 |
| Saturday, July 1, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Oil
mafia active in Ambala Bansi Lal justifies Emergency Office-bearers of Haryana BJP Land dispute: widow, 2 sons
murdered Haryana may modify LADT
Harassment by market panel
officials alleged |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
His gallantry has gone
unnoticed 1.10 crore for flood control
measures Security goes hi-tech Minimum wages revised Inter-state gang of dacoits
busted, 8 held Market family planning socially:
Goel Pvt buses may be run on highways MDU girls hostel may be closed
down HUDA apathy delays water tank Imported fruits hit market in
Haryana Spurious drugs seized Sainik board Dy Secy retires
|
Oil mafia active in Ambala AMBALA, June 30 — The oil mafia, mostly active in Ambala and Panipat belt, pilfers thousands of litres of petrol and diesel every day by means of oil tankers filled at the Ambala and Panipat oil terminals belonging to different oil companies in connivance with the drivers of oil tankers and certain junior employees of the terminals. The petrol dealers have been registering their protest with the Indian Oil Corporation authorities for the past several years but the practice has been continuing till today. The IOC and Hindustan Petroleum (HP) oil depots based at Ambala and Panipat supply around 50 lakh litres of petrol and diesel daily. Ambala, Panchkula, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh get their supply from the Ambala terminal while the rest of Haryana and a part of UP gets it from the Panipat terminal. Around two year back Haryana, Himachal, Chandigarh and even a part of Punjab were getting their oil supply from the Ambala terminal. After the launch of a new terminal at Panipat the supply was bifurcated. About 20 huge oil tanks containing petrol, diesel and other inflammatory oil are placed in the IOC and HP depot at Ambala just close to Ambala cantonment railway station which have a capacity of around 10 crore litres of oil. An underground pipeline has been laid from the Mathura refinery to the Ambala terminal. According to reliable sources, the work of the mafia starts as soon as the tankers come out from the oil depot. The mafia has some specific places where the drivers stop their tankers for a few minutes. There the seals on the valves are tampered with and 200-300 litres of oil is taken out of the tanker and the seal again put back. The mafia has also arranged duplicate seals. Sources say the mafia sells petrol at Rs 18-20 per litre. Fifty per cent of the earnings are paid to the truck driver. Mr P.K. Soni, spokesman of the Haryana Petroleum Dealers Association, admitted there was pilferage of oil supply. He said around 50 per cent of the tanker drivers had links with the mafia. He revealed , "We caught some drivers red-handed at Ambala, Pipli, Kaithal and Jind while they were pilfering oil from the tankers. Later, a fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 11,000 was imposed by the association". Mr Soni said there should be a foolproof system to keep the seals of the valves and chamber covers of the tankers intact. He said the seals put by them were tampered with easily. Sources said in several cases valves were left unsealed and the seals were given to the drivers so that they may restore them according to their convenience. He said following the pilferage almost 40 per cent of the petrol dealers had arranged their own oil tankers. He said many a time the association had made complaints to the IOC authorities regarding the pilferage. But no efforts were made to check this. Sources said there were certain ways by which the pilferage could be made possible easily. Tankers have level sticks by which the measure and quantity of the oil in the tanker is calculated. Some drivers manage to have false space in their tankers. Even after taking out a few hundred litres of oil the chamber seems to be as it was. Adulteration in petrol and diesel has also been reported at some places. According to sources, kerosene is mixed in diesel while solvent oil is mixed in petrol which is cheaper. There are several places on the GT road where the mafia has made arrangements for adulteration. The drivers are paid for it. The pilferage of oil is a risky job. A few years ago a tanker was burnt at Ambala cantonment when some one was pilfering the oil by opening one of the valves of a tanker. Sources in the IOC said if the valves are not intact it can lead to a fire any time. The terminal manager of
the IOC depot at Ambala, Mr Akhilesh Gupta, said before
allowing any oil tanker to leave the terminal station
officials of the terminal confirmed whether the valves
and chamber covers of the tanker were properly sealed. He
said, "Whenever we get any complaint regarding
pilferage from any pump dealer we conduct an inquiry and
recover the oil from the tanker driver and impose
penalty". Senior officers of the terminal generally
conduct surprise checks to note any pilferage, he added.
