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| Friday, May 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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SC
order puts govt in a spot A good man pays for bad policy Judging age by face and teeth Three irrigation projects approved Incentive scheme for coop sugar
mills DC addresses sarpanches Nuns case : not assault but
accident |
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MDU directed to conduct
examinations Govt gagging press: Cong Ban orders in Rori constituency Haryana to fix target for kharif
crops More STD PCOs at Rly-station
sought Police postings in Haryana House looted Trust distributes text books
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SC order puts govt in a
spot CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The recent Supreme Court order asking the Haryana Government to release 125 cusec of water to Delhi is believed to have put the state government in a tight corner. Official sources said lack of rainfall in the recent past had its effect on Haryana also as water supplies to the state through the Bhakra Mainline Canal (BML) as well as the Narwana branch canal had gone down. The BML has the capacity of carrying 10,700 cusec of water daily but due to lack of proper maintenance, its usual supply comes to about 9,500 to 9,600 cusec of water during the rainy seasons when there is no water scarcity. The Narwana canal has the capacity of 4,022 cusec of water, though its normal flow is about 3,500 cusec as this canal too needs repair work. The sources added that due to scorching heat and no rainfall, supply of water through both these canals had got considerably reduced. The water available in the state at present may suffice for its needs but if it had to supply water to Delhi, it may create problems for the state, the sources said. The sources, however, added that availability of water for Haryana would vastly improve by December when the repairs being carried out at present in BML and Narwana canals were expected to be completed. In the BML, about 142 km length of the canal required repairs, out of which work on more than 111 km stretch had already been completed, the sources said. For the Narwana canal, more than 33 km length of the canal required repair and out of it, work on more than on 18 km stretch had been completed, the sources added. The sources stated that the Haryana Government had already paid its share of the expenditure, amounting to more than Rs 16 crore, to the Punjab Government for repairing these two canals. The sources also confirmed that the previous HVP-led government in the state also made payments to the Punjab Government for the repairs but the latter did not take any follow-up action. Once these canals were
properly repaired, about 1,200 cusec of additional water
was expected flow in Haryana through these during the
rainy season, the sources added. |
A good man pays for bad
policy FATEHABAD, May 11 — The suspension of Mr Vimal Chandra as Managing Director of Bhuna Cooperative Sugar Mills has ironically highlighted how co-operative sugar mills of the state have been suffering crores of rupees in losses due to the wrong polices of the authorities and Sugarfed. Mr Chandra, it may be recalled, was suspended by the state government last month. The gravest charge against Mr Chandra was that he sold molasses at a rate lower than the prevalent market rate. Sources revealed that sugar mills in the state have suffered a loss of more than one crore due to a controversial policy decision of Sugarfed and Mr Chandra had merely been made a scapegoat to cover for the mistakes of his seniors. The sources elaborated that in October-November 1999, the market rate of molasses was around Rs 208 per quintal but molasses could not be sold as there were written instruction from Sugarfed against selling them. They cited an instance at Bhuna Sugar Mill itself in which a rate of Rs 208 per quintal was quoted for 2,5000 quintals of molasses on November 17, 1999. But a fax message number 6384 on November 17, 1999, barred the mills from selling molasses for less than Rs 225 per quintal. After December 1999, as fresh cane crushing started the rate fell and some 20 per cent, about 1.25 lakh quintals of the new season’s molasses had to be stored in ‘Katcha’ pits in most of the mills. The sources said the mills would suffer a loss of at least 10 per cent due to seepage from the katcha pits while the value of molasses themselves was bound to decline by 25 per cent after the rainy season a month ahead. Even at the current rate the mills have suffered a loss of around Rs 60 lakh. Also with half of the sugarcane year already over the entire stock of free sale molasses, about 7 lakhs quintals, is lying in stocks. As the production all over the country this season was more than the last year, sources says the rates of molasses is unlikely to cross current