H A R Y A N A

More powers for Revenue Dept
CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Haryana Government has decided to give powers so far vested in officers of the Rehabilitation Department to Revenue Department officers in the districts.

Governor inspects Krishna museum
KURUKSHETRA, Aug 21 — During his first visit to holy city, the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, along with his wife, Mrs Sudesh Kumari, here today, inspected Sri Krishna Museum set up by the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB).

Chander Mohan releases list of demands 
PANCHKULA Aug 21 — As damage control exercise continues amid reports of “impracticality” of the shadow Cabinet and its inability to criticise the Om Prakash Chautala regime in the state on several fronts, the MLA from Kalka, Mr Chander Mohan, today, released a 14-point list of demands for the first time after being re-elected in February.

Pickpockets on the prowl
SONEPAT, Aug 21 — It is an ordeal to visit the railway station and the bus stand in this fast growing industrial city and a district headquarters in Haryana. While the traffic snarls on the roads leading to the railway station as well as the general bus stand are a nuisance, pickpockets and luggage lifters are a menace for the passengers.

PWD staff to intensify stir
SONEPAT, Aug 21 — The All-Haryana PWD Mechanical Karamchari Union has decided to intensify its statewide agitation against the failure of the Indian National Lok Dal Government (INLD), headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to accept the long-standing demands of government employees.

Proposal on package train cleared
CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today approved a proposal for a one-day package train, to be run jointly by the Haryana Tourism Corporation and the Railways between Delhi and Farukh Nagar, to enable tourists to visit the Sultanpur National Park in Haryana.

Traders threaten to stop payments 
ROHTAK, Aug 21 — The Haryana Beopar Mandal has threatened to withhold quarterly payments of revenue if the government did not relax its attitude regarding the recent imposition of various taxes, including ST form 38 till October 2.

Row over appointment of department head
ROHTAK, Aug 21 — The appointment of a teacher of Maharshi Dayanand University as Officiating Director, Sports Department, has kicked up a row among the non-teaching employees. The post is considered to be a non-teaching post.

‘Dalits being denied rights’
FATEHABAD, Aug 21 — Mr Ram Chander Paswan, a member of Parliament and brother of the Union communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, today said Dalits were not against any caste but opposed the present system which “denied Dalits their legitimate rights”.

Cancer centre for Rohtak
CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Haryana Government today decided to set up a regional cancer centre at the Pt B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Rohtak.

DCC (R) refuses to recognise party unit
AMBALA Aug 21 — Dissensions between the District Congress Committee (Rural) and the local unit of the All-India Sonia Gandhi Association came to the fore today when former refused to recognise the latter as a wing of the Congress.

17 held for gambling
PANIPAT, Aug 21 — The police conducted a raid on a three-star hotel last night and arrested 17 persons for gambling. The stake money of Rs 1,50,120 was also recovered on the spot.

More powers for Revenue Dept
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Haryana Government has decided to give powers so far vested in officers of the Rehabilitation Department to Revenue Department officers in the districts.

While stating this here today, Mr L.M. Goyal, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue Department, said that this change was considered necessary as the matter came up time and again during meetings held with the committee headed by Mr R.S. Chaudhary, a former Deputy Chairman, Planning Board, relating to the proper utilisation of government land. Mr Goyal added that the Rehabilitation Department was set up at the time of Partition to resettle and rehabilitate displaced persons who came from Pakistan. A major part of its work had been already done. Now isolated claims were left and the remaining evacuee property was scattered all over the state, Mr Goyal said.

He said now the Tehsildar and the Naib Tehsildar (Sales) in each district along with their supporting staff would function as a branch of the Deputy Commissioner’s office under the supervision of the District Revenue Officer. Powers of the Settlement Officer for giving approval to the auction or transfer of land had been delegated to the District Revenue Officer.

Mr Goyal said that the Deputy Commissioners would be appointed Settlement Commissioners in place of the Joint Secretary, Rehabilitation. Consequently, the Deputy Commissioner concerned would hear revision pleas against the orders of the Settlement Officer (Sales). The second revision authority would be the Divisional Commissioner concerned instead of the Secretary, Rehabilitation Department.

He said the powers of the Assistant Settlement Commissioner and the Settlement Commissioner, which were earlier exercised by the Settlement Officer (Sales), would be delegated to the District Revenue Officer. Similarly, the powers of the Chief Settlement Commissioner, which were exercised by the Joint Secretary of the Rehabilitation Department, would be delegated to the Deputy Commissioners. The District Revenue Officer, instead of the Settlement Officer (Sales), would be delegated the powers of Assistant Custodian and the Deputy Commissioner, and not the Joint Secretary, Rehabilitation, would be delegated the powers of Custodian General.

