus stand Church priest attacked Revision of excise sought Two deeds of honesty in a day INLD to hold four conferences in January Gohana to have sugar mill Two more subdivisions for Haryana Three killed in accidents Central pattern NPA for Haryana docs Higher reservation for BCs sought Eye bank to be set up in Sonepat Health Dept seeks encroachment report
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Unruly traffic makes NH-22 killer road AMBALA, Jan 1 — Facts about National Highway Number 22: In 1999 alone, 84 accidents were reported, 52 fatal, between Jawaharpur and Singhpura, a stretch of just about 10 kilometres under the Dera Bassi police station, 21 more than last year. Under the Lalru police station, last year, cracked voices on the wireless sets informed the police of 48 mishaps — 26 deadly. Fortunately, the toll was "a little low", comparatively. In 1998, 61 disasters had occurred, 33 cruel. The story is the same. Almost always. Frantic hands desperately turn around the steering as the wide-eyed driver furiously steps on the brake pedal. To avoid the going-at-full-blast bus. The screech of terror drowns the speedway din as the agitated car swivels off the bumpy road. Not enough. Bang. In no moment, it's over. The journey ends before the destination. The "death vehicle" stops only "if it cannot be helped". The police reaches the spot soon after. A site plan is prepared. Case registered. Left behind are the tyre marks on the bloodthirsty road, and on the survivors' hearts. The cops blame the road. And Haryana Roadways bus drivers. "Hardly a day goes by when an accident does not occur, " reveals an official at the Dera Bassi police station. "Involved mostly are Haryana Roadways bus drivers zooming against time. But then the road is also single lane. No, nothing will help till it is doubled. And the drivers educated". The speeding automobiles' numbers have also grown too large for the age-old road, with Chandigarh opening to the consumer world. Clogging up "is natural". The complexion has worsened with indifferent horse carts and tractors casually trotting past the road-side parked trucks, forcing the wildly honking buses and cars to cross the yellow line, wherever painted. "Prior to the early 1990s, it was just unruly buses and trucks, besides a few Ambassadors and Fiats," asserts Raj Kumar, owner of a road-side provision store in Lalru. "Today, you have businessman, even executives, commuting to Delhi in personal cars. Then there are so many tractors recklessly stepping on the road without warning". The hazard caused by heedless commuters negligently jumping over the barren medium makes a move with the journey itself. Even before you cross Chandigarh, scooterists step in front of the car again, and again. The perils of highroad driving do not end with two-wheeler riders. The traffic lights at Zirakpur and Baldev Nagar near here seldom work. The paint has also peeled off the rusted signboards all over. At the level crossing near Dera Bassi, about 16 trains at day, and 11 at night, pass, but cops hardly man the unleashed crowd. The road every now and then disappears from under the car into the street of cobbled stones. |
Ambala to have a home for the aged AMBALA, Jan 1 — The changes in life styles, such as breakdown of the joint family system, working couples and lack of understanding by the younger generation, have led to total alienation of the aged. The need of the time is to open recreation home for the aged to provide the people in their twilight years a congenial atmosphere where they can spend time, find companionship and are provided medicare to ease the pain of old age problems. To make the life of senior citizens comfortable and to make them feel wanted, secure and happy, the District Red Cross Society Ambala will shortly be opening a senior citizens’ home in Mathura enclave, Ambala city. The home is being set up in two acres of plot with a project cost of Rs. 60 lakh. According to Mr Ram Niwas, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman Red Cross Society the home would have all the modern facilities and it would not only provide home to the aged but also an environment which is conducive to their well-being. He said that the elderly persons would lead a life of dignity and would pass their remaining years in peace and tranquillity of the home. He said that experiences of these senior citizens would be availed for the public welfare work and they would also be involved in community work. Giving detailed information about the home he said that residential facility for 30 persons had been created in the first phase which includes 10 rooms each for the single occupancy of men and women, and five double rooms for the couples. In addition to this were a common room, attached kitchen for the double occupancy, health club, guest room, library of newspapers and magazines and a day care centre. A kitchen run on cooperative basis would cater to the food requirements of the inmates. Attached toilets for the