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| Sunday, April 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Haryana
to set up model police stations Govt undecided on privatisation of
power sector
3
MLAs’ election challenged |
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Anti-flood steps under
way: CM Housing society to move commission Doctor’s posts to be filled:
Ranga Boy found after 4 years Panipat ban on heavy vehicles Hooda seeks White Paper on economy Fire in cold storage Fake coin racket unearthed Tajewala barrage to be preserved Dr Sharma is ISVM president
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Haryana to set up model police
stations GURGAON, April 8 — The Haryana police has decided to set up a model police station in each district of the state. Also, it has decided to introduce the concept of ‘beat constable’ for the first time and, to start with, it will be confined to the model police stations by way of experiment before gradually enforcing it on the entire state. The plan is to increase the number of model police stations in a phased manner. According to sources the Director General of Police, Haryana, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, has directed the setting up of the model police stations and for integrating the concept of the ‘beat’ constable in them.The police chief’s sense of urgency on the two issues is reflected by his directive that they should become operational in about two months’ time. The concept of "beat" constable originated in England. The system is in vogue in London where the police personnel have endearingly earned the nickname "London Bobbies". The Delhi police has also introduced the concept,albeit in a diluted form.Although the efficacy of the system as experimented in Delhi is reportedly yet to produce pinnacle performance by the police,it is billed to be comparatively productive. The Director General of Police recently told TNS that one of his priority areas was to raise the level of the police force to that of the "London Bobby". He had also said that he not only wanted the police personnel to further hone their professional skills, but simultaneously inspire confidence among the public. This, he said, would be in the design of the overall modernisation of the police force. A senior IPS officer of the state said that the concept of ‘beat’ constable envisaged giving a particular area,may be few hundred houses or one or a cluster of colonies/sectors in cities to a particular constable. He would have an eye on all kinds of activities in his area of jurisdiction and would be solely accountable. Also, the ‘beat’ constables would be encouraged to be part of society and people who dwell in the areas of his jurisdiction. They would be specifically advised on also give helping hand to the people of their area, even in cases, not related to crime. The idea is to transform the image and functioning of the police by making people-friendly. In the present system, the police personnel allegedly are not accountable on account of duties assigned to them in a haphazard way, mostly being only reactive in nature. In the rural areas, on an average, a constable has the responsibility of large number of villages. The police,as a whole,has been reportedly not been able to concentrate on the "preventive" aspect of crime. This has also warped the functioning of the law enforcing agency as the follow up to the crimes depended on the response of a few officers in the districts,including the Superintendent of Police and his immediate deputies. The model police
stations and their staff members would be provided with
the latest tools and equipments to enhance their
functioning. |
Govt undecided on
privatisation of power sector PANIPAT, April 8 — The Haryana Government has yet to take a final decision on the issue of privatisation of the power sector in the state. The government, at the moment, is reviewing the power reforms programme initiated by the Bansi Lal regime. This was stated by the Finance Minister, Prof Sampat Singh, while addressing a press conference here yesterday. Prof Sampat Singh admitted that the World Bank had for the " time being" suspended the grant to the state for the power reforms programme as the state government was still reviewing the World Bank’s conditions. The Finance Minister, however, asserted that the grant would be restored during the next meeting with the World Bank officials soon. "We will have to look after the interest of the consumers as well as the state. The World Bank’s conditions are being reviewed. We have convened meetings with the engineers and other employees of the Electricity Department to reach a consensus. The government does not want to overburden the consumer,’’ he said. When asked how the government would respond to the World Bank’s diktat of increasing the power tariff