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| Monday, July 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Concession for utensil, timber units CHANDIGARH, July 16 — The Haryana Government today announced a concession for the utensil and timber industries in its scheme of transit challans under the Haryana General Sales Tax Act. ‘Fruit mafia’ controls prices INLD Kaithal rally
on July 24 Shorewala’s remand
extended Another charge against Shorewala |
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| Kiryana shops now
local dispensaries ROHTAK, July 16 — General stores and kiryana shops have emerged as sale points for drugs and medicines in rural and semi-rural parts of Haryana in the absence of a proper distribution network or system. These unauthorised medicine sellers are a health hazard to the rural population as they do not possess the required knowledge nor training for dispensing medicine nor are as particular about dosages and expiry dates. Ticketed travellers beware Prayers answered, and how Sarpanches booked
for blocking highway
Till death do
us unite 41 addicts take
pledge to quit No buses, now no maxicabs
either Rs 6.93 cr to be spent on
child health project
Unite, Gujral
tells Punjabis Kuldip Nayar
honoured MDU admission date extended
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Concession for
utensil, timber units CHANDIGARH, July 16 — The Haryana Government today announced a concession for the utensil and timber industries in its scheme of transit challans under the Haryana General Sales Tax Act. The two industries have now been exempted from carrying transit challans (ST-38) while bringing in or taking out utensils and timber within the district. Earlier it had been made mandatory to carry transit challans for the movement of metal utensils and timber even if the value of the transaction was below Rs 10,000. The decision to grant this concession was taken at a meeting of the Excise and Taxation Department presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here last evening. According to the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, the government has also decided to reduce sales tax on tyres and tubes from 12 per cent to 8 per cent to bring the rate of tax on a par with that prevailing in Punjab, Himachal, Chandigarh, Delhi and Rajasthan. Mr Sampat Singh said these decisions were taken following representations and fax messages sent by various trade organisations.
Maintaining that the INLD government had always been conscious of the interests of the traders and it had taken a number of steps to promote trade and industry in the state, Mr Sampat Singh said the ST-38 form had been introduced to check the evasion of tax and it would not put any additional burden on traders. Even earlier every trader had to send the bills along with the goods. With a view to checking the practice of destroying bills by certain traders after the goods reached their destination so as to evade tax, they had been asked to fill only an additional form. Form ST-38 would be applicable only on registered dealers for sending out or bringing in goods worth over Rs 10,000 to a district. He said this simple and easy to fill form was already in use in many states, including Uttar Pradesh. The form was available with stamp vendors for Rs 2 and the traders need not visit government offices. Already over 10 lakh forms had been obtained by traders till July 14. Those traders who were using computers for making bills would soon get forms on computer
stationery. Claiming that the new form would eliminate the system of “inspector raj”, Mr Sampat Singh said no checkposts or barriers would be set up for checking this form, as was the case in UP, Punjab and Rajasthan. If the form was with the goods at the time of checking in the state, the traders would not be asked to verify the papers or details of the sender and receiver. Thus it would solve the problem being faced by traders in regard to the checking of goods on the way. He said senior officers of the state like the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan; the Financial Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Mr M. Shankar; and the Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Mr Raj Kumar, had detailed discussions with various trade organisations in the past few days. Mr Sampat Singh said the government had already abolished several forms like ST-14, ST-14A, ST-15C, ST-15A, ST-15B and ST—4. He also highlighted several other decisions taken by the government in the interest of traders. |
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‘Fruit mafia’ controls prices HISAR, July 16 — Why do seasonal fruits and vegetables cost 25 to 40 per cent more in most parts of Haryana as compared to the neighbouring Punjab and Delhi? Believe it or not it is because a fruit and vegetable “mafia” comprising the rich middlemen has established a strong hold over the trade. The mafia buys the entire stock of seasonal fruits and vegetables and then sells these at exorbitant prices through rehris plied by jobless youths hired for the purpose on daily wages. A look at the average retail prices of A grade quality of mangoes prevailing in Delhi and Patiala in Punjab on Saturday bears this out. The Tribune found that while “Dussehri” mangoes were selling at an average rate of Rs 15 and “Banarsi Langda” at Rs 12 per kg, B grade mangoes of these varieties were priced at Rs 20 and Rs 16 per kg in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Rohtak. More or less the prices of other popular fruits were also higher in most of Haryana in the same proportion. However, in