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| Tuesday, May 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Haryana
to give 99 cr more to local bodies 16 IAS officers transferred Scrap local area tax, says Hooda Canal breach inundates fields Chautala admitted to PGI Phone subscribers may pet mobile
service Power theft cases to be withdrawn |
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Deaths due to poisoning
on rise Merchant robbed, shot dead Cashier robbed Woman commits self-immolation Three killed in road mishap 2 woman cops transferred
|
Haryana to give 99 cr more to
local bodies CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The Haryana Government today announced a number of measures for the devolution of funds to boost the financial health of the urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions. An official press note said the steps were decided at a Cabinet meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, which accepted the recommendations of the ministerial sub-committee constituted for examining the suggestions of the State Finance Commission (SFC) regarding the devolution of funds to the local bodies. The acceptance of the recommendations would mean that they would provide additional resources to the tune of more than Rs 99 crore to the urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions, including Rs 65 crore for the former, the note said. The devolution would further increase during the current financial year as a result of the recommendations of the 11th Finance Commission for supplementing resources of rural and urban local bodies to be effective from April 1, 2000. The government has also decided to waive off cumulative loans of Rs 35 crore outstanding against the municipal committees. The press note said the urban local bodies would mop up more than Rs 3 crore in the current financial year following the government decision to accept 25 per cent of the net income from entertainment duty to them on the basis of origin. The Cabinet approved the transfer of 20 per cent of the net receipts on account of taxes on vehicles to urban local bodies only for one year. A sum of Rs 15.89 crore was released to the urban local bodies in lieu of octroi and a further sum of Rs 1.21 crore to meet the requirement of salaries. The Cabinet also approved that the revenues generated from enhanced electricity within the municipal limits would be diverted to the civic bodies resulting into devolution of more than Rs 8 crore. For devolution of funds to Panchayati Raj institutions, the Cabinet approved that 3 per cent of the net proceeds of stamp duty and registration fee collections be passed on to them. It also approved the transfer of the entire net income from cattle fairs to the Panchayati Raj institutions instead of the present 80 per cent. It was also decided to increase the registration fee of cattle from present 4 per cent to 6 per cent of the sale price and raise the fee per cattle from Rs 2 to Rs 10. The additional funds obtained from this revision, estimated to be Rs 1 crore, would be transferred to panchayat samitis. The Cabinet also approved maintenance grant of Rs 10 lakh per block for community assets and Rs 1 lakh per block for buildings of Panchayati Raj institutions which would be increased by 10 per cent every year. The total devolution on this account would be more than Rs 16 crore. The Cabinet also
approved a one- time special grant of Rs 25 lakh for the
repair of buildings of zila parishads and panchayat
samitis. It was decided that incentive grant would be
given to those who made an excellent performance based on
an approved criteria. The total devolution on this count
would be Rs 1.67 crore, while from a specific grant for
sanitation and environment improvement for the gram
panchayats, which would be increased by 10 per cent every
year, the devolution would be close to Rs 3 crore, the
press note added. |
16 IAS officers transferred CHANDIGARH, May 15 — In another major administrative shake-up, the Haryana Government today ordered the transfer and postings of 16 IAS, one HCS and one HSS officers. Mr L.M. Goyal, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue and Consolidation Department has been given the additional charge of Rehabilitation Department relieving Mrs, Deepa Jain Singh of the charge. Mrs Deepa Jain Singh Financial Commissioner and Secretary Social Welfare, Women and Child Development and Welfare of SCs and BCs has been given the additional charge of Prohibition, Excise & Taxation Department during the leave period of Mr M. Shankar. Mr Naresh Gulati, Commissioner and Secretary, Sports Youth Welfare and Cultural Affairs Department will also look after the work of Health and Medical Education Department during the training and leave period of Mr G. Madhavan, Mr Maha Singh Commissioner, Finance becomes Special Secretary Revenue, Mr D.S. Dhesi, Additional PSCM-I and