Mr Goyal said that there would be no change in the matter of sale by negotiation, where the valuation of property was done by a high-powered-committee. The allotment of land against claims would continue to be done at the headquarters as per the prevailing policy. The auction of surplus rural land and also the processing of cases for the transfer of land to unauthorised occupants, as per the government policy, would continue to be done as before by the Tehsildar or the Naib Tehsildar under the supervision and control of the Deputy Commissioner concerned.

The practice of disposing of urban land and property under the provisions of the Displaced Persons (C&R) Act by the Tehsildar (Sales) in his capacity as managing officer would continue, Mr Goyal said. He said the changes would lead to the streamlining of work in the Rehabilitation Department, better management of property and the expeditious disposal of land. There would also be quicker disposal of court cases, he added.

HVPN van hold-up case solved
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Aug 21 — The local branch of the CIA staff claimed to have busted a gang of robbers and solved daylight robbery in which three armed men looted 3.27 lakh in cash from a Swaraj Mazda truck carrying HVPN cash to a bank on May 15 last.

A team of the CIA headed by Inspector Surinder Malik arrested two members of the gang on Friday, when they were planning to loot a petrol pump at Kalayat. Their third accomplice managed to escape, after firing at the police party.

Giving this information to mediapersons here today the Superintendent Police, Mr Parbhat Ranjan Deo said that Krishan and Rajinder of Kasan village had been arrested. Randhir alias Dheera of Patti Afgan and Pritam Singh of Chandana village in HVPN worker who was driving the van which was held up are still at large.

Giving further details Mr Deo said the HVPN driver, and Rajinder had conspired to rob the van.

The driver, Pritam Singh had contacted Rajinder and told him that he would be transporting cash to the bank on May 15. Rajinder, in turn, involved Krishan and Randhir, in the robbery plan and procured weapons from UP.

At about 10.30 a.m. on May 15, when the driver and cashier were transporting Rs 4.55 lakh in the van the youth planned to rob the vehicle, but their motorcycle refused to start. When they contacted the driver after he came back from the bank, he said they could rob the van when he took more cash to the bank after 12 o’clock.

At the appointed time the youths stopped the truck, snatched the cash and fled. After the cashier, Subhash Chand lodged a complaint. The police interrogated the driver. But certain office bearers of the HVPN employees union intervened on his behalf and secured his release. Pritam Singh is reported to have been absent from duty for the past few weeks.

The youths also confessed to making threatening calls to a Kaithal businessman and a Jind trader to extort money from them. They also admitted that one of their gang members was involved in the murder of a Kaithal tractor agency owner, Virender Bhalla and another murder at Karora village.

According to information the Executive Engineer HVPN, Kaithal, Mr S.K. Chawla has suspended the driver, Mr Pritam Singh.

Governor inspects Krishna museum
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Aug 21 — During his first visit to holy city, the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, along with his wife, Mrs Sudesh Kumari, here today, inspected Sri Krishna Museum set up by the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB).

The Governor and his wife were warmly received among others by Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, Transport Minister, Haryana and Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, state Agriculture Minister.

The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the KDB, visited the holy Sannihit Sarovar. He was told that a dip in this sarovar on the occasion of “somwati amawasya’ has a special significance. The Governor also went round the Brahmsarovar where he participated in “pooja”.

The Governor also visited Gita Centre where material on life and works of Lord Krishna and on Srimadhagwadita is available for students and research scholars. Babu Parmanand also visited Jyotisar. The Governor and his wife took a keen interest in getting the information about the tal banyan tree which is said to be a witness to the celestial song of Srimadbhagwadgits.

The Governor while terming Sri Krishna Museum as a unique thing in northern India. Directed the officials of the museum to render prompt service to the scholars, historian and the pilgrims if they demand any information from the museum.

The Governor took special interest in the exhibits paintings and other items on display in the museum. He termed the museum as a key medium to speared the Celestial message of Srimadbhagwatgita.

He also saw the Panorama war museum awaiting commissioning since long.

During his two-day visit here, the Governor would address district officers and university officers. Besides meeting the public tomorrow in the guest house.

Chander Mohan releases list of demands 
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA Aug 21 — As damage control exercise continues amid reports of “impracticality” of the shadow Cabinet and its inability to criticise the Om Prakash Chautala regime in the state on several fronts, the MLA from Kalka, Mr Chander Mohan, today, released a 14-point list of demands for the first time after being re-elected in February.

Interestingly, Mr Chander Mohan has not attended any of the district grievances committee monthly meetings which is held to discuss the problems being faced by the public even though the press note issued by him lists some of the chronic problems of low water pressure in sectors, low voltage problem and provision of basic amenities in villages surrounding Panchkula which have been taken up time and again by the committee.