the case of mango, the prices in the major towns along the G.T. Road were only marginally higher than Punjab and Delhi since mangoes are grown in nearby towns of U.P. Lemons were being sold all over Haryana at an average price of Rs 24 a kg yesterday while the prices in Delhi and Punjab varied between Rs 16 to 20 a kg. However, the quality of lemons in Haryana was much lower. The modus operandi of the “fruit mafia” is simple. The leading commission agents join hands to purchase the entire stock of popular fruits not grown in the state on a particular day. The bulk purchase helps them buy fruits at a comparatively lower price. The fruit is then disposed off in two ways. A small quantity of the fruit is sold to retailers at prices dictated by the mafia. This helps silence the retailers. However, bulk of the fruit is retailed by the “mafiosi” on rehris owned by them. They hire jobless youths on daily wages of Rs 60 to 70 a day. These youths are given a fixed quantity of fruit in the morning. They have directions to sell the fruit at the rate specified by the rehri owner. The rehriwala is not supposed to allow any bargaining by the consumer. In the evening, the left over stocks are weighed and taken back by the mafiaosi. The proceeds of the sale are also collected at the same time. The clever strategy ensures that a particular fruit sells all over the town at uniform rates. The consumer thus has no choice but to buy his requirement at the rate dictated by the mafiosi. At the same time he also has the satisfaction of not paying more for the fruit than the neighbour knowing little that both he and the neighbour have been cheated. This practice is applied only to fruits and vegetables which are not grown locally. The humble “tori, ghia, tinda and palak” etc are thus spared. Likewise, locally grown fruits like peaches, grapes and jamuns too are unaffected. Taking a cue from the “fruit mafia”, some vegetable vendors from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh too have formed groups to exploit the consumer. Groups of 15 to 20 such rehriwalas pool resources and buy their requirement jointly at rates much lower than what they would have paid individually. They then hawk their stock in clusters of residential colonies at high rates. These groups earmark their territories. No “trespassing” is tolerated to ensure that a particular group has complete control over the prices. Nevertheless, their resources are no match for those of the “fruit mafia” which allows them this luxury so long as the prices are not substantially lower than theirs. This elbowroom for vendors from Bihar and UP ensures peace in the trade. The commission agents, however, vehemently deny the existence of any malpractices in the trade. Mr Mohan Lal Saini, a leading commission agent, said the variation in rates was because of increase in the cost of transportation. He said most of the fruits and vegetables in Rohtak, Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Faridabad and Gurgaon districts came from Delhi. Thus the landing cost in these towns was more. However, this is only partly true. The transportation cost is a fraction of the wide gap in prices. Mr Saini did admit that many leading commission agents were plying rehris through jobless youths who were not supposed to sell the stuff at prices other than the ones specified. nevertheless, he said the prices were specified only to ensure that the youths did not cheat on commission agents. Regarding the substantially higher prices in Haryana, he said, the quality of mangoes or lemons sold in Delhi and Punjab could be lower than the one available in Haryana on a particular day. He also maintained that prices in Haryana were higher because of better quality of fruits sold. This again is not borne out by the facts. |
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INLD Kaithal rally
on July 24 KURUKSHETRA, July 16 — To mark the completion of the INLD’s first year in office, a state-level rally will be organised at the premises of the grain market at Kithal on July 24. This was decided at a state-level meeting chaired by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and attended by Haryana MLAs, MPs and INLD state executive members as well as INLD district presidents here today. Stating this at a press conference here today, the Chief Minister said the opposition parties were engaged in a “misleading propaganda” against the government’s views regarding various issues, including new house tax policy, old age pension scheme, area development tax and uniform tax policy. That is why, a state-level rally was being organised to make party workers and people aware about the realities. Earlier, addressing a meeting of district officers, he said a sugar mill would be set up on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road for the benefit of cane growers. He laid the foundation stone of Circuit House to be constructed at a cost of Rs 6.60 crore over an area of two acres. He presided over a function to mark the birth anniversary of Maharaja Daksh Prajapati organised at Kumhar Dharamshala. Speaking on the occasion, he urged the people to maintain commual harmony as it was necessary for the development of the state. He announced Rs 2 lakh for Kumhar Dharamshala and a piece of land for members belonging to the Kumhar community so as to enable them to undertake pottery. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Transport Minister Ashok Kumar and Agriculture Minister Jaswinder Singh Sandhu. |
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Shorewala’s remand