MD, Haryana Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation will now be Additional PSCM-I and Commissioner and Secretary, Environment Department relieving Mr P.K. Chaudhary of the charge. Mr Y.S. Malik, OSD, Land Use Board has been posted as Commissioner, Finance and Ex-officio Special Secretary, Finance Department. Mr K.K. Khandelwal, Joint Secretary, Power and Director and Joint Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources Department and Director Power Reforms will be new Joint Secretary, Information and Technology Department. Mr Vijay Vardhan, MD, Haryana Seeds Development Corporation and Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board has been posted as Director and Joint Secretary, Food & Supplies and Secretary Rajya Sainik Board relieving Mr Sanjiv Kumar of the charge. Mr T.C. Gupta, MD, HSSI and Export Corporation and Director and Joint Secretary, Science and Technology Department has been given the additional charge of MD Haryana Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation. Mr K.S. Yadav Executive Director, HIPA, Gurgaon has been posted as Administrator HUDA, Gurgaon in place of Mr Ankur Gupta, who becomes Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad. Mr Shiv Raman Gaur awaiting posting orders has been posted as Executive Director, HIPA, Gurgaon, Mr H.P. Chaudhary, ADC, Kaithal has been posted Joint Secretary Employment Department against a vacant post, Mr D.P.S. Nagal, awaiting posting orders become Joint Secretary, Power and Director and Joint Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources Department and Director Power Reforms, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad has been posted as ADC, Fatehabad, relieving Mr M.L. Sarwan, HCS, who has been posted as Deputy Secretary, Technical Education Department. Mr Shyamal Misra, SDO (C) Hathin has been posted as ADC, Kaithal, Mr Moti Lal, HSS awaiting posting orders becomes Under Secretary, PW (Public Health) Department in place of Mr Dharamvir Singh Dhankar, HCS whose posting orders will be issued later on. It is interesting, the
shifting Mr Anurag Aggarwal from the post of
Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad to ADC,
Fatehabad was his fourth transfer in quick succession. At
least one more officer in the list is also believed to
have been transferred three times within a short
duration. |
Scrap local area tax, says
Hooda CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The Haryana Congress has criticised the Chautala government for introducing, what is called, a directionless industrial policy. In a statement issued here today, the President of the party, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also demanded the immediate withdrawal of 4 per cent Local Area Development Tax (LADT) imposed on the manufacturing units is Haryana. He said the LADT would adversely affect the industrial growth of the state and result in large-scale unemployment due to the closure of the units. Mr Hooda said the Chautala government had imposed various taxes to compensate the loss of revenue due to the abolition of octroi. The Congress MLA from Yamunanagar, Dr J.P. Sharma, said with the imposition of the LADT the manufacturers of Haryana had lost their competitiveness in the market. Many of them, he claimed, had already started thinking of shifting their units outside the state. Dr Sharma said the LADT would deter even those multi-nationals which had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Haryana Government to set up their units in Manesar. Since a major component of their production would be based on goods imported from outside Haryana, it would be no wonder if these industrial gaints had second thoughts on their proposal. Accusing the ruling
party of committing irregularities in the election of the
president of the Yamunanagar civic body, Dr Sharma said
despite tremendous pressure of the administration on the
municipal councillors, the Congress had been able to get
the votes of 13 councillors out of 31. |
Canal breach inundates fields SONEPAT, May 15 — Thousands of acres of groped lawns between Jauli and Sargathal villages submerged following a 50-feet breach in the Bhalaut sub branch of Jawaharlal Nehru Canal near Jauli village, about 30 km from here, yesterday. According to a report reaching here, the canal water also entered several houses on the outskirts of the village causing a huge loss to the resident. The cause of the breach was not immediately known. However, the authorities concerned had reached the site and trying to plug the breach. The head of the Khubru fall was closed to decrease the pressure of water in the sub-branch. On receiving information, Dr Ram Kumar Saini, MLA from Gohana arrived at the site and reviewed the situation with the officials. He asked them to take immediate and effective steps to pump out water from the affected houses and fields to avoid any further loss. Dr Saini also assured the affected villagers that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala and try to get funds for them. Meanwhile, representatives of various farmers’ organisations today urged the state government to order a high-level probe into the breach in the embankment of the Bhalaut sub-branch and punish the officials found guilty. They also demanded immediate transfers of all the officials to ensure an independent and impartial probe into the breach. They alleged that the