occupants of the rooms and a common toilet for the staff and visitors had been provided in the home. The occupants would be given a bed, a table, a chair and a cupboard. Elaborating on the rules and regulations for the occupancy of the room, Mr Ram Niwas said that any resident of the district above the age of 60 could put up his stay in the senior citizens’ home without any discrimination. The other rules for the occupancy included that the person should have his own monthly income and could afford to bear the expenses. The person should not be handicapped, neither infected by any kind of infectious or critical disease. He said that priority should be given to the persons having no issue. The formalities required for the occupancy in the home include two passport size photographs, furnishing references of two respected citizens of the district, proofs of income, medical certificates from the Civil Surgeon and domicile certificates of the districts to be attached with the applications obtainable from the office of the home. Mr Ram Niwas said that the selection of occupants would be done by the managing committee of the home. Their medical check-up would be conducted from time to time and it would be essential for the occupants to be a member of the common mess of the home. The meeting time with their relatives and friends would be 5 to 7 pm in summers and 4 to 6 pm in winters on week days and 9 am to 12 pm on all Sundays and holidays. The permission of manager would be required for the night stay outside the home premises. The license fee had been kept quite minimal, keeping consideration their retirement age and drop in income. The occupants have to pay Rs. 800/- for the single occupancy and Rs. 1200 for couples per month, they would also have to deposit Rs. 5000/- as trust money at the time of possession of the room, which would be on a temporary basis, and would have to be vacated on the directions of managing committee. Mr Ram Niwas said that all types of recreational facilities would be provided to the occupants and the visiting senior citizen of the day care centre, including carrom, chess and badminton, and they would also be taken out to see places in and around Ambala district. He informed that there was also a proposal to set up a similar home for senior citizens on the Rambagh road, Ambala cantonment. The Mahavir Dal had already donated one acre of land for the purpose and a sum of Rs 20 lakhs had been made available from the Sansad Nidhi Fund. The foundation stone would be laid by the Deputy Commissioner on January 8. |
The only subdivision without bus stand KALKA, Jan 1 — The last and, perhaps, one of the oldest towns of Haryana situated at the gateway to Himachal Pradesh, this is the only subdivision in the State which remained bereft of the facilities of local and inter-state bus stand during the past hundreds of years. Founded in 1245 AD at the Shivalik foothills, all incoming and outgoing buses from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir which have their halt here are parked on the narrow Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway that passes through this town, much to the discomfiture of shopkeepers on either side and inconvenience to the general public. No wonder, one witnesses that buses move bumper to bumper through the town with three to five traffic blockades lasting 15 minutes to 20 minutes every day. At times traffic congestion becomes so heavy that even pedestrians find it difficult to pass through the road. The traffic blockades usually take place near the curve at the Kali Mata Mandir and the railway bridge. Matters are made worse by shopkeepers who have encroached on the road by raising concrete platforms outside their shops. Autorickshaw drivers and vegetable vendors add to the melee by parking their vehicles and rehris on the national highway. Mr R.R. Sheoran, Chief Engineer of Haryana’s PWD reveals that they had removed all encroachment on the National Highway. He says that these encroachments have again sprung up for lack of effective enforcement staff. Ever since Haryana was carved out as an independent state in 1966, Kalka has been an important Assembly segment. Mr Lachhman Singh, who first represented this constituency remained Minister in the earlier Bhajan Lal regime. It has been represented by Mr Chander Mohan, son of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal. No wonder residents of this town accuse the authorities of neglecting this town in the matter of development. The authorities, however, explain that there are certain insurmountable practical difficulties in the construction of a bus stand in this subdivision. They point out that there are deep pits on either side of the town. There is no even land in the heart of the city where a bus stand can be raised. It is for this reason that most of the buses are permitted to be parked on a small plot owned by the local Municipal Committee. Some time ago even the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government