extended KAITHAL, July 16 — The court today extended the police remand of Anil Shorewala, son of former Finance Minister Charan Dass Shorewala. The police had requested the court to extend the remand for seven days, however, the Judicial Magistrate on duty, Ms Shalini Singh, directed the police to produce the accused on July 18. The prosecution took the plea that the police had already recovered Rs 1.50 lakh which had allegedly been taken by Anil Shorewala from complainat Romesh Singh on the promise of securing him a job of patwari. It has been alleged that the accused had acquired a large number of immovable properties, in partnership with his family members and others, which were not in proportion with his sources of income. The counsel of Anil Shorewala strongly argued and pleaded with the court not to extend the police remand of his client. He also requested the court in writing to direct the police to get the accused medically examined as he apprehended torture in police custody.The court accepted this request and directed the police to get Anil Shorewala medically examined. On the other hand Charan Dass Shorewala who had gone underground has not returned to the town as yet and is allegedly trying to get an anticipatory bail. |
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Another charge
against Shorewala KAITHAL, July 16 — The police has reportedly recovered Rs 1.50 lakh from Anil Shorewala, which he had taken from an unemployed youth to get him the post of patwari when his father, Mr Chanan Dass, was a minister. Anil was arrested on July 9 on the complaint of Romesh Singh of Bulla Kheri village. Another youth has also filed an affidavit stating that he too paid Anil Shorewala Rs 1.50 lakh on the promise of getting a job. But he did not get either the job or his money back, he has stated. There is also panic among the persons who had bought immovable properties in partnership with Anil or other members of his family. Anil’s father, a former Finance Minister of Haryana, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Earlier Head Constable Ram Chander was suspended and sent to police lines as ordered by the DSP, HQ, Mr Amir Singh. According to information the erring cop had served liquor to Anil Shorewala in police custody. The matter was brought to the notice of the higher authorities by the SHO (City). |
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Kiryana shops now
local dispensaries ROHTAK, July 16 — General stores and kiryana shops have emerged as sale points for drugs and medicines in rural and semi-rural parts of Haryana in the absence of a proper distribution network or system. These unauthorised medicine sellers are a health hazard to the rural population as they do not possess the required knowledge nor training for dispensing medicine nor are as particular about dosages and expiry dates. The trade, which has been going on without a ‘proper checks’ for the past many years, is reported to have finally attracted the attention of the Drug Control authorities, which have taken a serious view of the problem. Officials of the Drug Control Department conducted several raids in the Rohtak zone, in the past about 7-8 months and caught several persons for unauthorised sale of drugs and medicines in villages. Rohtak zone comprises of Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Sonepat districts. In a raid at Charkhi Dadri town of Bhiwani district recently, the authorities seized a huge quantity of such drugs from a kiryana store near the subzi mandi. The recovered medicines include 5000 ampules (glass) of Oxytocin injection, 3000 tablets of Avil, 2000 tabs of Saridon, 1200 tablets of Crocin, 1000 tablets of Baralgan, 2000 tabs of Anacin 500, tablets each of Coldarin and Disprin from the shop. A case was registered under Sections 18 and 27 of the Drug Act in this connection. The open sale of Oxytocin injection is ‘banned’ by the government and the drug must be stored at temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees. However it was stored in the open in the godown of the shop. The sale of Oxytocins used in the dairy industry is allowed on prescription only, but there has been indiscriminate sale of the drug to dairy owners who use it to increase milk yield. Used indiscriminately the drug poses a health hazard to milk consumers. According to Drug Control Department sources at least eight cases have been registered of unauthorised sale of medicines by some shopkeepers, mostly kiryana merchants in the first half of this year alone. The towns where raids were conducted include Rohtak, Meham, Jhajjar, Beri, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri and Sampla in this zone. Such cases have also been reported in Hisar and Sirsa districts during checking done a few years ago. But it is learnt that the problem is far more serious than what it looks at present. Illegal sale of medicine is reportedly going on in rural areas all over the state mostly because most villages do not have chemists shops. These are not opened due to the relatively small volume of business as residents normally visit bigger towns for their health and medical needs. But if the volumes are too small for chemist shops they are sufficient for small traders who stock drugs along with other goods. The campaign to check the unauthorised sale of drugs would continue said an official of the drug department. |