market rates. The losses of last years molasses alone (about one lakh quintal left unsold in October-November 1999) will add up to Rs 75 lakh after computing the interest burden. Mr Chandra, was sent to Bhuna Sugar Mills two years ago to revive the ‘sick’ mill as he was considered efficient and had shown meaningful results in his tenure as MD at the Shahbad and Karnal Sugar Mills. The two mills achieved the top position in the country for efficiency and performance in 1988-89 and 1991-92 respectively. Since then the two mills have paid more by way of income tax than the cumulative profits earned by all the other cooperative mills in Haryana. In Bhuna also, Mr Chandra was able to win the confidence of cane producers and brought the maximum area, 17,000 acres, under sugarcane this year. Thus the suspension of Mr Chandra surprised both farmers and officials. Meanwhile, four Directors of the Bhuna Co-operative Sugar Mills have demanded a thorough probe into the working of the mills. Defending the suspended MD of the mills, the Directors Mr Kulwant Singh, Mr Krishan Dharnia, Mr Ravinder Kumar and Mr Baljinder Singh termed the suspension of Mr Chandra as a misfortune for the jinxed mill of Bhuna. They said the performance of Haryana mill in the past five years had been due to the ‘dubious’ capabilities of Sugarfed losses. They said the claim that mills had gone into losses due to higher cane prices was false. Giving figures, the directors said that in 1987-88, 1993-94 and 1994-95 cash prices were increased by 17 per cent, 22 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, but there were no cane arrears whereas this year, with just a 14 per cent increase the arrears were a whopping Rs 40 crores. They alleged that interference of Sugarfed rose to such as extent that at Bhuna purchase orders for important machinery worth Rs 18 lakh were cancelled in total disregard of laid down procedure. The directors demanded a
probe by a Vidhan Sabha committee into the deplorable
performance of sugar mills in the state (losses 82 crore)
and feared that before long the mills will go the UP and
Punjab way, where cumulative losses have already crossed
Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 500 crore respectively. |
Judging age by face and teeth HISAR, May 11 — This is one "sammaan" the 12 lakh recipients of "sammaan pension" (old age pension) in Haryana are finding hard to digest. In a farcical exercise, these pensioners are being summoned to designated government offices these days to determine their age by having just a look at their faces or at the most their dentures. The exercise is part of a statewide campaign launched by the cash-starved government to eliminate underage pensioners. The pension was doubled in September, last year, to Rs 200 per month on the birthday of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal. The government has appointed teams of two government officials and a doctor each to determine whether the pensioners have attained the ago of 60 years. These teams have adopted a bizarre method to do so. Each pensioner is summoned before the team and the trio has a look at the pensioner’s face. In case of doubt, the doctor orders the pensioner to open his or her mouth. One hard look at the teeth and the process is over. You may or may not get your pension next month depending upon whether your face and teeth looked like 60 years’ old or not. The need for the exercise arose after the government found that in doubling the pension, it had bitten more than it could chew. Riding over a crest of popularity following the doubling of the pension, the government launched a campaign to identify all eligible persons. The exercise was completed officially in December, last year, but in reality the process continued till the state went to the polls in February. The exercise led to a sharp increase in the number of pensioners from 10 lakh to 12 lakh. Elections over, when it was time get to brass tacks, the government realised that the pension scheme was sapping up the state’s financial resources. It was then decided to weed out the underage out. Since May 5 senior citizens are being summoned from each village to a tehsil or other designated places where they brave the scorching sum to present themselves before the team of officials only to leave in disgust at the end of it. Inquiries reveal that to determine the age of a person the Civil Surgeon has to appoint a team comprising a radiologist and a dentist which after examining the x-rays and other tests determines the correct age. However, senior government officials said if this procedure was adopted, it would take several years to complete the identification process. Besides, there were no funds for the purpose. But the shortcut approach has not amused the senior citizens. They feel cheated by the government. One such harassed pensioner commented that he had come to the conclusion