to remove all encroachments on the National Highway up to a radius of 100 metres on either side. The government is at sea in implementing this diktat of the high court for various reasons. First, all shops in this town were raised hundreds of years ago along the road berms. If these are demolished, where will the shopkeepers go? Secondly, some of them have their houses on the first floor. They will have no place to live in the event the shops are removed. Mr S.S. Nanda, a local municipal councillor, points out that at one time a proposal for constructing a bus stand near the housing board colony was mooted. This move was, however, opposed by local residents on the ground that it was a far-flung place. Since there were no autorickshaws in the town, it was not possible for the residents to trek this long distance with their luggage, especially at odd hours during the night. He claims that now the town has more than 250 autorickshaws. If the state government constructs the bus stand near the housing board now, there will be no opposition from the residents. |
Revision of excise sought AMBALA, Jan 1 — Exporters of Haryana have been facing a lot of problems from nationalised banks, Mr NC Jain, President of the Haryana Exporters Association, has alleged in a press statement. Mr Jain said the export business had suffered a lot during the past six months. He demanded that central excise for small-scale units having a turnover of Rs 3 crore per annum be revised and levy of excise duty not be more than 5 per cent. The procedure for refund of excise duty should be simplified and custom documentation should be reduced, he added. He demanded that the export rate of interest for pre-shipment and post-shipment should not be more than 7 per cent for 80 days and the packing credit should be allowed on the basis of export orders, without any guarantee and collateral security. He urged the government to issue special instructions to the Commerce Secretary and embassies of India, UK, Canada, Germany, France and Japan to explore the market for exporting Indian goods, specially science equipment, which was manufactured in Ambala Cantonment. |
Hectic lobbying for Samalkha, Panipat seats PANIPAT, Jan 1 — Though speculation about the Naultha and Assandh Assembly seats has been set to rest following the announcement of the names of INLD candidates Satbir Kadiyan and Krishan Lal Pawar, hectic lobbying is on within the INLD and its electoral ally, the BJP, for the Samalkha and Panipat Vidhan Sabha constituencies. That the BJP will get the urban segment of Panipat is a foregone conclusion but what has become a worrying factor for it has been a lack of consensus within the party for a nominee. White the district chief of the BJP, Mr Niti Sen Bhatia, is himself a strong contender for the party ticket, he is likely to face stiff competition from another BJP leader, Dr Manohar Lal Suneja. The president of the BJP Gramin Mandal, Mr Raghunath Mittal, too, staked his claim to the party nomination from Panipat on Thursday. Interestingly, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala also went to meet Dr Suneja on December 22. These developments and the BJP’s claim to the Panipat seat hasn’t disturbed the city president of the INLD, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, who has been making all-out efforts to get the party nomination from here, lending a new twist to the fight for the ticket. Six INLD aspirants for the Samalkha seat have a new problem at their hands with the BJP now pressing hard for the Samalkha seat. Last week the BJP held a meeting at Samalkha, which was chaired by its state organising secretary, Mr Manohar Lal Khattar. The party’s decision to organise a massive state-level rally at Samalkha on January 3 has sent clear signals about its intentions. This development has also put a question mark over the fate of Co-operative Minister Kartar Singh Bhadana, who was the sitting MLA from Samalkha. Mr Bhadana has expressed his desire to contest again from Samalkha. Interestingly, the BJP is staking its claim to the Sohna seat also from where Mr Bhadana is expected to contest elections if denied nomination from Samalkha. INLD sources say that since the BJP wanted the Gharaunda seat and the INLD had already decided its nominee from there, Mr Chautala may give the Samalkha seat to the BJP. |