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Ticketed travellers beware PANIPAT, July 16 — Beware of the cheats of Panipat Railway Station who dupe innocent passengers out of their tickets through ingenuous means. Thousands of migrant workers, particularly from eastern U.P. and Bihar come to earn their livelihood here and travel back to their native villages by train. More than 80 per cent of them are illiterate and face difficulties while purchasing tickets. Thus in a surprise check yesterday evening a clerk was found overcharging the passengers upto Rs 80 more than the fare. The modus operandi of cheats is more innovative. They stand behind their target and purchase tickets along with them for nearby stations like Sonepat and Delhi. When the intended victim buys his ticket the crooks step up to him and ask to see the ticket. The unsuspecting passenger hand over his ticket to the crook who, in a sleight of hand, exchanges it for his own, much lower value ticket. Since the tickets are computerised there is little visible difference between the two tickets and the usually illiterate passengers do not even realise they have been duped until well after they board the train. After the departure of the train, the cheats get the higher-value tickets cancelled by paying a deduction of Rs 10 on the fare and pocket the difference. The fraud came to light when a passenger who purchased a ticket for Katihar from Panipat railway station last evening found himself saddled with a ticket for Delhi instead. The victim, while talking to “The Tribune” said he remembered that a person was standing behind him who asked for his ticket and probably exchanged it for a ticket to Delhi worth Rs 16. The CMI, Panipat has launched an enquiry following a written complaint by the victim. |
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Prayers answered, and how SIRSA, July 16 — Yagnas and rituals designed to bring rain and relief from the hot humid weather prevailing in Sirsa over the past 15 days may have proved more effective than their patrons bargained for. The heavy rain which lashed the city yesterday converted it into a virtual pool. Sirsa district had been dry for a fortnight while it had been raining all around it making it residents especially farmers jealous, anxiety-stricken and restless. But the showers of the past two days more than compensated choking the sewerage and flooding of the city. Nearly all the bazaars are flooded. Shiv Chowk, Balmiki Chowk, Patel Basti, Aggersen Colony, Sabzi Mandi, Hisar Road, Rania Road, Begu Road, Kanganpur Road, Surkhab Tourist Complex, Gandhi Colony all have 3 to 4 feet of standing water, while the houses in almost all the localities in Kherpur on Gaushala Road and Chandigarhia Mohalla are inundated with sewerage after sewers back watered. Residents spent a sleepless night on Friday trying to bale water out of their houses. For fear of flooding of their houses residents of the locality near Lord Shiva College have actually got road construction work stopped, leaving cars stranded on the road and paralysing traffic. The flood has also exposed the failure of the Public Health Department which paid little heed to past experience. The town frequently suffers flooding during the Monsoon. No effort was made to clear sewerage lines or ensure the smooth flow rain water. Nor did the administration make any effort to discourage the use of polythene bags, one of the factors behind blocked sewers. But even while the towns people cast about for alibis some residents of flooded colonies at least must be rueing their prayers. |
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Sarpanches booked
for blocking highway SONEPAT, July 16 — The Rai police has registered a criminal case against eight persons namely Om Parkash, sarpanch of Fazilpur village, Balraj Saini, former Sarpanch, Rajinder Singh, sarpanch of Kabirpur village, Sham Lal Kaushik, a Congress leader, Mahavir Singh, former member of Sonepat Zila Parishad, Surinder Khatri, Ishwar Saini and Badlu Ram, for allegedly blocking traffic on G.T. Road near Bahalgarh Chowk in protest against the brutal killing of an old woman and an attempt to rape her daughter-in-law by a criminal gang at a farmhouse on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road, about 3 km from here, on July 12 last. According to the police, the case under Sections/147, 148, 241 and 283 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against all eight persons. The police action caused widespread public resentment with residents to launch a struggle against the district and police administration. Residents claim the police was trying to hush up the murder case and false cases were being registered to silence protesters. Meanwhile, Mr Ashok Yadav, Additional Deputy Commissioner has announced the ex-gratia grant of Rs 50,000 for the victim’s family and another Rs 10,000 for her injured daughter-in-law on behalf of the district
administration. |
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Till death do
us unite SIRSA, July 16 — Two young men committed suicide in the district in unrelated cases. A youngman on parole in a case of forcing his wife to commit suicide hanged himself in village Baraguda in the district. According to the information received today Raghubir whose wife had hanged herself on June 22 last year was arrested along with his parents for harassment. Back on parole he went to his in-law’s house before returning to his village, where he hanged himself from the ceiling fan. The police has sent the body for post mortem. In Talwara Jheel village in the district Mohan Singh who was a tailor committed suicide by consuming
Celphos. The reason of his ending his life has not yet been
established. |
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41 addicts take