that the earlier exercise was meant only to garner votes. Once that purpose had been served, the government wanted to withdraw the benefit. But official sources denied that they were trying to eliminate even genuine pensioners. While agreeing that this exercise was farcical, they said at least the young, who had enrolled as pensioners, will not be able to face the teams and would be left out. However, the number of such pensioners is stated to be negligible. Hilarious scenes were witnessed at the tehsil office here today where villagers had collected to show their faces and teeth to the team members. Many women refused to lift their veils in the presence of male elders from the village. One old woman when asked to open her mouth to show her teeth retorted in chaste Haryanvi, "Munh mein ke farad laag ri se" (Is there a certificate of age inside my mouth?). While the exercise may
or may not weed out the ineligible, the ruling party is
losing much goodwill in the process. Harassment apart,
the wrong signals the campaign is sending out to the
voters, especially in the villages, will have far
reaching consequences. An octogenarian villager had this
to say: I may or may not get "sammaan"
(pension) but the government has definitely lost its
"sammaan". |
Three irrigation projects
approved CHANDIGARH, May 12 —The Union Government has approved three new irrigation projects involving an investment of about Rs 62.50 crore to improve the irrigation sector in a phased manner in Haryana under the Command Area Development Programme. Stating this here today the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said the Rs 15.50 crore phase-II of the Agra Canal Project would cover 14,487 hectares in Faridabad district. Under this project, the field channels would be lined to save seepage losses. About 200 watercourses would be constructed besides providing subsidy on installation of tubewells, underground pipelines, sprinkler sets and drip irrigation system for integrated development of fields. The irrigation intensity would improve from 53 per cent to 63 per cent in the area of the project. Mr Chautala said that the Western Jamuna Canal Phase-III had been approved for about Rs 38 crore to cover 36,000 hectares of culturable command area. It would be carried out in the districts of Sonepat and Panipat. He said the third
project approved by the Union Government was the Rs
9-crore "Additional Area in Western Jamuna Canal
(WJC) Phase-I" for covering 15,000 hectares
culturable command area in addition to 1.17 lakh hectares
area already sanctioned in the original project of the
WJC. |
Incentive scheme for coop sugar
mills CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, announced a scheme of incentives for the employees of cooperative sugar mills, which may receive awards at the national level. Under this scheme, in case a cooperative sugar mill receives the Over-all Best Cooperative Sugar Factory Award or Technical Efficiency Award, the employees will be paid 15 days salary as incentive for the second position they will get 10 days salary and for the third position they would get five days salary as incentive. In case these mills get Cane Development Award, Financial Management Award or any other award at the national level, employees will receive as incentive 10 days salary in case they get first position, seven days salary for the second position and four days salary for the third position. In order to develop
competition among the workers of the cooperative sugar
mills and to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity,
a production incentive scheme has also been approved by
the Chief Minister. Every time, any mill crushes the
prescribed quantity of sugarcane for a consecutive seven
days, the workers of that mill would be entitled for one
day’s extra wages. |
DC addresses sarpanches AMBALA, May 11 — Mr Ram Niwas, Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, addressed a gathering of panches and sarpanches of Barara and Ambala blocks here today. He congratulated the sarpanches and panches on their success in the recent panchayat elections. The Deputy Commissioner said that panchayati Raj is the backbone of democracy. He stressed that lady
sarpanches should themselves attend the meetings in place
of their husbands. He said that the government had given
drawing and disbursement powers to the sarpanches to
withdraw money themselves and spend on development works
in their respective villages. |
Nuns case : not assault but