The move comes after a few of the 21 Congress MLAs came out strongly against the “shadow cabinet” formed by Mr Bhajan Lal on the ground that besides a couple of press conferences by the former Chief Minister, the other associated members had maintained stoic silence on issues of imposition of taxes, hikes in rates and the law and order situation.

When contacted, Mr Chander Mohan denied that the press release had been issued in reaction to the charges of “ineffectiveness” of the “shadow Cabinet” and to prove that he was alive to the problems being faced said that attending the grievances committee meeting was no compulsion. “The Haryana Government has made a very junior minister as the in charge of the grievances committee and I refuse to be directed by him,” he added.

Citing two occasions, Mr Chander Mohan said he was present when the shopkeepers of Pinjore were in trouble on account of encroachments by them and also when traders of Kalka organised a rally to protest against the imposition of ST-38 besides visiting villages around the city to address the problems of the villagers.

His other demands include release of land for shopkeepers of Old Panchkula, a couple of overbridges to connect Panchkula and Chandigarh, construction of bridges on rivulets in Raitan area of Pinjore, establishment of a 50-bedded hospital in Morni, development of the fruit and vegetable markets in Sector 20, opening of more government schools among many others.

Mr Chander Mohan stated that while he was concentrating on rural areas since problems were more acute in that belt, he would begin public interaction in the city also.

Pickpockets on the prowl
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 21 — It is an ordeal to visit the railway station and the bus stand in this fast growing industrial city and a district headquarters in Haryana. While the traffic snarls on the roads leading to the railway station as well as the general bus stand are a nuisance, pickpockets and luggage lifters are a menace for the passengers. In fact, the police accords top priority to check these type of crimes.

Most of the crimes committed relate to pickpockets and luggage lifters and incidents of chain snatching on trains and buses. Miscreants take advantage of crowds thronging the railway station and the bus stand in the last-minute rush to board or get down from trains and buses. They decamp with precious luggage in the melee. By the time the passengers comes to know, it is too late.

Many luggage lifters board trains and buses and get down with other passengers to take advantage of the last-minute rush.

Another common crime committed at the railway station and the bus stand is chain snatching. Miscreants wait till the train or a bus picks up speed. They then pounce and snatch neckless and earrings from women sitting next to the windows. Sometimes, serious injuries are also caused.

Many commuters allege that the police has failed to take measures to curb the menace and this is the main cause of the increasing incidence of such crimes. 

PWD staff to intensify stir
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 21 — The All-Haryana PWD Mechanical Karamchari Union has decided to intensify its statewide agitation against the failure of the Indian National Lok Dal Government (INLD), headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to accept the long-standing demands of government employees.

Mr Ved Vyas Arya general secretary of the state unit of the union, told mediapersons here yesterday that the executive committee had convened a meeting which would be held on September 12 at Hisar to decide the future course of action.

He disclosed that the union would also hold divisional-level meetings here from September 4. Other meetings would be held on September 6 at Gurgaon and on September 8 at Kurukshetra for mobilising the employees for the agitation.

Mr Arya, however, regretted that the state government was adopting dilatory tactics in accepting the demands of its employees which had caused widespread resentment among them. The main demands of the union, among other things, included the regularisation of the services of all field and daily wage employees as well as the work-charge employees having 8 to 20 years’ service, the removal of anomalies in pay scales and the grant of uniform allowance to all Class IV employees. 

Neglect of private colleges alleged
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Aug 21 — The president of the Non-government Colleges Association, Haryana, Mr Ram Kishan Gupta, alleged here today that the state government was neglecting the interests of private colleges by not lifting the ban on new appointments.

Addressing a press conference, he said the sanctioned staff in colleges today was the same as it had been in 1973 whereas the number of students had increased manifold since then. He said despite his letter to the Chief Minister in this connection nothing had been done so far. He expressed concern about the indifferent attitude of the Chief Minister towards private colleges where lecturers had to struggle for months to draw their salaries.

He added that on a writ petition filed by him in the high court, the state government had agreed to lift the ban but, he said, it went back on its word soon after the completion of the elections.

Mr B.D. Gupt, Rajya Sabha MP and president of the Adarsh Mahila Mahavidyalya lamented the apathy of the INLD government towards education and health. He added that the government was not taking action against educational shops being opened daily in the name of dental, medical and engineering colleges. Such institutions were charging huge amounts for admission.

He announced that an 11- member committee had been constituted and it would meet the Chief Minister and submit a memorandum to him in his connection.