He disputed the involvement of any official of the
terminal in pilferage. |
Bansi Lal justifies Emergency ROHTAK, June 30 — Justifying the imposition of the Emergency, the former Defence Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today said that the prevailing situation in the country was worse than the 1975 period. Mr Bansi Lal, who remained at the centre of criticism during and after the Emergency, claimed that discipline had become the rule of the day during those days. Defending the family planning campaign launched during the Emergency, he said that the programme suffered a setback due to excesses committed by certain officers. The former Defence Minister said that he would never criticise Mrs Indira Gandhi or the actions taken by her during his life time. "I am indebted to her for the status that I had acquired during my public life", he said. He also gave credit to the late Gulzari Lal Nanda and L.N. Mishra for first becoming Chief Minister and later Defence Minister. Mr Bansi Lal severely criticised the Vajpayee government and charged it with pursuing ‘anti-national’ policies and programmes. He described Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee as inefficient and selfish and said that the Prime Minister was compromising on national issues to remain in power. Addressing a crowded news conference, convened at a short notice, Mr Bansi Lal devoted most of the time to criticising the Vajpayee Government. He did not spare the state government also. The country was today facing grave challenges from within and across the borders but the Vajpayee government was incapable of handling the situation. The policies being pursued by the Centre were directionless and no one knows where these would lead the country to. The economic policies of the Vajpayee government would prove disastrous for farmers, small-scale entrepreneurs and industrial workers. Although the country was surplus in foodgrains, the Centre was importing foodgrains to the detriment of farmers’ interests. The constituents of the NDA, the ruling alliance at the Centre, were speaking in different voices on the major and sensitive issues like the crisis in Sri Lanka and the Kashmir problem. He cautioned the ruling alliance to handle the Kashmir issue carefully as it was a very sensitive problem. Mr Bansi Lal, who had been Chief Minister of the state thrice since 1966, charged the Chautala government with backtracking from its electoral promises and imposing "unbearable taxes" on the people. The state was facing a severe shortage of power and water. The canals in Haryana were running today for merely five to seven days in a month as against 15 days during his regime. He alleged that the law and order situation in the state has worsened. "Jungle raj prevails today as the state is witnessing a spate of murders, rapes, dacoities, thefts and snatching of vehicles almost daily". There had been a steep rise in the crime graph in the state and the Chautala government has failed to enforce law which should have been the top priority of any government. He expressed serious concern over the increasing incidence of power theft. Almost every category of consumer is involved in stealing power, he said. "It we succeed in checking theft of electricity, the power tariff could be reduced by at least 50 paise per unit". Mr Bansi Lal disclosed that during his last regime, he had initiated measures to eradicate this menace by entrusting the collection of power bills to the gram panchayats. A beginning was made from Umri village in Kaithal district and before it could be effectively implemented and introduced at the state level, his government fell. He criticised the
shifting of the headquarters of the DHBVN from Gurgaon to Hisar. "I fail to understand the rationale behind
this move whereas nearly 45 per cent of revenue of the
DHBVN comes from Faridabad and Gurgaon and Hisar does not
come under its jurisdiction", he added. |
Land dispute: widow, 2 sons
murdered HISAR, June 30 — Three persons, a widow and her two young sons, were murdered with sharp-edged weapons by her relative in Mayyar village, about 15 km from here last night, the police said. According to a report, a land dispute is stated to be the reason behind the crime. Those murdered including Kitabo Devi (40), her sons Dalbir Singh (25) and Bijender (22). Kitabo Devi was married to Tara Chand. After his death she married her brother-in-law Lakhmi Chand, who also expired four years ago. Tara Chand and his brother Lakhmi Chand had seven acre of land. Half of the land was named after Kitabo Devi and the rest had not been divided yet. The dispute started when Dharamvir son of Lakhmi Chand, wanted to reconstruct a room in a field on the said land. Kitabo Devi reportedly objected to this. Last night Kitabo Devi along with her two sons went to the field to check the room. It is alleged that a
dispute started and Dharamvir allegedly murdered them
there one by one with a sharp-edged weapon (Gandasi).
