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| Thursday, September 14, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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End red tape, Chautala tells
officials Protest by cops:
ADC submits report ‘Sacked’ staff await reinstatement Now, fake money orders Village panels to be set up for
development 4 wagons of goods train
derailed |
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Four personalities
honoured SI gets judicial
remand for taking bribe Shortage of
funds hits public works Road mishap
toll six Delay in paddy purchase criticised CJ to inaugurate
judicial complex
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End red tape, Chautala tells
officials CHANDIGARH, Sept 13 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has exhorted senior civil and police officials to end red tape and instead of using “ifs and buts” even in emergency cases, they should adopt a positive approach with a humane touch to serve the masses. Mr Chautala, who was addressing a meeting of Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police here last evening, urged them to maintain close coordination among themselves even in day-to-day dealings and should also ensure a clean, transparent and efficient administration. He asked them to visit dependents of all Kargil martyrs to enquire about their welfare and ensure quick redress of their grievances, if any. Expressing satisfaction over the development works undertaken under the first phase of his ambitious “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programme, Mr Chautala said the second phase of the programme would be launched from October 2. He directed the field officers to visit all villages under their jurisdiction and identify the development works required there before his arrival in the area to facilitate on-the-spot decisions so as to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Mr Chautala directed the officers to put up hoardings displaying the development works undertaken under the “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programme in a particular village at the entrance of that village. Besides, hoardings highlighting various achievements of the state government should be installed at strategic points in towns and also on roadways buses. All encroachments on government land should be removed positively by October 12. He said the officials should not succumb to pressure from any quarters, including that of the functionaries of his own political party, while removing encroachments. He said the DCs should identify at least one responsible person in each village who would act as a bridge between the government and the residents of the village. Such a representative would undertake small jobs like the distribution of old-age pension and electricity bills besides providing information to the government on various needs of the village. He asked the DCs to work out the modalities of this scheme within a week and submit their report to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister so as to introduce this scheme at the earliest possible. Mr Chautala also said that there was need for a fresh look at the existing slab system of power tariff in the state. The scheme, he said, was introduced by his father, Mr Devi Lal, because the watertable varied in different areas. But the subsequent Chief Ministers, he alleged, distorted the scheme to meet their political ends. The Chairperson of the Haryana power utilities, Mrs Meenaxi Anand Chaudhary, said that during July 1999, to August 2000, arrears of electricity bills totalling Rs 434.68 crore had been recovered. This amount included Rs 281.37 crore from private consumers and Rs 153.31 crore from government agencies. She said as a result of concessions given to facilitate the payment of accumulated arrears of electricity bills in the rural areas, a large number of consumers in problem villages had started making payments voluntarily. Similarly, a drive to check the theft of power yielded over Rs 7.60 crore as penalty. Mr Chautala said the campaign against power theft should be intensified. |
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Village panels to be set up for
development CHANDIGARH, Sept 13 — The Haryana Government has decided to constitute village-level committees in November to undertake development works costing up to Rs 50 lakh. Cheques will be issued to these committees direct to ensure the optimum utilisation of funds. The Indian National Lok Dal President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who is also the Chief Minister, said this decision was taken keeping in view a number of complaints regarding the misutilisation of government funds. The Chief Minister said Bhiwani and Hisar districts were facing drought-like conditions. He gave an assurance that all efforts would be made to irrigate every inch of land for rabi sowing. Adequate power supply would also be ensured for the agricultural sector. Mr Chautala lashed out at the Opposition parties. He said their sole aim was to “misguide” the people on different issues to serve their own interests and remain in the news. “The Opposition parties have no policies and programmes, which became clear from their conduct in the just-concluded Vidhan Sabha session.” He appreciated the manner in which the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, showed tolerance in spite of provocation by the Opposition. Mr Chautala appealed to his party workers to help the administration in removing all encroachments, as ordered by the high court. He said the second phase of the “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programme would be launched from October 2 and all officers of the respective districts had been directed to complete the development works announced by him during the first phase of this programme. Mr Chautala said a commission to inquire into the circumstances that led to the imposition of prohibition and its withdrawal had been constituted. He urged his party workers to appear before the commission with proof so that the mafia involved in this process could be brought to book. He suggested that a cell for government employees should be constituted by the party to redress their grievances. |
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Protest by cops:
ADC submits report KAITHAL, Sept 13 — The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr Shyamal Mishra, is reported to have submitted his report to the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Mahavir Singh, regarding the events of May 25 when about 100 policemen staged a protest on the court premises against the judgement by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr N.P. Dewet, indicting a DSP and other policemen in a criminal case filed against them by a court employee few years ago. According to information, the ADC during the course of inquiry called advocates, members of the police force and court employee and also met the District and Sessions Judge, Mr C.R. Goyal, the CJM, and the SP. The Deputy Commissioner confirmed the receipt of the inquiry report but refused to divulge details claiming it to be a sensitive matter. He said he had sent the report, along with necessary recommendations, to the Home Secretary and the DGP, Haryana. According to sources, after going through various aspects of the incident, the ADC is reported to have taken strong exception to the behaviour of the policemen in uniform. However, the advocates who had lodged complaints with the police have showed their inability to identify the policemen. The incident had happened in the presence of Justice K.S. Kumaran of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who had come there to inspect the court. The District and Sessions Judge, Mr C.R. Goyal, who was sitting with Mr Justice Kumaran, came out when the police personnel were allegedly raising slogans against the judiciary. Some advocates tried to calm down the protesters. Mr Shamsher Singh, an advocate, suffered minor injuries and lodged a complaint with the police demanding action. Other advocates also condemned the incident. The state government took a serious view of the matter and some policemen were suspended by the SP, Mr Prabhat Rajan Deo. The police acting on the complaint of the advocate registered a case against about 100 “unknown” police personnel. The advocates had also sent the copies of their complaint to the District and Sessions Judge, the CJM, the Deputy Commissioner and the SP for necessary action, following which the Deputy Commissioner directed the ADC to conduct an inquiry.