in the state, the Finance Minister replied : " The World Bank cannot force us to raise the tariff . The tariffs will be fixed by the Power Regulatory Commission only." Prof Sampat Singh said the government was keen on introducing administrative reforms in the State and already the Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) had been asked to give its recommendations on the matter. He said the budget deficit of about Rs 296 crore would be compensated by the arrears of about Rs 220 crore to be obtained from the state’s increased share of 29 per cent ( earlier it was 26 per cent) in the Central taxes. The Finance Minister said the increase of four paise in the power tariff in the urban areas and the imposition of other taxes were to make up for the loss of revenue due to the abolition of octroi. "The annual revenue earned from octroi was about Rs 70 crore. Its abolition will adversely affect development in the urban areas. So the government has also decided to provide grant to the local bodies,’’ he added. He informed that the
government’s decision to introduce and revive
welfare schemes such as increasing the old-age pension,
widow pension, kanyadaan scheme etc will cost the
exchequer about Rs 320 crore annually as against the
previous budget of about Rs 100 crore. He said the
government was not facing any shortage of financial
resources which could hamper development works in the
state and 80 per cent of the promised projects by the
Chautala government had been completed. Prof Sampat Singh
said the government would adopt a persuasive approach to
collect the pending electricity bills from the farmers. |
3 MLAs’ election
challenged CHANDIGARH, April 8 — In two more election petitions filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the elections of Indian National Lok Dal candidates, Mr Nafe Singh and Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana, to the Haryana Assembly were today sought to be declared as void. Recounting of votes was also asked for in another petition against an Independent. Claiming that Mr Nafe Singh had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder and rioting case by the Jhajjar Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Ramesh Dalal of the Indian National Congress stated that the returned candidate had "deliberately made a false declaration regarding his not being disqualified". In reply to an objection raised by him, the returned candidate had pleaded that his "appeal against the sentence and conviction was pending so his nomination papers may not be rejected", the petitioner added. The Returning Officer, Mr Dalal said, had not rejected the nomination papers of Mr Nafe Singh in "utter violation of the provisions of the Constitution and the Representation of the People’s Act" on the date of scrutiny. Seeking directions for declaring him "duly elected" from the Bhadurgarh Assembly constituency, the petitioner stated that 38,555 votes were polled in Mr Nafe Singh’s favour, while he had received 36,907 votes. In another petition, Mr Hari Singh Nalwa also of Indian National Congress stated that Mr Bhadana was disqualified to be a candidate for the elections as, according to the provisions, persons having "subsisting contracts with the government were not qualified". The voters, the petitioner added, were informed that Mr Bhadana was not qualified to contest the elections after he came to know about five contracts between the returned candidate and the Haryana Government. Claiming to have secured the highest number of valid votes after Mr Bhadana in the election to the Smalkha Assembly constituency, the petitioner had also asked for directions to declare him elected. Mr Nalwa had added that 37,174 votes were polled in Mr Bhadana’s favour, while he had received 25,159 votes. Asking for the
recounting of votes, Mr Radhay Sham (Independent) in a
separate petition had stated that Mr Moola Ram, another
Independent, was declared elected from the Narnaul
Assembly constituency by a margin of 427 votes. |
Anti-flood steps under way:
CM HISAR, April 8 — Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today declared that flood prevention are being measures taken on a war footings in the state. Addressing a public meeting in Data village about 50 km from here, the Chief Minister said the flood prevention measures had already been ordered these would be completed before the monsoon. Data village falls in the Narnaund Assembly segment. Most of the area gets submerged in case of heavy rains and the farmers have to suffer huge losses. He said the drains and water channels were being desilted on a war footing. He also assured that water for irrigation would be supplied to farmers in abundant quantity. Mr Chautala suggested the farmers to switch over to alternate farming, as land holdings were shrinking. He emphasised the need for livestock