Later he surrendered before the police. A case under
section 302, IPC has been registered. |
Office-bearers of Haryana BJP CHANDIGARH, June 30 — The newly elected President of the Haryana BJP, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, today constituted his 11-member team of office-bearers while retaining important functionaries of his predecessor, Mr Om Prakash Grover’s team. Mr Kataria has nominated Mr Atam Prakash Manchanda (Panchkula), Mr Gurdial Singh Saini (Kurukshetra), Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, M.P. (Sonepat), and Prof Ganeshi Lal as Vice-Presidents. Mr Manohar Lal Khattar and Mr Om Prakash Dhankar will continue to be the General Secretaries besides the newly appointed General Secretary, Mr Veer Kumar Yadav (Rewari). Mr Kanwal Pal Singh (Chhachhrauli), Mr Ramesh Kashyap (Gharaunda) and Mrs Shakuntala Raj (Jind) will be the Secretaries. Mr Shariniwas Goel will be the Treasurer. While Mr Pradeep Jain (Rohtak) will be the Press Spokesman, Mr Gulshan Bhatia will be the Office Secretary. Mr Kataria has also included several senior party leaders like Mr Grover, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, Mr I.D. Swami, Union Minister of State for Home, Mr Sita Ram Singla, Mr Parshotam Deshmukh, Mr Kailash Sharma, Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, Leader of the BJP Legislature group, Mr Ram Chander Bainda, M.P., Dr Sudha Yadav, M.P., Mr Fakir Chand, former Deputy Speaker, Mr Prabhat Kumar and Mr Ishwar Singh in the 51-member Executive Committee. Mr Kataria said he would
soon announce the names of the remaining members of the
Executive and heads of the frontal organisations. |
Kalka Civil Hospital needs
care KALKA: The Government Civil Hospital, here, is sick, but the department concerned is not serious to make it fit. About three decades back, this 30-beded hospital was started. It has 12 beds for men and 18 for women. Since then this hospital has not been upgraded. From time to time politicians have been making announcements to make the hospital double storied and 50 bedded. Besides the SMO this hospital has a dental surgeon and six medical officers, but post of eye specialist is lying vacant for the past one year. Consequently eye patients have to make rounds of Panchkula or Chandigarh hospitals. The hospital doesn’t have emergency electricity supply. Power supply in the town is quite erratic. As a result doctors while checking or operating upon patients have to face lot of inconveniences. Worst affected is the X-Ray Department, where the patients have to wait endlessly. Heart condition have become common. Since there is no heart specialist in the hospital, these patients don’t get even adequate care. There is no blood bank. In the event of need of blood, doctors refer the patient to Chandigarh, without bothering whether the patient’s condition permits him to travel 30 km to reach the PGI or the General Hospital. Not only life saving medicines and injections, but medicines of common ailments are not made available in the hospital. A government or Red Cross chemist’s shop should be set up in the hospital premises. This group should remain open round the clock. Some doctors prescribe only those medicines which are available at a particular chemist’s shop. The hospital doesn’t have an anaesthetist. Consequently anaesthetist is called from outside. Is it legal to call a private anaesthetist to a government hospital? ask residences. The hospital compound is
littered with used bandages, blood-soaked cottons, plastic
pouches, empty glucose bottles, syringes, empty bottles
of medicines. Condition of wards and toilets isn’t
any better. |
Harassment by market panel
officials alleged SONEPAT, June 30 — Rehriwalas and wooden stall owners observed a day’s strike in the fruit and vegetables market here yesterday to protest against the alleged harassment by the secretary and the mandi supervisor of the local market committee. They raised slogans against them and resisted the attempts of officials of the market committee to remove them from the site illegally. Many rehriwalas and wooden stall owners alleged that both the officials were harassing them on one pretext or the other for minting money from them. Neither the Deputy Commissioner nor any other officer of the administration has taken any action against them on their complaints. They urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and the Chairman of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board to intervene and order immediate transfers of these officials who allegedly were taking money as ‘nazrana’ regularly from the arhtias and the retailers. Meanwhile, a tussle is going on between some arhtias of fruit and vegetable market and the mandi supervisor as well as other officials on the issue of using the space in front of their shops for auctioning of the vegetables and fruits marketed by the vegetable growers and dealers of fruits. Many arhtias alleged that the mandi supervisor and other officials were not allowing the vegetable growers to unload their vegetables for auctioning on such sites and this had caused widespread resentment against them. Some vegetable growers alleged that these officials were harassing and preventing them from unloading their stocks at some arhtias’ shops. They warned that if such harassment continued they would be forced to launch an agitation on this issue. Some arhtias may observe a day’s strike against the misdeeds of officials of the market committee in support of their demand for immediate transferring of these officials. They alleged that the
district authorities had failed to take stern action on
their complaints against the officials of the market
committee. |
Haryana may modify LADT CHANDIGARH, June 30 — Responding to strong sentiments expressed by various industrial association like the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industries (HCCI) and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry against the controversial 4 per cent local area development tax (LADT), the Chautala government has decided in principle to make certain modifications in the tax scheme. An indication to this effect was given by senior Haryana Government officers when a delegation of the HCCI led by its president, Mr Manmohan Singla, called upon the Principal Secretary, to Chief Minister, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, here yesterday. It is learnt that those industrial units, products of which are exempt from sales tax, may also be exempted from the payment of LADT on raw material imported by them from outside the state. There was a demand for this concession from manufacturers of agricultural implements because they could not set off LADT against the sales tax. The other concessions are likely to include no LADT on raw material used for making products for export and provision to set off purchase tax against sales tax. The Haryana Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet here tomorrow, may take up these modifications in the scheme for a decision. Some changes in the formula for calculating house tax in urban areas are also in the offing. Meanwhile, the Haryana Excise and Taxation Department has notified the draft rules under the Haryana LADT Ordinance. These rules are available on the department’s website: haryanatax.com. Anyone having any objection to these rules can represent to the department within seven days. The HCCI delegation
including Dr N.C. Jain, senior vice-president; Dr Jai Dev
and Mr D.R. Dhawan, both former presidents; and Mr Bharat
Bhushan Jain, president of the Ambala district unit of
the chamber. |
His gallantry has gone
unnoticed AMBALA, June 30 —“The officer showed full disregard to his personal safety during op. conspicuous courage comma bravery and comradeship of exceptionally high order shown by IC-49485X Maj Gurpreet Singh.” This is part of the message from 11 Rashtriya Rifles (Dogra) to HQ 9 Sect RR (GS). The message clearly reflects the spirit of a gallant officer who was killed in an encounter with militants in the valley on October 19, 1999. Normally, such acts of courage are recommended for gallantry awards but in this case, “no recommendation was forwarded.” The father of late Maj Gurpreet Singh, Lt-Col Inder Singh (retd) is distraught that despite the exceptionally brave action of his son, reflected by the unit, he has not got any gallantry award, which he so rightly deserved as no recommendation was sent. “In Fauj, we lay stress on Izzat. For my son, who is no more, my only demand is that he should be given a gallantry award, which could act as a solace for us,” he said. “I personally feel that something is terribly wrong somewhere, otherwise there is no question of such a brave