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‘Sacked’ staff await reinstatement FARIDABAD, Sept 13 — Families of about 1,700 employees of the Haryana Power Corporation (Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam) whose services had been “terminated” during the previous government’s tenure are still awaiting reinstatement although almost three years have passed since then. The issue has again started flaring up as both leading employees federations have decided to take up this demand seriously in the near future. The “sacked” employees belonging to the district have decided to organise a meeting here on September 23, the date on which their termination will complete three years. The day will be observed as “black day”, according to a spokesman of the employees. He claimed that the financial position of the families of such employees had “weakened” and some of them had even reached the point of starvation. He said the families’ hopes had got revived when the present state government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala took over in July last year. The Chief Minister had announced several times that their demand would be accepted, but the process of reinstatement had not started, although the power corporation (HVPN) had the required vacancies. He said the patience level of the affected employees and their families had already been “tested” and it could result in an unhappy situation, if the state government failed to take an early decision. Leaders of the All-Haryana Power Employees Corporation Union (AHPECU) affiliated to the Sarva Karamchari Sangh, Haryana (SKS), have also criticised the “dilly-dallying” attitude of the state government in this regard. The press secretary of the union, Mr Subhash Lamba, said here that a meeting of the union would be held soon to discuss the matter. He said the issue would also come up at the proposed rally of the SKS in Rohtak. He warned that the employees would be forced to launch a statewide agitation if their demands were not met soon. It is learnt that the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh, which is the confederation of several government employees associations, has also asked the state government to accept and implement all pending demands, including the re-instatement of the “sacked” staff. |
Now, fake money orders FATEHABAD, Sept 13 — The postal department here has been duped of thousands of rupees by a swindler through fake money orders purportedly sent from various towns of Rajasthan. In fact, were it not for a vigilant postman the matter may not have come to light at all. The swindler, who operated under two names, Manish Kumar and Mohinder Singh Shekhawat, went to a local tea stall owner Subhash in the month of January this year and introduced himself as a government contractor. After a few days he told Subhash that as he had no permanent address he would like to use his postal address for money orders he received. The tea stall owner agreed. After this money orders started pouring in from Sikar, Kota and Pali towns of Rajasthan. The money orders for amounts ranging between Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 came at regular intervals and the trickster would come and collect the money from Subhash netting some 24,000 through six such money orders. On August 9, the local post office received two money orders worth Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 from Pali (Rajasthan) in the name of Mohinder Singh Shekhawat, Conductor, Rajasthan Transport Corporation. The address mentioned on the money orders was of the local Ram Sewa Samiti Dharamshala. When the postman went there to deliver the money order, the manager of the Dharamshala told him that no person of that name lived in the Dharamshala. Some minutes later a man met him and introduced himself as Mohinder Singh and inquired about his money order. The postman, while confirming the money order, refused to deliver it unless he proved his identity and asked him to collect the money order from the post office. When no one came to collect the money orders till August 28, the post office sent them back to Pali (Rajasthan) from where they had come. In the meantime, a money order for Rs 5,000 came in the name of Manish Kumar on August 28, which was delivered to Subhash as usual. But this time Manish did not turn up to collect the money. In the meanwhile the department was shocked to learn that the money orders sent back by it to Rajasthan were fake and were never issued by office. When the post office officials talked to Subhash they also began to have doubts about the money orders in the name of Manish Kumar. The postal authorities have sent telegrams to Sikar, Kota and Pali regarding the confirmation of money orders already delivered. They are still to get any response. The swindler was apparently sending fake money orders from these post offices ostensibly with the help of postal employees. A departmental probe into the case has begun here. The authorities do not rule out the possibility of the involvement of a big gang in the scam and that it may have happened at some other post offices too. |
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4 wagons of goods train