farming. He appreciated the work done by the management of the gaushala here. There are about 3000 cows in the local gaushala which is one of the biggest in the state. He said, for encouraging farmers to go for livestock farming a Livestock Welfare Board had been constituted. Speaking on the occasion Mr M.S. Ahluwalia, Director, Animal Welfare Board, expressed concern over the decreasing population for cows. He said, special focus was being laid on Mewat region to ensure protection of cows. He pointed out, the number of cows in the state had come down to 15 lakhs from 22 lakhs in a few years only. Today’s rally was organised by the people here to felicitate local Independent MLA, Prof Ram Bhghat Sharma. Our correspondent adds from Kaithal: Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said the tercentenary celebrations of birth of Khalsa panth should have been celebrated all over the country to give befitting honour for the supreme sacrifices made by Guru Gobind Singh for the entire humanity. Mr Chautala was talking to media persons at Ujhana village 5 km from here at the residence or a local MLA Mr Leela Ram. He said that the state government soon declare its new education policy, in which special emphasis was laid on making the education job oriented and from class IX computer education would be introduced in schools. Mr Chautala said the consumers farmers, had especially, realised that regular power supply was more important than the free power. More and more consumers were coming forward to clear their power bills. He warned that power theft would be taken seriously and action would be taken against the erring consumers and any employee found involved in promoting power theft. The Chief Minister
reiterated that he has directed the Deputy Commissioners
to take immediate action against the encroachers of
public lands in urban and rural areas and get the
encroached land vacated from the illegal occupants. |
Getting decked up for Khalsa
March YAMUNANAGAR, April 8 — A state-level function to celebrate 300 years of the Khalsa Panth will be held on Baisakhi Day (April 13) at Tejli Sports Complex here. Yamunanagar is getting a new look and the administration is gearing up its machinery to make it a festive occasion. Chief Minister Chautala along with many religious heads and ministers will participate. A Khalsa march, which began from Nada Sahib Gurdwara, Panchkula, will touch all the important cities of Haryana and will conclude at Yamunanagar on April 13. The Khalsa march will go through Shehjadpur, Panjokhara, Ambala City, Lakhnor Sahib, Ambala Cantt, Shahbad, Ismailabad, Pehowa, Cheeka, Kaithal, Dhamtan Sahib, Tohana, Ratiya, Kalanwali, Dabwali, Chormar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Hansi, Jind, Lakhanmajra, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Delhi, Sonepat, Panipat, Safidon, Asandh, Karnal, Tarawari, Kurukshetra, Ladwa, Radaur and Yamunanagar. Mr Rajeev Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, said to commemorate the tercentenary year of the Khalsa, the Haryana Government would set up a martial arts museum at Kapal Mochan in Yamunanagar. Kapal Mochan is a famous holy spot where people from all religions gather on each Kartik Purnima to offer prayers. There is an ancient Gurdwara located between the holy places of Kapal Mochan and Rin Mochan. According to historians, Guru Gobind Singh visited Kapal Mochan after winning a battle against the Mongols. He stayed and worshipped there for 52 days. Here the Guru’s soldiers cleaned their weapons and tested them to meet the future challenges. Guru Gobind Singh distributed awards and siropas to the soldiers who had distinguished themselves in this battle. He presented a copper plate bearing his signatures as memento to the Chief Priest of Kapal Mochan. To commemorate this event, a Gurdwara was built here. Lakhs of Sikhs pray at this Gurdwara every year. Even some manuscripts and Tamra Patras dating as far back as 1736 AD support the fact that Guru Gobind Singh visited this place. At Sonepat also a memorial complex depicting the history of Badh-Khalsa is being set up by the state government. Besides portraying the history of "Badh-Khalsa in an interesting and attractive manner, this complex will have a section containing Gurbani Sangeet, paintings and a sculpture park. According to Sikh
historians, after the sacrifice of Guru Teg Bahadur at
Chandni Chowk in Delhi, his head was being taken to
Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Jaita. Unfortunately the Mughal
soldiers were following him. In order to make Bhai
Jaita’s journey safer, a Jat of Sonepat district
told him that as his face resembled the face of Guru Teg
Bahadur he may be beheaded so that his head may be given
to the Mughal soldiers. This would enable the Guru’s
head to reach Anandpur Sahib safely. As a mark of respect