Church priest attacked PANIPAT, Jan 1 — At least eight armed miscreants assaulted Father Vikas while he was asleep in his room inside St. Mary’s Church at 3 a.m. in Jyoti Nagar on the outskirts of the city. The priest was assaulted with sticks and stones. He sustained multiple head injuries, fractured both his hands and had bruises all over the body. He has been admitted to a private hospital here. His colleague, Father Ashwin, who gathered the neighbours after hearing the shrieks of the priest, told TNS: "It was around 3 a.m. when I heard noises from the ground floor. I realised that there were at least eight to 10 persons. So I rang up the police first and then woke up our neighbours. When people gathered around the church and challenged the assailants, they fled. They yelled at us in Haryanvi. The priest room was ransacked by the assailants — the cupboards broken, papers and files thrown out of the almirahs and blood splashed on the floor. It could not be ascertained whether the miscreants had taken away valuables and money. Father Prasad, who had come from Kurukshetra to visit his colleague when asked whether he considered the attack to be the handiwork of communal elements, he said: "At the moment we can’t say anything, but such a possibility cannot be ruled out." The assailants had probably knocked at the door of the priest as there were no signs of forced entry. They then may have assaulted him with sticks and later dragged him to the adjoining bathroom where he was found bleeding profusely by his colleagues and neighbours. The police took the help of sniffer dogs to trace the assailants who had scaled the wall of the church compound to gain entry. The police has begun investigations. |
Two deeds of honesty in a day ROHTAK, Jan 1 — That honesty and the spirit of helping others in society is very much alive has been proved here. According to information, Mr Ramesh Tiger, an official of the Sports Department of the Maharshi Dayanand University yesterday found two bundles of Rs 10,000 each at separate places on the varsity campus. He returned the money to its owners within one hour without having only second thought. Mr Tiger said he found a bundle of Rs 10000 from outside the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) Hospital. He said when he failed to locate the owner he went to the police post to handover the money to the police. There a woman had reported that she had lost Rs 10,000. After confirming that the money belonged to her. Mr Tiger returned the amount to her. After this incident, Tiger went to the Education Department of the university for some work. When he took a seat in the room of the Head of the Department, he noticed a bundle of Rs 10000 lying near his shoes. He said he inquired indirectly from persons there if they had lost anything. When he got no response he came outside and met two persons known to him. They told him that Rs 10,000 had been missing which one of them had withdrawn from a bank. After conforming the ownership, Mr Tiger returned the amount to him. It is learnt that Mr Ramesh (48), who is a bachelor, had saved the life of a young woman twice when she attempted to commit suicide by jumping before a train and then jumping into a canal, several days ago. |
INLD to hold four conferences in January CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) will hold four conferences in January to gear up its workers for the coming Assembly poll. A senior INLD leader and Finance Minister of Haryana, Mr Sampat Singh, said the first conference on January 8 would be at Kurukshetra, the second at Gurgaon the following day, the third at Panipat on January 11 and the last at Hisar on January 16. The INLD units from the adjoining areas of the four centres will take part in their respective conferences. He said the former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Devi Lal, Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and other senior INLD leaders would be attending the conferences. The Finance Minister added that poll plank of the INLD would be achievements of the Chautala-led Government. "We are carrying out repair works on all the damaged roads of Haryana, canals are being cleaned for irrigation purposes, and also, we have been able to provide power to the farmers despite major hurdles. These are very important works which we have been able to do," he claimed. The abolition of octroi, increased old-age pension and other such measures undertaken by the INLD-led government would be highlighted by his party during the poll campaign. |
Gohana to have sugar mill SONEPAT, Jan 1 — The Haryana Government has decided to set up a cooperative sugar mill at Gohana in the district to meet the long-standing demand of the people. This was announced by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, while addressing a gathering on the occasion of "sarkar aapke dwar" function held at Gohana, 35 km from here, last evening. He said the successive governments had failed to meet the demand for the cooperative sugar mill in the area but the INLD-BJP alliance government would take the lead to fulfil it. The construction of this mill would be started before the elections’ schedule, he stated. Referring to the power crisis in the state, Mr Chautala said the state government had taken a series of steps to ensure regular power supply in all sectors of the state. He admitted that the state had been facing an acute shortage of power and the power situation was still grim. He also said that he had already sought more power quota from the Centre and it had agreed to allocate more power to the state. He said the state government had decided to remove electric wires passing over the public places like schools, ponds, offices and residential areas etc. He announced that the repairs and construction of the roads would be completed by the end of May. Earlier, Mr Chautala listened to grievances of public at Baroda and Gohana town and announced a number of steps to remove them. |