derailed AMBALA, Sept 13 — Four wagons of the goods train derailed near Dukheri, about 10 km from Ambala cantonment railway station, this evening. No one were injured in the incident. The goods train having empty rakes was coming from Bhatinda and was on way to Saharanpur on the Ambala-Saharanpur down line when the accident took place around 5 pm. A railway official said the driver of the goods train was forced to apply the brakes suddenly when a large buffalo came on the rail track. “The sudden applying of brakes led to the derailment of four wagons. While the wagon numbers 16, 17 and 18 derailed at the back, the second wagon from the engine also derailed due to the sudden braking,” he said. The official observed it was fortunate that the wagons were empty. “The goods train was travelling at a moderate speed in the section and the wagons were derailed because they were empty,” he explained. Railway traffic on the Ambala-Saharanpur down line was affected due to the derailment but the Ambala-Saharanpur up-line was functional. The Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Ashwini Kapoor, who was monitoring the situation at the spot said work is going on at war-footing to ensure the rail lines are opened as soon as possible. Already, the second wagon from the engine has been put back on rail and the remaining three wagons will also be put back on rail soon”. An official pointed out that it was buffalo had been killed in the accident. A visit to the spot revealed that work was on to put the derailed wagons back on the rail lines. Lights had been placed at strategic places to provide adequate lighting as the accident had taken place at a darkened stretch. A number of railway officers from different departments were at the spot. |
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Four personalities
honoured ROHTAK, Sept 13 — Mr Justice H.S. Bedi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday gave away Sri Baba Mastnath Foundation Award-2000 to four personalities at an Alankaran Samaroh organised by Sri Baba Mastnath Educational Institution. Mr Justice Bedi conferred the awards on Padamshri Santosh Yadav, the only woman to climb the Mount Everest twice; Mr Amar Jeet Singh, Additional Advocate General, Haryana; Dr Rajinder Karwasra, in charge Regional Cancer Centre, PGIMS, here and Mrs Usha Saini, wife of late Satya Pal Saini, Senior Staff Correspondent of Dainik Tribune, stationed in Rohtak.
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SI gets judicial
remand for taking bribe ROHTAK, Sept 13 — The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr K.K. Bali, today remanded a Sub-inspector in judicial custody till September 27 on the charge of taking a bribe of Rs 35,000 from two persons for possessing a revolver illegally. Baru Ram, a dual murder suspect, was arrested by the Sampla police on July 27. During interrogation, he revealed that he purchased a revolver from Bhagat Singh of Dichau village in Delhi and gave it to his friend, Jogender. He said Jogender was frisked by the police at a barricade in Sampla while he was coming from Delhi to Rohtak a few days ago. He said Sub-Inspector Veer Pal took the revolver and released Jogender after taking Rs 35,000 which, he alleged, was not registered in the police record. The matter was reported to Mr P.K. Agrawal, SSP, who directed the DSP (city) to conduct an inquiry. The inquiry officer reportedly recovered the amount and the revolver from the possession of Veer Pal. Veer Pal was arrested on September 10 and was sent in police remand till September 13. |
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Shortage of
funds hits public works KAITHAL, Sept 13 — The progress of several works of the Public Health Department here has been hampered allegedly due to unavailability of adequate funds and construction materials, including cement and sewer pipes. Although the department had started laying sewer lines after digging roads in some parts of the town, the shortage of materials was delaying the completion of these works, sources said. The paucity of funds has also hit the Rs 14-crore canal-based water supply scheme for the town and it is running behind schedule. The non-completion of works is posing many problems for residents. Manholes dug in some colonies are yet to be completed, causing inconvenience to road-users. Residents of the town have demanded immediate allotment of funds and construction materials to ensure speedy completion of works. |
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Road mishap
toll six SONEPAT, Sept 13 — The death toll in yesterday’s accident between a tourist bus of Punjab and an oil tanker, which occurred on the G.T. Road near Qumashpur village in the district, has risen to six. The victims include Sulakhan Singh (bus driver), Sukhvinder Singh (bus conductor), Ram Murat (tanker driver), Man Mohan Singh, Surakhsha Devi and another unidentified person. One of the injured has been shifted to a private hospital at Delhi whereas three others have been sent to the medical college hospital at Rohtak. All four injured passengers are stated to be in serious condition. The bus was on its way to Delhi from Amritsar and belonged to the Golden Star Transport Company, whereas the oil tanker belonged to the Tayal Transport Company and it was going from Panipat to Palam Airport, Delhi. Most of the 35 passengers travelling in the bus were asleep when the accident took place.
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Delay in paddy purchase criticised CHANDIGARH, Sept 13 — The Haryana Congress has criticised the delay in the purchase of paddy by government agencies in the state. In a statement issued here today the president of the party, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the INLD government which boasted to be the champion of the farmers had betrayed their cause. Mr Chautala, he said, had announced that the government agencies would purchase paddy from September 15. Believing this announcement, the farmers started harvesting their crop in right earnest and brought the produce to the mandis. However, they were told that the government agencies would enter the market from September 21. Mr Hooda said this delay of one week had left the farmers in lurch. Not only the time of the farmers was wasted but they had to sell their paddy at rates much below the minimum support price. |
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CJ to inaugurate
judicial complex YAMUNANAGAR, Sept 13 — The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr R.S. Mongia, will inaugurate a judicial complex here on September 17. Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala will preside over the function.
The government had sanctioned over Rs 3 crore for the construction of the complex which has been constructed on 11 acres.
The complex has 15 courts. |
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