act being not recommended. After all, the only power which the Commanding Officer has is to recommend case and it is for the higher authorities concerned to take appropriate action,” he said. “What hurts me most is that my son’s action was not even recommended for a gallantry award, which he would have definitely got,” Lt-Col Inder Singh, who is a retired Dogra officer, told The Tribune. Lt-Col Inder Singh (retd) said the message regarding the operation at Mulchittar in the Valley states “seek and destroy patrol led by Maj S C Sheth accompanied by IC-49485 X Maj Gurpreet Singh with 1 JCO and 35 OR ex Bhata move to Mulchittar. While search was in progress at approximately 190630, militants opened fire on the search party from a nearby house in Mulchittar. IC-49485 X Maj Gurpreet Singh chased the militants and had a stiff encounter with militants. During the ensuing encounter, the officer sustained multiple gun shot wounds on forehead and body and succumbed to the injuries at approximately 190715. The officer showed full disregard to his personal safety during the operation, conspicuous courage, bravery and comradeship of exceptionally high order shown by IC-49485 X Maj Gurpreet Singh.” Father of late Maj Gurpreet Singh said the message shows clearly how the officer was killed in action, showing the qualities which mark a true Indian soldier. “I have been running pillar to post but to no avail. My pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears. My efforts are being constantly stonewalled by evasive and non-committal replies. I fail to understand why my son is not being given his due, for which he laid down his life in the service of the nation,” he said. The Commanding Officer of 11th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles (Dogra), Lt-Col Rajesh Sahai, in a letter dated October 30, 1999, to Lt-Col Inder Singh (retd) said, Your son, Sir, died a martyr’s death. He has not died a normal person’s death. He sacrificed his life as a brave soldier, of whom you should be extremely proud. When the firing took place, he could have run and hid behind a large boulder saving his life, but did you give a though that why did he chase the militants firing at them and in the bargain laying down his life? He could have chosen a coward’s way of hiding behind some cover. He did not do so. He went after the militants, firing at them and engaging them in combat.” “Sir, your son was not a ordinary human being like all of us, he was the bravest of the braves,” the letter states. Lt-Col Inder Singh said from the letter itself it is evident that his son should have been recommended for a gallantry award. “But sadly, he was not recommended. My plea is that my son, who sacrificed his life, should be given a gallantry award befitting his valour,” he said. Meanwhile, father of late Major Gurpreet Singh is planning to build a memorial at Tepla village on the Jagadhari road here. The memorial is going to be built at an approximate cost of Rs 2 lakh. “The work will start soon and the design has already been prepared,” he said. Lt-Col Inder Singh
(retd) also said promises made, have been kept by the
state government. “My daughter-in-law, Ms Mandeep
Kaur, has been nominated to the Haryana Civil Services
(Executive) by the state government. This will definitely
go a long way in providing dignity to the wife of an
officer who is killed in action while serving the
motherland,” he said. |
1.10 crore for flood control
measures AMBALA, June 30 — The Haryana Government has earmarked Rs 1.10 crore to meet the flood situation in Ambala district. The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr Ram Niwas, said that 13 works for checking floods had been completed at the cost of Rs 50.08 lakh and work on 12 more works were in progress in which the rest of the money will be utilised, a release said. In order to save the populated area and agricultural land of Bora Khera village from floods caused by the Tangri river, a sum of Rs 3.04 lakh has been spent and similarly, keeping in view the flood havoc during 1998-99, a sum of Rs 6.04 lakh has been spent to control floods in Falori village. He said that the control
rooms had been set up for keeping a track of any
eventuality arising out of flash floods during the
monsoon season. A control room had been set up in the
office of the District Revenue Officer at district level.