to his sacrifice, the brave Jat’s village was named
as Badh-Khalsa. This village is situated on the national
highway near the Kundli border. The memorial complex is
being built in Badh-Khalsa village of Sonepat district. |
Warm welcome for Khalsa march AMBALA, April 8 — A grand welcome was accorded to the Khalsa Panth Tercentenary Shobha Yatra which passed through the city today. The yatra, which entered the district through Kakkar Majra village, was received by several local leaders and the district administration. The Panj Pyaras, the Palki of Guru Granth Sahib and the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh which were brought from Gurdwara Paonta Sahib were an integral part of the procession. Horses of the same stock as of Guru Gobind Singh's horses were the star attraction of the yatra. The yatra, from Kakkar Majra towards the historic Panjokhra Sahib Gurdwara, passed through Shahzadpur. A large number of devotees had langar at Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib in the afternoon. At the gurdwara, several leaders spoke on the path shown by the great Guru and the sacrifices made by him for safeguarding the religion. On the occasion, siropas were presented by the SGPC member, Mr Surjit Singh Niddar, to the Haryana minister, Mr Jasvinder Singh Sandhu, an MLA from Naggal, Mr Jasbir Mallour and the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahinder Kumar. The cavalcade of nearly 300 vehicles which began from Panjokhra Sahib and passed through Baldev Nagar, reached Gurdwara Manji Sahib, from where it went to Patiala Chowk, Arya Chowk, Agrasen Chowk and Manav Chowk before reaching Lakhnour Sahib. It passed through Gara-Bara and reached Ambala Cantonment, where also it was accorded a warm welcome by people who had been waiting patiently for the yatra. To welcome the yatra in
Ambala, at a large number of places, various
organisations, gram panchayats and nagar parishads had
set up arches. Arrangements had also been made for
prasad, water, sweets and other eatables. |
Doctor’s posts to be filled:
Ranga SONEPAT, April 8 — The Haryana Government has recruited as many as 650 auxiliary nurses and midwives (ANMs) and 300 nurses for improving the health services in the urban and rural areas of the state. This was stated by Dr M.L. Ranga, Health Minister, at a state-level function organised in connection with the World Health Day on the premises of the Civil Hospital here yesterday. Mr G. Madhavan, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Health Department, Haryana, was among those who were present on this occasion. Dr Ranga said the newly recruited ANMs and nurses would get their posting orders within a week. Similarly, the state government would shortly fill the posts of doctors lying vacant in different parts of the state. The state government, he said, had also undertaken repairs of buildings of the health institutions and these would be completed soon. The minister highlighted various schemes for providing medical facilities to the patients visiting the hospitals, dispensaries and primary health centres in the state and promised to provide more funds for improving the health facilities. Dr Ranga also inaugurated the newly-built Logistic Centre and a microscopic laboratory for TB patients. The Logistic Centre has been built at a cost of Rs 26 lakh. Mr Madhavan, Dr P.L. Jindal, Director-General of Health, Haryana, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commissioner, and others also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, a number of
blood donors who had donated blood voluntarily for 150
times were honoured by the minister. |
Boy found after 4 years FATEHABAD, April 8 — The atmosphere was surcharged with emotion as 11-year-old Nanhe hugged his mother Kailasho yesterday after a gap of four years and the tears rolling down their cheeks were those of joy. For Kailasho, to hold her son was like a miracle as the family had lost all hopes of finding the boy and had presumed him to be dead. "Nanhe" had been working at a tea stall at Rattia in this district for the past four years as Cheenu. Two villagers belonging to "Bhat" community from Mohammadpur Sottar village had left seven year-old "Cheenu" with the tea stall owner to work as a servant at a monthly salary of Rs 600. The boy worked at the tea stall and ate and slept in the shop and his "guardians" used to take his salary from the tea stall owner every month. However, situation took a turn when Mr Narender Sharma, a local bank employee and secretary of the local unit of Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) took up the challenge of finding out the family of this boy after being told by the tea stall owner. Mr Sharma’s inquiries from the boy revealed that his father’s name was Suresh, who was a peddler and his mother’s name was Kailasho and that he