breach had occurred due to the negligence of the
officials concerned as they had failed to take steps for
the strengthening the canal embankments. |
Chautala admitted to PGI CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has been admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he will be operated upon tomorrow. Before his admission to
the PGI, Mr Chautala presided over a Cabinet meeting here
today. |
Phone subscribers may pet
mobile service ROHTAK, May 15 — Telephone subscribers in Haryana are likely to enjoy the facility of mobile service provided by the Telecommunication Department by the end of the current financial year if all goes well. According to highly-placed sources, the Ministry of Telecommunications had asked the Telecom Circle Office, Ambala, to submit a report regarding the requirement of the requisite material. The report was submitted to the ministry last week after a survey by telecom officials according to sources. The sources revealed that the Telecom Department had, in the report submitted that it was almost equipped with the required infrastructure. The report said the department would have to erect towers and hire a few buildings at some places. It was further stated in the report that nearly 40,000 lines were required during the first year of mobile service and the whole state would be covered in three years with a total requirement of nearly 1.25 lakh lines. However, sources in the department said the move might be delayed due to the "slow process" adopted by the Ministry of Telecommunications and the "usual delay" in the purchase of necessary equipment. The research wing of Ministry of Telecommunications had selected Tamil Nadu, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh under a pilot project for starting mobile service in the next three or four months on an experimental basis. Some senior officials of the department said if the move gained popularity in these states the mobile service would soon be started in the other states. They expressed the view that the mobile service provided by the Telecom Department would be cheaper and better than that of the private companies. They pleaded that the department was equipped with the infrastructure and, therefore, it would not have to spend much on the scheme. On the other hand, they said private companies had a limited number of PCM junctions. Mr N.K. Mangla, Chief
General Manager, Telecom Circle Office, Ambala told The
Tribune on the telephone that the department was equipped
with the infrastructure required for the mobile service.
He confirmed that a report was submitted nearly 10 days
ago to the Ministry of Telecommunication in this
connection. He also hoped that the private companies
providing mobile service in the state would strive to
provide better services to their subscribers after the
implementation of the move. |
Power theft cases to be
withdrawn CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The Haryana Cabinet which met here today, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, decided to withdraw power theft case if a consumer came forward voluntarily to enter into a compromise either in Bijli Lok Adalat or in a court of law for depositing the amount on the terms of the Distribution Power Utilities. This was done in view of a large number of cases of power theft, either registered or pending, which had blocked a large amount of money. This decision would not
only result in the quick disposal of such cases, but also
provide revenue to the power utilities and save the
consumers from harassment and fear of conviction. It
would be applicable in those cases where the consumers
had paid the amount as per the guidelines, a government
press note said. |
Deaths due to poisoning on rise ROHTAK, May 15 — There has been a considerable rise in the number of cases of deaths due to poisoning in the region which are reported in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) here. An almost 65 to 70 per cent rise in such cases has been reported between 1996 and 1999. According to sources in the PGIMS of the 1338 cases of post-mortems conducted in the Forensic Sciences Department about 287 were of poisoning only. The figure rose to 336 in 1997 showing an increase of about 14.58 per cent ever the previous year. In 1998 the cases of deaths due to poisoning went up to 401. The rise was about 16.21 per cent as compared to 1997. However, such cases which rose to 438 had increased by 8.44 per