Similarly, other control rooms had been set up at the
office of the SDO (C), Ambala, Naraingarh and tehsil
level at Barara and the BDPO level at Naraingarh and
Ambala. The control rooms will start functioning from
tomorrow. |
Security goes hi-tech AMBALA, June 30 — Security has now gone hi-tech and is witnessing a sea-change with the advent of latest technology which promises instant results. Security systems, as they are referred to by experts, are micro-processor based and tamper-proof. These systems immediately detect intrusions and activate alarm. According to Mr Sukhpreet Singh Kalra, Managing Director of Vigil 24 Security System and Services, security systems are based on the principle of first defeating the intruder psychologically and then providing the information regarding intrusion as soon as it takes place. While the security systems include anti-burglary systems and anti-intrusion systems, the fire safety systems include detection system and detection cum-hydrant system. “Security systems have become a part of life in the western nations. These systems have a life of generally more than 15 years and require almost no maintenance. These systems have their own power supply back-up and work on either 12 volts or 24 volts supply. Due to this, there is no chance of any human error creeping in,” Mr Kalra stated. He observed that the security systems are available from Rs 10,000 to as high as Rs 2,50,000 or even more for residential areas, depending upon the factors like the size of the area being covered and number of exits/external openings. Mr Kalra stated that a security system is a network of different types of sensors, which are connected to a central station or control panel. These sensors can be connected either through wires or if the budget permits, can be wireless. The different types of sensors are door/window sensors, motion sensors (detect any movement within range), vibration sensors, glass break sensors, smoke detectors/heat detectors and infra red beams. Comparing these security systems with actual security guards, Mr Kalra said that even if we have a one man security for a house of 500 sq yards we would need three reliable men for 24 hours of eight hours shift each, which means an expenditure of approximately Rs 10,000 every month. “Whereas a security system installed at a one time cost of Rs 1,00,000 approximately, would last for a good number of years. Also security systems do not have such problems like leave, sleepiness, absenteeism and doubtful integrity. Security systems are constantly alert 24 hours a day,” he claimed. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sultan Singh, observed that security systems are useful. “These systems are already implemented in banks to ensure that there is no attempt at dacoity. The new security systems must not be misused which would put the police to inconvenience,” he said. “On our part we encourage people to have interconnectivity with their neighbours and the system is much simpler. If a family is interconnected with their neighbour, for example, through a bell or through other means, then at the time of any need, they can quickly call for help,” Mr Singh said. Mr Sultan Singh stated
that people while leaving station must inform their
neighbours so that they can keep a watch. “Also we
suggest to people to introduce car locking systems so
that there is no attempt to steal. Our effort is to
explain to people the means for ensuring that they are
not burgled,” he explained. |
Minimum wages revised CHANDIGARH, June 30 — The Haryana Government today decided to revise the minimum wages of both unskilled and skilled workers in the state. These have been revised from the existing Rs 1641 to Rs 1940 per month. Workers have been categorised into three categories. First, unskilled workers would be those who do not possess any qualifications or experience. They would get Rs 1940 per month. The second category will be of semi-skilled workers who are matriculate and diploma holders from the ITI, with apprenticeship or matriculate with five years experience without the ITI diploma. They would get Rs 2040 per month. The third category will be of skilled workers who are matriculate and have a diploma from the ITI with apprenticeship or matriculate with 10 years of experience without the ITI diploma. Such workers would be entitled to get Rs 2190 per month. The wages had been
finalised following a detailed discussion by the Haryana
Minimum Wage Advisory Board with representatives of
various managements of workers. |
Inter-state gang of dacoits
busted, 8 held YAMUNANAGAR, June 30 — The police here has busted an inter-state gang of dacoits who were actively involved in more than 200 cases of murder, dacoity and other antisocial activities. Mr K.K. Sindhu, Superintendent of Police, told mediapersons here yesterday that eight gang members had been arrested and ammunition, including pistol, cartridges, knives and other weapons, were recovered from them. Mr Sindhu stated that they were arrested by the Sadar police when they were planning another robbery in Yamunanagar area. A brief exchange of fire also took place before the dacoits were overpowered. The SP claimed that they had admitted committing the double murder at Chopra Garden, here on June 4 and 5. A case has been registered under Sections 399, 402 and 307, IPC and Sections 25/23/59, Arms Act. The accused are members of the Gumunt family, who were popularly known as Bangla Muslim, Sheikh Bangla & Sapera. The gang used to reside in a dera at Paunta Sahib. Mr K.K. Sindhu said the