had two sisters. The boy said he belonged to Muzzafarnagar district in UP but could not name his town or village. BVP members wrote to the Muzzafarnagar branch of the parishad and requested them to help find the parents of the child, but with no positive result. The BVP members once again questioned the child and the boy revealed that there was a co-education school and Biranwali Mandir near their residence and the nearest bus stand was at Shamli. Equipped with this information the parishad members contacted a trader in the area and through him found an uncle of the boy. His uncle confirmed that Nanhe has left his home about four years ago and all attempts to find him had proved futile. Next day the boy’s uncle and mother came to Rattia and the boy was reunited with his mother. Separation from her son
had been a four-year-long ordeal for Kailasho who lost
her husband in a road accident, but she was thankful to
God and the BVP members for reuniting her with her son. |
Housing society to move
commission GURGAON, April 8 — The National Highway Authority (NHA) today the highhandedness exhibited by its personnel tried to explain to wards the inmates, especially women, of the prestigious National Media Centre Group Housing Society, a few kilometres from the Delhi-Haryana border in Gurgaon, with help of the police last evening. The Residents Welfare Association of the housing society has decided to move the National Commission for Women and to get a criminal case registered against the DSP, Headquarters, Gurgaon, Mr Joginder Nehra, in connection with the incident. A junior engineer of the NHA, Mr P.K. Kaushik, reached the National Media Centre yesterday with a bulldozer to dig a trench on one side of the highway towards the main entrance of the colony.When the inmates, mainly women as the menfolk were outdoors, approached him they were told to keep off. In the face of remonstration by the residents,he said he would call the police. In a jiffy a bus load of police personnel and six Gypsies full of cops led by DSP Joginder Nehra, swooped at the site. They dug up a trench blocking entry and exit to the main entrance of the society and damaging the underlying maistorm waterpipe. The NHA personnel have taken the stand that the colony’s access to the highway was illegal and contributed to road accidents. The President of the National Media Centre Group Housing Society, Mr Gopal Krishnan, alleged that when the womenfolk came out on the highway blocking the road in protest, the DSP misbehaved with them using unparliamentary language. He suggested to scooterists passing by to break the blockade by driving into the protesting crowd. A couple of scooterists in fact tried to act on the suggestion of the police officer and spouted expletives against the women. Shocked at the incident, the women returned to the premises. The Superintendent of Police, Gurgaon, Mr S.S. Kapoor, said the police entered the scene only after the NHA asked for its services. The agitationists blocked the road and the police had to take the help of passers-by to restore normalcy. The General Manager of the NHA, Mr S.C. Saluja, reached the site this morning and favoured status quo till alternative arrangements were made by way of another passage for the residents. The Deputy Commissioner, Gurgan, Mr T.C. Gupta later joined him. Mr Saluja said he did not know who had given the orders for digging the trench. He apologised to the residents for the highhandedness shown by the personnel of his department. A delegation of the Residents Welfare Association met the Deputy Commissioner late last night in connection with the incident.The Vice President of the Association, Mr T.N.Balli, said the Deputy Commissioner chided the personnel of the NHA for not informing the administration before undertaking the operation. Mr Gopal Krishnan wondered why the NHA had singled out the National Media Centre for such a treatment when the DLF Colony and the nearby Ambience Project had been allowed access to the highway. Also, the residents had been using the passage for more than 15 years now. Even the judicial process had regard for easement rights, he said. At least 180 families
reside in the National Media Centre premises majority of
the inmates are either media personalities or
distinguished citizens. |
Panipat ban on heavy vehicles PANIPAT, April 8 — In order to overcome the problem of frequent traffic jams on the GT road and the Assandh road at the Lal Batti chowk, the district administration has imposed a ban on the entry of heavy vehicles on the Assandh road in the town. The ban came into force on Thursday. Heavy vehicles coming from Jind, Safidon, Assandh and Kaithal have been banned entry into the town. These have been diverted to the Panipat Gohana highway. For effective implementation of the ban orders, the administration has put up barricades at the Assandh road, one near the railway overbridge and the other near the new bypass. The first day of the ban