Traders threaten to stop payments 
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 21 — The Haryana Beopar Mandal has threatened to withhold quarterly payments of revenue if the government did not relax its attitude regarding the recent imposition of various taxes, including ST form 38 till October 2.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday the mandal president, Mr Laxmi Chand Gupta said its future course of action would be decided at a state-level meeting of traders called on October 2 here.

Mr Gupta said the mandal’s 11-point demand charter was finalised at the state executive meeting yesterday. The charter demanded withdrawal of 4 per cent Development Tax on industries. It described the increase in the tax on sale of jewellery from 2 to 4 per cent as unjustified on the plea that it was 1 per cent in the neighbouring states. Besides, the traders demanded reduction in power charges in the state.

‘Develop technology for small farmers’
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Aug 21 — The Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Debendra Pradhan, has urged farm scientists to develop technology that benefits small farmers.

He said small and marginal farmers, which constituted a majority in the country, were yet to benefit from the new farm technology. “Our efforts should be that the new innovations should reach this section of the farming community.”

Dr Pradhan, who was on a visit to CCS Haryana Agricultural University here yesterday, said the implementation of the WTO regime had thrown up new challenges to Indian agriculture. He urged farm scientists to make agriculture globally competent by evolving new crop varieties and breeds of dairy animals, besides value addition to the processed food.

The minister was taken on a round of the university. Dr B.L. Jalali, who conducted the visit, and experts of different disciplines explained to him the various technologies developed in agriculture and allied fields.

He evinced interest in the post-harvest technology for horticultural crops, medicinal plants and the high-yielding breeds of cows and Murrah buffalo evolved at the university.

Row over appointment of department head
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 21 — The appointment of a teacher of Maharshi Dayanand University as Officiating Director, Sports Department, has kicked up a row among the non-teaching employees. The post is considered to be a non-teaching post.

Mr Devinder Dhull, Assistant Director, Sports Department, claimed that the Vice-Chancellor, Major Gen (retd) Bhim Singh Suhag, had violated the rules of university calendar and the decision of executive council while appointing a lecturer, Mr Shamsher Singh as the Officiating Director of the Sports Department.

He said officials of the Sports Department and office-bearers of the Non-Teaching Employees Association have registered their protest in this connection with the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor had assured the delegation that the decision would be rectified soon.

Mr Dhull alleged the Officiating Director did not possess the essential qualification to be a head of the department (HOD). He said a teacher must have at least a reader’s grade to become the HOD. Mr Shamsher Singh is only a lecturer.

‘Dalits being denied rights’
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Aug 21 — Mr Ram Chander Paswan, a member of Parliament and brother of the Union communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, today said Dalits were not against any caste but opposed the present system which “denied Dalits their legitimate rights”. Mr Ram Chander Paswan was addressing a Dalit chetna sammelan organised by the district unit of the Dalit Sena. The Union Communications Minister is the national President of the Dalit Sena.

Mr Ram Chander Paswan, who is a Lok Sabha member from Bihar, said the Dalit Sena was a campaigner of social revolution and was fighting a war against social injustice throughout the country. He said the crusade would continue till weaker sections of society got their rights.

He claimed that the credit for linking Fatehabad by rail to went to his brother, who during his stint as Union Railway Minister ordered the survey of the Hisar-Fatehabad-Sirsa rail link in 1996-97.

Cancer centre for Rohtak
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Haryana Government today decided to set up a regional cancer centre at the Pt B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Rohtak.

The Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Dr M.L. Ranga, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had released the first instalment of Rs 35 lakh for the setting up of this centre.

Dr Ranga said only preventive measures could check this debilitating disease. It was imperative to undertake more research in this field.

He said a team of the Union Ministry had earlier visited the Rohtak institute and recommended the setting up of the cancer centre. The Union Government would give funds for the purchase of medicines and the latest equipment.

DCC (R) refuses to recognise party unit

AMBALA Aug 21 UNI — Dissensions between the District Congress Committee (Rural) and the local unit of the All-India Sonia Gandhi Association came to the fore today when former refused to recognise the latter as a wing of the Congress.

The Ambala unit association chief Ashok Bartia claimed that his organisation was formed at the behest of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to mobilise people about the philosophy and ideas of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

17 held for gambling
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Aug 21 — The police conducted a raid on a three-star hotel last night and arrested 17 persons for gambling. The stake money of Rs 1,50,120 was also recovered on the spot.

Cases under the Gambling Act have been registered against Rajbeer, Sunil Kumar, Subash Chand, Nandi, Ajay, Rajender, Narender, Swarn Singh, Pawan Kumar, Madan Lal, Jitender, Angrej Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, Arvinder, Gian Singh, Kasturi Lal, Chunni Lal and Amar Singh.

All 17 persons got bail today.