eight accused, who were arrested, included Ikrar, Rajesh,
Sukha, Shakeel, Ishwar, Mukreem, Surinder Nath and Ajit. |
Market family planning
socially: Goel AMBALA, June 30 — A Senior Reader in Economics, Dr M.M. Goel, said that in order to control the population of India, there was the need to identify factors for social marketing of the family welfare programmes. Addressing participants of the refresher course for postgraduate teachers at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 (Ambala cantonment), Dr Goel made a strong case for treating all human development activities, including family welcome programmes as basic infrastructure for economic development. He said that the
situation of water availability was deteriorating day by
day. There is also an urgent requirement of water for
irrigation purposes. The present shortfall does not cover
irrigation facilities for the production of at least 16
crore tonnes worth of foodgrains. |
Pvt buses may be run on
highways CHANDIGARH, June 30 — The Haryana Government may soon allow private companies to run bus services on the national and the State highways. According to official sources, this has been suggested in the draft transport policy ,which is expected to be presented at a Cabinet meeting tomorrow for approval. The Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, the sources said, has already okayed the proposal. The sources added that one of the highlights of the new transport policy was that attempt would be made to connect each and every village of Haryana through bus service In 1993, when Mr Bhajan Lal was Chief Minister, licences were given to private transporters for operating buses on rural routes. However, the less profitable routes were allegedly abandoned by the private operators who were even found operating buses illegally on other routes. The sources said the new transport policy suggests that the State Transport Corporation would run its buses through the non-profitable routes even if it entailed further losses for the corporation. The State Government had already ordered for 400 new buses of Leyland and Tata to cover places hitherto uncovered by the State roadways' network. The sources said that
new policy also takes note of the maintenance of bus
stations, quality of food available there, and has made
suggestions to improve these aspects. |
MDU girls hostel may be
closed down ROHTAK, June 30 — The first controversy that seems to have erupted on the Maharshi Dayanand University campus after the takeover of the new Vice-Chancellor is the reported decision of the authorities to close down the girls hostel of the university college from the coming academic session. While the officials claim the finances and security was the main reason behind it, a section of staff and students residing in the hostel described it as an unjust decision. According to varsity sources, the problem started in February this year. A committee was set up by the college authorities to study the financial liabilities of running the girls hostel. The committee reportedly found that the cost of running the hostel was about Rs 10 lakh per year as the number of students opting for hostel were quite less. The authorities are learnt to have got some complaints regarding the safety and security of the girls residing here. But on the other hand some hostellers wrote letters and submitted a memorandum to Mrs Anita Chaudhary, Commissioner, who had been officiating as the VC before the appointment of the new incumbent, demanding that the hostel should not be closed down. In a letter written on April 17 last, these girls apprehended that a move was being made to close down the hostel. They also claimed that there were no problems for the students living there and alleged it was a politically-motivated move in which the hostellers were being made to pay for. The hostel was started during the tenure of the last VC, Mr O.P. Kaushik. Two lobbies reportedly during his tenure, became active, one in his favour and one against Mr Kaushik. This is stated to be one of the reason behind the controversy. Some of the staff adjusted here in the hostel were reportedly among the supporters of then VC. Since now after he has left, the opposite lobby has got an upper hand now. The Principal of the college, Dr D.S. Dahiya, when contacted, said that so far no decision had been made to close down the girls hostel but the new VC, Maj. Gen (retd) B.S. Suhag, send on Tuesday said that the hostel may be closed down mainly for security problems. While the authorities had indicated in the prospectus of last year that hostel facility for girls was available in the college but it is reported that no mention has been made in the prospectus this year. The new VC announced