Two more subdivisions for Haryana CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has approved the creation of two new subdivisions and 14 sub-tehsils in the state with a view to improving the efficiency of the administrative set-up and facilitate the people. The creation of the administrative units would enable the people of these areas to get their day-to-day administrative job cleared near home. It may be recalled that Chief Minister, who is touring the state to redress the grievances of the people under the "Sarkar aapke dwar" programme, has announced the creation of these administrative units following the demand of the people. One new subdivision, Samalkha in Panipat district, has been created, thus raising the number of subdivisions in the district to two. Similary, Ratia in Fatehabad district has also been given the status of a subdivision, raising the number of subdivisions in the district to three. In Kaithal district three new sub-tehsils, namely Dhand, Rajaund and Siwan have been created. In Panipat district, Madlauda has been given the status of a sub-tehsil. In Kurukshetra district, two new sub-tehsils, namely Ismailabad and Babain have been created. In Karnal district, two new sub-tehsils, Ballah and Nigdhu have been created. Also, Alewa in Jind district has been given the status of a sub-tehsil. In Yamunanagar district, Mustafabad has been declared a sub-tehsil. Jakhal (Fatehabad), Kalanaur (Rohtak) Bond Kalan (Bhiwani), also have been given the status of a sub-tehsil. |
Three killed in accidents PANIPAT, Jan 1 — Three persons were reported killed in road accidents in the past 24 hours in the district. According to information, a 50-year-old woman Santosh Kumari of Jagdish colony, Rohtak was hit by an oil tanker, opposite Skylark tourist complex on the GT road, today evening. Santosh Kumari was going to meet her relatives in the local tehsil town along with her daugther-in- law and grand daughter in a rickshaw. She was brought to civil hospital where the doctor declared her dead. Her grand daughter reportedly injured in the accident was admitted in the hospital. After the accident, the driver left the tanker and escaped. Similarly Balbir of Madana village died on the spot when a tractor- trailer was hit by a truck on the GT road near Mittal International last evening. In this accident, tractor driver Billu of the same village was seriously injured and was admitted in civil hospital Smalkha for treatment. In another accident on the Sanoli road near Ugrakheri village jeep driver Naseem was injured seriously when his jeep collided with a truck last evening. Naseem, in serious condition was brought to civil hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The police has registered cases against truck drivers but the drivers are absconding. |
Central pattern NPA for Haryana docs CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has given his approval for releasing non-practising allowance (NPA) to the doctors on the Central pattern from April 1. The NPA will be given at the rate of 25 per cent of the basic pay. The state will have to bear an annual burden of Rs 4.92 crore by giving the benefit to the doctors. The Chief Minister also approved to give an extra weightage of 5 per cent marks for admission to M.D. and M.S. courses to those students who graduate from Pt. B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. This incentive has been given on the demand of the students of the college and also because of the fact that such a practice is prevalent in many other states. |
Higher reservation for BCs sought ROHTAK, Jan 1 — The youth wing of the Haryana unit of the Samajwadi Party has demanded a hike in reservation for backward classes from 27 per cent to 54 per cent. In a statement issued here the president of the wing, Mr Sanjay Lather, said the raising of reservation percentage had become necessary in view of the demand of reservation by Jats in Haryana. If Jats are included in the backward classes (BC) category, the 27 per cent reservation quota would be inadequate as far as the interests of other BC categories, claiming that his party would make this demand an election issue in the coming Assembly poll. He said 10 per cent reservation could be given to other higher castes like Brahmins, Rajputs and Punjabis on an economic basis. He said the Samajwadi Party would field candidates on all 90 Assembly seats if there was no alliance or understanding with like-minded parties. |