accident REWARI, May 11 — With the arrest of Sandeep, alias Praveen, of Jatuwas village near here the district police has solved the case related to the alleged attack on Christian nuns on the night of April 22 here. The police said this was a case of a mere accident and not an assault. The scooter has been seized. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr A.S. Chawla, SP, said on April 22 when Sisters, Gatrude, Anandi and Pramilla Topo were on their way to the Catholic church for Easter midnight service, a scooterist hit Sister Anandi near Bharawas chowk here. The other two nuns noted registration of the scooter after the scooterist fled. On the basis of a complaint made by Sister Gatrude, a case of rash driving was registered by the city police under Section 179 and 337, IPC. CIA Inspector Om Prakash, who went to Delhi came to know from the registration office that the registration number DL-2CK-5604 was that of a Maruti Zen and not of a scooter. Further inquiry was made and it was found that number DL-2SK-5604 belonged to two scooters one was registered in the name of Rajender Singh of Puth Kalan (Delhi) and the other belonged to Sandeep. The accused, Sandeep,
who was produced before news persons at a press
conference here, said when the police was searching for
the scooter he got scared and kept the scooter at the
house of his maternal uncle at Behror Jat village in
Rajasthan from where it was seized. |
MDU directed to conduct
examinations ROHTAK, May 11 — The Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mrs Shalini Singh, has directed Maharshi Dayanand University to conduct examinations for students studying in BDS, MBA, B. Pharma and B.Sc (physiotherapy courses in institutions run by the Baba Mastnath Educational Trust. The university, in compliance with the court order, has decided to provisionally allow the students of these courses to appear in the examinations that commenced today. The university has also decided to provisionally regularise the registration of these students. The Registrar, Dr Preet Singh, told The Tribune that roll numbers of MBA and B. Pharma students had been issued. While the examination for the MBA started today, for B. Pharma it would commence from May 12. The examinations for BDS students would commence from July 1 and the date for holding the B.Sc (physiotherapy) examination was yet to be finalised. The then Vice-Chancellor, Lt-Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) had last year stopped the admission to these courses in the institution run by the Baba Mastnath Educational Trust. The registration of these students was also cancelled by the university. The trust in September, last year, had urged the court to restrain the university from enforcing the decisions of its Vice-Chancellor. The Civil Judge on September 9, last year, had restrained the university from enforcing the orders of stopping admissions. The university filed an appeal against these orders in the court of the District and Sessions Judge. The Additional District Judge, Mr R.K. Kashyap, had on September 19, last year, set aside the order of the lower court. The trust then filed an
appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which stayed
the operation of the order of Mr Kashyap and made the
order of Mrs Shalini Singh operative. |
Govt gagging press: Cong CHANDIGARH, May 11— The Haryana Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has been accused of gagging the freedom of the press by the Congress Party. A press release issued here today by the HPCC chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and party MLA, Mr Ajay Singh Yadav, cited reported attacks by Mr Chautala on certain newspapers for publishing reports about alleged dissidence among the INLD legislators, and said, " This is another attempt by Mr Chautala to stifle the voice of the press which is the fourth pillar of democracy". The Chief Minister's
announcement that he would carry out Cabinet expansion in
the near future despite severe financial crunch in the
State showed that there were serious internal problems
within the INLD and its allies, the statement added. |
Ban orders in Rori
constituency CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Haryana Government has ordered that no person shall carry or otherwise have in his possession any arm in public place in the Rori Assembly constituency in Sirsa district up to June 12. Every person having in his possession arms shall deposit the same before May 12 in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the Arms Act 1959. A spokesman of the Home Department said here today that this step had been taken for maintaining peace and tranquillity during the Rori Assembly byelection. All Executive
Magistrates and police officers (Station House Officers
and officers higher in rank than that of the Station
House Officer) in the state can make searches and
seizures in accordance with the provisions contained in
the Arms Act, 1959. |
Haryana to fix target for kharif
crops KARNAL, May 11 — The Haryana Government will call a meeting on agricultural production to fix the target for the kharif crops. This was stated at a press conference here today by Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Agriculture Minister, Haryana. Mr Sandhu, while denying that drought conditions existed in some parts of Haryana, maintained that till today more wheat had arrived in markets than last year. The total arrivals were 40.13 lakh tonnes as compared to 29.22 lakh tonnes last year. The new policy for