was marked by traffic jams as the police failed to inform
drivers of heavy vehicles about the ban. |
Hooda seeks White Paper on
economy ROHTAK, April 8 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has demanded issuing of a White Paper on the Financial position of the state government. Addressing a series of public meetings in the villages of Kildi assembly constituency as part of his thanks giving programme after the assembly elections, Mr Hooda said that the Chautala government had started imposing taxes ‘indiscriminately’. He claimed that the government by imposing taxes on the poor class and the common man wanted to improve its financial health. He asked the Chief Minister to issue a White Paper on the state’s economy so that people could know the ‘truth’. He said that instead of curbing the expenditure on the official machinery, the state government had ‘passed’ the financial burden in the form of taxes to the people. He said the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, who claimed to be a ‘savior’ of farmers, had now hiked the registration fee on tractors. Mr Hooda visited Nandal,
Garonthi, Sunderpur, Titdli, Jindran and Ghuskani
villages yesterday. |
Fire in cold storage SONEPAT, April 8 — Goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in a fire which broke out in a cold storage at the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) complex in Kundli, along the Haryana-Delhi border about 25 km from here, yesterday. According to a report reaching here, the fire broke out around 11.30 p.m. in one of the six-storeyed building of the cold store where the bags of spices were stocked. There was, however, no confirmation as to how the fire started. But the fire spread immediately and gutted other parts of the building. The municipal fire
brigade was rushed to the site immediately but failed to
control the flames. Later fire brigades from Delhi and
other neighbouring towns were summoned to control the
fire. As many as 300 firemen and other people struggled
against the flames of the fire and succeeded in
controlling the fire after 20 hours or more. |
Fake coin racket unearthed ROHTAK, April 8 — A fake coin manufacturing racket involving the manufacture of Rs five denomination coins has been unearthed at a village in the district, about 30 km from here. The racket was unearthed after a raid conducted by a joint team of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Delhi Police today at a house in Dehkora village, near Sampla town. The IB officials had been tipped off about the "activities" being carried out at the spot. There was also information about a policeman being involved in this racket. However, the culprits, including the policeman managed to escape. This is the second case of this nature which has been unearthed in the district in the past five years. Earlier, Rohtak police had arrested some persons and had seized a dye machine and some finished material from a house in Bohar village in 1995. The IB team reportedly
seized some similar items, including a dye machine and
raw material from the spot in today’s raid. |
Tajewala barrage to be preserved YAMUNANAGAR, April 8 — Tajewala Headworks is not to be dismantled. Mr R.K. Ailawadhi Chief Engineer, Hathnikund Barrage, while talking to reporters here on Thursday informed that Tajewala Headworks had outlived its life and had been replaced by a new Tajewala barrage namely Hathnikund Barrage. The barrage has the capacity to cater to a discharge of 10 lakh cusecs of water during floods. Mr Ailawadhi stated that the old Tajewala Headworks would be preserved and the government was actively considering to utilise the existing structure fruitfully. He further said that the Tajewala Headworks was threatened six times during past floods and it was extensively damaged during the flood in 1978 when more than 7,76,000 cusecs of water was discharged through the headworks, which created havoc in the entire northern zone. Mr Ailawadhi said work
on the link channel canal had been almost completed. The
work of gates and gearings was in full swing and would be
completed before the next monsoons. The construction work
on Pathrala Dam was progressing ahead of schedule and it
would be able to withstand floods during the next season. |
Dr Sharma is ISVM president HISAR, April 7 — Dr R.D. Sharma, a senior scientist and a former Dean of the College of Veterinary Sciences, has been elected President of the Indian Society for Veterinary Medicine. According to a press
note, he will remain the president till 2002. In the
countrywide election conducted through postal ballots, Dr
Sharma defeated Dr D.B. Sharode, a professor at the
Veterinary College, Nagpur. |
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