cent in 1999. But the graph of such cases has shown an upward trend if the percentage of such cases out of the total cases of autopsy are looked into. This percentage figure is 21.4 per cent in 1996, 24.38 per cent in 1997, 26.87 in 1998 and 27.3 per cent in 1999. The number of deaths due to poisoning till April this year has about 113. Almost 28 cases of poisoning per month are reported in the PGIMS here. The total increase in such cases from 1996 to 1999 has been over 65 per cent. It is learnt that a survey conducted in this connection by students of the institute has found that the majority of the cases of poisoning had been the cases of ‘suicide’ or suicide attempts. The figure could go up as many of the cases were not reported. According to medical experts and physicians the easy availability of the pesticides used in storing foodgrains was one of the reasons while in the majority of the cases poisoning was due to consuming of Celphos (Aluminium phosphide). It was revealed that a majority of the persons consuming pesticides belonged to the 21-30 years age group. The other age group was of 11 years to 20 years as per the survey and research reports. While the number of men
consuming poison was double the number of women consuming
poison, number of married persons taking poison was three
times more compared to the unmarried persons. |
Merchant robbed, shot dead SIRSA, May 15 — A grain merchant was robbed of Rs 6 lakh and shot dead in broad daylight by some unknown persons in Ellenabad subdivision of the district today. The local market and commercial centres remained closed as a mark of protest against the incident. According to the information received, the incident took place today morning in front of the State Bank of India. As Shyam Lal, owner of Shyam Lal & Sons, came out of the bank after withdrawing Rs 6 lakh from the bank two robbers in a Maruti threw red chilly powder in his eyes and tried to snatch the bag in which he was carrying cash. On resisting the robbers, one of them shot him in the chest and the duo escaped in their car with the bag containing cash. The police reached the spot and took Shyam Lal to the nearby Janta Hospital, but he had already died. The robbers had stolen
the car of Ved Parkash Bhatia of Vikas Puri in New Delhi.
The police later recovered the abandoned car. |
Cashier robbed KAITHAL, May 15 — Three armed persons looted a cashier of the HVPN near Mata Gate here this afternoon. According to information, Mr Subhash Aggarwal, an accountant of the HVPN’s Siwan Gate office, carrying Rs 3.27 lakh in a tempo to be deposited in the local PNB branch, was stopped and deprived of the cash at gunpoint. Three motor cycle borne culprits parked their motor cycle in front of the vehicle. Two of them put their pistols on the cashier. After looting the cash three drove towards the town. Recently, a businessman
was shot dead in broad daylight in the busy town market
here and the police is yet to find any clue. Prior to it
a businessman was kidnapped at gunpoint for ransom and
was freed by the abductors after their demand was met.
Two of the abductors are still at large while four were
arrested. |
Woman commits self-immolation ROHTAK, May 15 — A married woman allegedly committed self-immolation at Rithal village, near here, yesterday. According to sources, Saroj (30) was having strained relations with her in-laws, She reportedly set herself ablaze by pouring kerosene oil after closing the door. Seeing the fumes emitting from the house, neighbours broke open the door and tried to save her. However, she succumbed to her burn injuries at the PGIMS. Her dying declaration could not be recorded. It is reported that the deceased was married nearly 14 years ago. Her mother-in-laws was doing some work in the upper portion of the house at the time of the incident. However, the police has
registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC
against Vinod and Pappu, husband and brother-in-law of
the deceased, respectively, on the complaint of the
parents of the deceased. |
Three killed in road mishap BHIWANI, May 15 — Three persons were killed when a Jeep collided head-on with a four wheeler near Bamla, about 8 km from here, yesterday. The deceased, who were
travelling in the Jeep, have been identified as Shiv
Shankar, of Bhiwani, Surender (25) and Noor (20) of
Bamla. |
2 woman cops transferred SONEPAT, May 15 — The DIG of Police (Wireless) Haryana has ordered the transfer of two women constables, Ms Saroj and Ms Anita, of Sonepat wireless control room with immediate effect. According to official
sources, the two constables had been transferred to
Panipat and Jind, respectively following the report of
the DSP (Wireless), who was deputed to inquire into the
complaint about their quarrel which led to the snapping
of the link between the wireless control room and all
police stations in the district. |
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