kharif crops would be chalked out soon, the minister
added. He also asked officials concerned to check the
sale of spurious fertilisers and pesticides. |
More STD PCOs at Rly-station
sought PANIPAT, May 11 — Railway authorities do not appear to be interested in giving proper facilities to passengers as far as STD/PCO services are concerned. As and when the train reaches railway station’s platform, the needy passengers rush to the STD/PCO to dial or flash message to his near and dear ones making a rush on a particular counter. Within limited time of two minutes train stoppage hardly three four persons can put their calls and then all rush back to catch the rain for their onward journey. Railway authorities do not think it fit to provide additional STD/PCO facilities for the common man at the Railway station which is necessary as all trains do not provide the phone plush facility except Shatabdi or Rajadhani which do not halt at this station. The common man is at the mercy of platform STD/PCS facilities at Panipat station but provided three STD/PCO centres. They are inadequate. moreover rush remains on a single shop only. Rail authorities should provide more centres or the existing three centres should be such located that the maximum number of passengers could avail this facility for a limited two-minute stoppage. One of the STD/PCO
centre is allotted to a handicapped but its location is
quite far where he can hardly earn his livelihood. It
would be appropriate to shift it near the gate to cater
to the needy commuters and to enable him to earn
livelihoods. |
Police postings in Haryana CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Haryana Government has posted Mr C.P. Bansal, who was awaiting posting orders, as IG, Home Guards, against a vacant post. Mr K P Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sonepat, has also been given the charge of SP, Special Branch. Mr Shiv Shakti Rao, awaiting posting on returning from the Central Government, has been posted as SP, CM’s Flying Squad (CID). Mr Amitabh Dhillon, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Panchkula, has been posted as ASP, Kalka. Mr Suraj Paul, SP, Security, with the CM goes as SP, Vigilance, Hisar. Mr Arun Nehra, DSP,
Safidon, has been posted as DSP, Panipat vice Mr Bijender
Singh who goes as DSP at Narnaul. |
House looted KAITHAL, May 11 — About 50 persons attacked the house of Mansa Ram at Balbehra village in Guhla subdivision and burnt household articles and looted it on Sunday night, according to a delayed report received here yesterday. The occupants of the house fled for their lives when the mob went on the rampage. The incident followed a dispute between two youths over the raising of funds for the village temple’s renovation. In the ensuing clash between Suresh (21), son of Mansa Ram, and Rajesh (20), the latter was injured, following which an agitated mob entered the house of Mansa Ram and burnt his tractor. Later, they also looted the house. According to information the police reached the site of the incident on Monday which led to resentment among the villagers. A case has been
registered against 28 persons under various sections of
the IPC. |
Haryana to build more godowns CHANDIGARH, May 12 —Anticipating the ever increasing requirements of scientific storage facilities, the Haryana Government has decided to construct godowns of 32,600 metric tonnes storage capacity during the current financial year at an estimated cost of Rs 7.50 crore. Disclosing this here today, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Agriculture Minister, said these godowns would be constructed at Jakholi, Pai, Safidon, Bani, Dhanauri, Tohana, Hathin, Baroli, Salwan, Bapoli and Bhuna. The Government had also
decided to increase the storage capacity of its
warehouses from 34,500 to 95,840 metric tonnes. He said
90 per cent of the construction work of these warehouses
had already been completed. |
Trust distributes text books SONEPAT, May 11 — Mr Bishambar Das Kapur, Chairman, Dewan Harnam Das Saraswati Devi Trust, and president, Atlas Cycle Industries Limited, distributed free textbooks among 900 students studying in various educational institutions of the city on behalf of the trust at a function held here yesterday. Mr Kapur also distributed similar sets of taxtbooks among 1,000 wards of workers employed in the Atlas factory on this occasion. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted various welfare schemes of the trust including grant of scholarships, free supply of milk to school children and monthly pension to widows. Earlier, students of
Jankidas Kapur Public School staged a cultural programme. |
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