pledge to quit FATEHABAD, July 16 — As many as 41 opium and poppy husk addicts vowed never to take drugs in future, in the second programme of an “anti drug-addiction” campaign launched by the district police in co-operation with the local non-governmental social organisations at Sardarewala village in this district, yesterday evening. The campaign, “Paryas”, was launched by the police earlier this month. Addressing villagers at Sardarewala yesterday evening, the SP Mr Shrikant Jadhav said that drug addiction was a social evil as not only the addict but his family as well as society was affected. A street-play depicting the ill effects of drugs on the addicts and their families was staged on the occasion and doctors informed villagers of the ill effects of drugs and how to get deaddicted. Talking to mediapersons, the SP said that some persons who had pledged never to take drugs at the first function of the Paryas at Rattangarh, had come to his office and told him that they faced health problems after leaving drugs, following which Paryas organised a one-day medical camp in the village to tackle their concerns. |
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No buses, now
no maxicabs either FATEHABAD, July 16 — Raids on maxicabs plying on rural routes have merely added to the problems of commuters in the absence of adequate Haryana Roadways bus services. Following complaints the authorities conducted a campaign to check the plying of private vehicles as public transport. The police erected barriers on all roads into town to restrict the entry of such vehicles. The campaign has been on for the past month forcing maxicabs off the road. While these vehicles may have evaded paying passenger tax these were nevertheless, the only source of transportation to and from many villages and their link to major highways. Though there is no dearth of services on major highways the buses rarely stop at the bus stops of these villages. The worst affected are teachers and women with small children who can be seen waiting for buses at the bus stop for hours. The bus drivers also seldom pay heed to their request to drop them off near their destination. |
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Rs 6.93 cr to be spent on
child health project CHANDIGARH, July 16 — The Haryana Government will incur Rs 6.93 crore on the strengthening of reproductive and child health care services in Gurgaon and Rewari districts. While stating this here today, Dr M.L. Ranga, Minister of State for Health, said the project was being implemented with the assistance of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF. The main aim of the project was to reduce the infant, maternal and child mortality rates by half in the next three years. UNICEF had developed a border district cluster strategy for the project for three years from 1999-2002. |
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Unite, Gujral
tells Punjabis FARIDABAD, July 16 — Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, former Prime Minister, today called upon Punjabis to unite and work for the uplift of the downtrodden. Mr Gujral was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the setting up of the Haryana unit of the All-India Punjabi Ekta Manch. Mr Ramesh Bhandari, former Governor of Uttar Pradesh said although in many states Punjabis from 30 to 40 per cent of the population, they are not given proper representation. He also said they should enroll themselves as Punjabis at the time of census so that it could be known how many Punjabis were living in various
states. |
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Kuldip Nayar
honoured BHIWANI, July 16 — Kuldip Nayar, noted journalist while addressing a gathering here today dwelt at length about the sufferings of Hindus who had migrated to India after partition. The cruelties meted out to the Muslims during partition, was equally shocking. A shawl and late Ravindra Nath Vashisht Samriti Award were presented to him by Mr D.B. Vashisth. Ravindra Nath Vashisth, founder of weekly and daily Chetna and his son, Mr D.B. Vashisth had been in jail for 19 months during the emergency. Mr Jagat Narain, president of the Sanskritik Manch and Dr Budhdev Arya and Mr Anil Gaud thanked Mr Nayar. |
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MDU
admission date extended ROHTAK, July 16 — The Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, has extended the last date for admission to Part-I of three year degree/under graduate course till July 20 without late fee. The decision has been taken in view of the delay in the issuance of the DMCs/marksheets in respect of 10+2 examination by the Haryana School Board, Bhiwani. Earlier, the last date of admissions without late fee was July 10. The university has issued instructions to all its affiliated colleges to ensure that students seeking admission to BA/BSc/BCom (Part I) are not put to any inconvenience on account of the delay in the issuance of DMCs/marksheets by the board. Further, the university has issued instructions to all Principals of Arts, Science and Commerce colleges affiliated to maintained by it to grant admissions to candidates between July 21 to July 31 at their own level on merit basis with the prescribed late fee and strictly as per the university’s admission-guidelines. Such admission cases should not be forwarded to the university for prior approval of the Vice-Chancellor. However, details of all such cases of late admissions may invariably be sent to the Deputy Registrar (Registration & Scholarship) alongwith the registration-return and fee for seeking ex-post-facto approval of the Vice-Chancellor. |
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