that inmates of the girls hostel known as ‘Narmada
hostel’ will be adjusted in other hostels of the
university in the coming session. |
HUDA apathy delays water tank GURGAON, June 30 — The alleged apathy of the HUDA authorities towards the ongoing construction of a raw water storage tank threatens to affect the supply of potable water to the residents of this fast-expanding city. The construction work on this second tank should have been completed by now, but it is not so. The tank is to come up on 10 acres of land. The authorities plan to build four more tanks in future to ensure optimum level of water to the residents. The city is at present provided potable water under the canal water scheme. Water drawn from canals is meant to be stored in the tanks, from where it is treated for supply to the consumers. For the past many years, the city has been doing with only one tank, even though the consumption has increased manifold due to the exponential growth of the city, both in terms of population and area. There are many who attribute the tardy pace of work to the low bid at which the contractor was given the work by HUDA. So far, only boundary walls on three sides of the tank have been completed. But questions are already being raised about the quality of construction material used for erecting the retaining walls. The red bricks used for construction in government contracts are usually tested by the authorities. Many doubt if this formality was observed in this case. One of the walls has already tilted, even before the storage tank has become functional. The city is on the verge
of a crisis with regard to availability and supply of
water, especially with the water table sinking at an
alarming rate. The supply of water in the city, with a
few exceptions, has remained unsatisfactory. |
Imported fruits hit market in
Haryana HISAR, June 29 — Imported fruits have hit the market in Haryana in a big way. Australian apples and ‘jamun’ are currently available at select fruit shops all over the state. Australian apples are sought after the most. These red apples are branded and each apple sports a small sticker which says: Australia Fresh 5021 Early Hi. These apples are selling between Rs 100 to 120 a kg. Indian apples which can compete favourably with Australian ones will not be here until September. Imported jamun was the first imported fruit to arrive here. The locally produced variety is still a month away but even better varieties from other states, especially UP, are no match for imported "jamun". Though priced at Rs 80 a kilo (almost double the price of Indian varieties), these are popular mainly because of their food value. Mr Het Ram Bansal, a diabetic said "Till last year, jamuns were available only for about a month during rains. I had hard time getting good-quality jamum. However, this year, imported jamuns solved our problem". These "jamuns" come packed in perforated polythene bags in packs of 250 grams each. Fruit sellers say despite being packed, these have a good shelf life. Australian apples taste as good as the Indian ones and shopkeepers say their shelf life is better. They attribute this to the excellent packaging material used for these apples. Each apple is wrapped and stored in plastic trays which, in turn, are placed in corrugated cardboard boxes. Along with the imported
fruits, newer varieties of unseasonal but excellent
quality fruits have hit the market oranges from
Darjeeling have just hit the market for the first time.
Though green in colour these oranges are sweet and juicy.
Good-quality oranges are normally not available in this
season. These are selling at Rs 50 per kilo here. |
Spurious drugs seized ROHTAK, June 30 — The drug control authorities have stepped up their drive to check the sale of spurious allopathic/drugs and medicines in the region. Officials have seized as many as 20 types of such medicines in raids conducted recently. According to department sources, drug officials ‘raided’ several medicine and general stores in Bhiwani district recently and found that ‘spurious’ drugs were being sold to consumers. Several spurious antibiotic drugs, including Saridon, were confiscated in these raids. Three cases were detected at Digawan, Kunger and Anangpur villages. The officials also seized two boxes (about 200) ampules of Oxytocin from a general store at Jain Chowk in Bhiwani town. A case under 18-C of the Drug Act has been registered. The authorities had
registered a case at Meham town about three months ago
when some spurious brands of Althrocin (antibiotic) drugs
had been seized. Such brands had also been seized from a
chemist shop at Jind town early this year. |
Sainik board Dy Secy retires CHANDIGARH, June 30 — Capt Premvir Singh, Deputy Secretary of the Haryana Rajya Sainik Board, retired today after putting in 38 years of distinguished service in the Army and the civil administration. He joined the Army in 1962 and was commissioned in 1 Horse, then called Awal Risala. Son of a warrior, Capt Premvir Singh represented the fourth generation of his family to serve in Awal Risala.
|
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