Eye bank to be set up in Sonepat SONEPAT, Jan 1 — The District Blind Control Committee has decided to set up an eye bank in the town and preparations are afoot in this regard by the Health Department authorities. This was stated by Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commissioner, while presiding over the meeting of this committee here today. He said an eye camp for cataract patients is being organised from January 31 to February 4 in Medical College Hospital at Rohtak. The Deputy Commissioner stated that several social and voluntary organisations had decided to organise free eye operation camps in this district. These organisations are the Shri Ram Sharam, Gohana, the Shri Ram Yuva Vikas Parishad, Gohana and the Lions Club, Sonepat. Dr R.N. Sachdeva, Civil Surgeon was among those who attended the meeting. |
Health Dept seeks encroachment report PANIPAT, Jan 1 — The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, has sought a report from district health authorities about the encroachments made on the Civil Hospital's land by the PWD, the Public Health Department and a Darghah. The action was initiated into when the encroachment reports appeared in the press. The PWD authorities took the stand that their department is a government organisation thus it cannot be termed as encroachment. On the other hand, the health authorities say that even if the rent of the encroached land is paid to the Health Department, the local Civil Hospital can become self dependent. The district health authorities had on numerous occasion complained to the government about the encroachment but no action was taken by the authorities concerned. |
One killed, two injured in mishaps AMBALA, Jan 1 — One person was killed and two were injured in two separate accidents here on Saturday. According to the police, scooterist, Jagdish, died later at the PGI, Chandigarh. He had sustained serious injuries when his scooter collided with a motorcycle near Naraingarh. In another accident, two truck drivers were injured when their trucks collided near Mulana. The police has registered two cases in this regard. Tanker operators’ stir AMBALA, Jan 1 — The Haryana Petroleum Tankers’ Operators Association has decided to observe strike from today till January 3 in support of their demands. A decision in this regard was taken at the meeting of the state executive of the body held at Ambala yesterday. Mr Prem Soni, a spokesman of the association said the corporation authorities did not consider their “genuine demands” after repeated representations and requests. He said the carriage contact rate settled between the authorities of the IOC and the association a few years back expired on September 30 last year. The association had been demanding a new rate contract. On November 1 the association had observed one-day token strike in protest. The authorities had assured them to consider their demand but later they backed out. Meanwhile, the Senior Terminal Manager of the IOC, Ambala depot, Mr Akhilesh Gupta, said the association had a conversation with the IOC, Delhi office and the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum. |
Council urges govt to start project AMBALA, Jan 1 — The Citizen Council, Ambala, has urged the government to start the work of first phase of Saha Growth Centre, as it will give a boost to industry and provide employment opportunities to the people of the district and the state. In a memorandum sent to the Chief Minister of Haryana, the council said the project, which was spread over 1,000 acres, was to be developed in two phases. The HSIDC has acquired 400 acre for this project and Rs 12 crore have been awarded to the farmers, who owned the land. Institute shifts to new building AMBALA, Jan 1 — The Shri Atmanand, Jain Institute of Management and Technology, Ambala City, shifted to its new building, costing Rs 80 lakh, here on Saturday. On this occasion a havan was held. Members of the management and staff and students gave the ahuti. The President of the institute, Mr Kuldip Jain, and Director, Mukesh Sehgal, were also present on the occasion. |
1 killed, 5 hurt in house attack FARIDABAD, Jan 1 — Sunita, a 15-year-old girl, was killed and five others injured when their house was attacked by certain persons at Shamshabad village in Palwal subdivision yesterday. Reports reaching here identified the injured as Har Prasad, Vijay, Bahadur, Rupchand and his wife, Resham. The miscreants escaped with cash and jewellery. |
Militants’ release condemned ROHTAK, Jan 1 — The Bharatiya Rakshak Party, a political outfit floated by ex-servicemen, has condemned the release of three militants by the government to secure the release of the hostages of the Indian Airlines plane at Kandahar. In a statement here, the president of the party, Mr Surajmal Hooda, said the agreement between the government and the hijackers spoke of the "failure" and "surrender" of the government. He said the government had failed to make or force the Taliban authorities to get the passengers released without acceding to the demand for the release of three terrorists. He added that this would set a wrong precedent. |
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