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| Sunday, September 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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200 acres recovered
in anti-encroachment drive ‘Sarkar aapke dwar’ from Oct 2 Haryana to have AIDS centres New sewage treatment plant Ruchika case: women bodies plan dharna 4 criminals arrested |
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I-card drive in Sonepat begins tomorrow College Principal given ultimatum Students protest against bus fares Teacher held for exploiting girls Krishak Uphaar
Yojana cleared
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200
acres recovered in anti-encroachment drive FARIDABAD, Sept 16 — The drive against
encroachments launched by the district authorities in July appears to
have entered a crucial phase with the reported success in recovering
over 200 acres so far. This is in addition to the removal of
unauthorised constructions by house owners in residential areas,
including the urban sectors. The removal of encroachments have not
only resulted in widening of the roads but also helped in checking the
tendency of occupying public land. According to information
available, majority of the land recovered is in the rural areas. The
responsibility of removing encroachments in the urban areas lies with
the Faridabad Municipal Corporation. The corporation officials claim
that the work of demolition of unauthorised constructions in all
residential areas, including HUDA sectors, had been going on smoothly
and without any discrimination. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anand
Mohan Sharan, said the authorities had been able to recover about 200
acres, which included 183 acres in rural areas. Giving details he said
about 153 acres, which belonged to the “phirnis” had been
recovered. He added that recently about 12 acres in Anangpur, five in Lakadpur, six in Sarai Khawaja, three in Sihi and four in Pali Gothka village were recovered and handed over to the departments and institutions to which it belonged. About 42 encroachments have been removed in Hodal subdivision and a similar number was removed in other subdivisions, including Hathin and Palwal. A large number of encroachments were also removed at Ballabgarh town and its rural areas where the problem was reported to the quite acute. Encroachments were still there in some of the areas. The Deputy Commissioner said the drive was likely to continue till October-end, as 249 acres were reported to be under unauthorised occupation. Residents
in majority of the residential areas have expressed “happiness”
over the removal of illegal constructions in front of houses. However,
some individuals and organisations alleged “discrimination” in the
drive and demanded a probe into some of the cases. |
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‘Sarkar aapke dwar’ from Oct 2 FATEHABAD, Sept 16 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said here today that the state government would bring in a new era of development with the start of the second phase of “sarkar aapke dwar” programme from October 2. Mr Chautala was speaking at the inauguration of an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at village Dhodia Khera in the district today. Haryana Finance Minister, Sampat Singh, former Haryana Minister Mani Ram Godara, INLD MP from Sirsa. Sushil Indora and party legislators Lila Krishan, Nishan Singh and Jarnail Singh were also present on the occasion. Mr Chautala said after the completion of the first phase of the “sarkar aapke dwar” programme the Deputy Commissioners were asked to complete all works for which he had made the commitment to the people. He said during a recent meeting of the deputy commissioners he had asked them to complete all pending development works by October 2, failing which the government would initiate action against the erring officials. Dwellig on the new education policy recently implemented by his government, he said the new policy laid emphasis on job-oriented education. He said he was in favour of providing vocational education to students and with this objective in mind the government was setting up more and more vocational institutes. Earlier, Mrs Promilla Issar, Commissioner and Secretary, Industrial Training and Technical Education, Haryana, said the ITI had been constructed at a cost of Rs 48.33 lakh on 12 acres. She said the department had started five trades of fitter, welder, steno typist (Hindi), cutting and tailoring and embroidery at the institute. |
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Haryana to have AIDS centres KARNAL, Sept 16 — In order to bring awareness among the masses, the Haryana Government has decided to start AIDS counselling centres at each district hospital to check the spread of AIDS. This was stated by Dr ML Ranga, Health Minister, Haryana, in an interview with TNS here today. Dr Rana, who was here to inaugurate the two-day conference of chief medical officers (CMOs) of Haryana, stated that each CMO had been asked to install a separate telephone for AIDS counselling at each hospital. Dr Ranga has also asked the CMOs to launch a publicity campaign on AIDS awareness among the masses both in the urban and rural areas. Talking about the health-care activities, he stated that in order to remove blindness, compulsory eye check up was being started in schools. At least 50 per cent of the schools would be covered under the scheme while the remaining would be completed through voluntary medical agencies. Similarly, a project has been started in each district against TB. The Government of India has selected Faridabad, Gurgaon and Sonepat districts for this purpose. The Union Government would bear all expenditure on the project in these districts, Dr Ranga added. He added that under the European Commission Health-Care Programme, Karnal, Yamunanagar and Ambala City districts had been selected. Under the scheme, latest equipment and new buildings would be provided by the commission for health-promotion programmes. Even residential accommodation for the staff engaged in the programme would be provided free of cost by the commission. Under the programme, the commission has selected 21 districts in India. The Health Minister said dental surgeons would be appointed even at the primary health centre-level. For this the state Health Department would appoint 150 doctors within one week so that no centre was without a doctor. A health-care scheme has been started at Mandi Kheri (Gurgaon) with financial assistance from the Government of Oman. Dr Ranga said ESI had also become a part of the Health Department. Dr Ranga said the Haryana Government has decided to start a fully equipped trauma centre at Karnal. The centre, first of its kind in the state, would be constructed on the GT Road. He added that Rs 1.50 crore had already been received from the Union Government for the purpose. |
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New sewage
treatment plant YAMUNANAGAR: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala will dedicate a Rs 27 crore sewage treatment plant to the residents of Yamunanagar on September 17 when he inaugurates the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) for Yamunanagar and Jagadhri. The YAP was launched under the aegis of the National River Conservation Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forests, in 1993 in Haryana, Delhi and UP with the objective of reducing pollution in the Yamuna and ensuring that no untreated effluents were discharged into the river. The approved cost of the YAP for all three states is Rs 509.45 crore out of which the cost of the Haryana component is Rs 232.20 crore. Sewage treatment plants are being set up in certain main towns — Yamunanagar, Jagadhri, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Gurgaon and Faridabad — and six smaller towns — Chhachhrauli, Radaur, Indri, Gharaunda, Gohana and Palwal. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is providing a soft yen loan of 17.77 billion (Rs 401 crore) to the Government of India for the implementation of this project. The project, which was initially a joint venture of the Government of India and states, will now be 100 per cent centrally funded under the Ninth Plan. The sewage treatment plants being set up under the YAP will treat only domestic sewage of the towns covered under the project. The responsibility for the treatment of industrial waste will continue to lie with the units concerned with the Haryana Pollution Control Board taking the appropriate steps to check the discharge of harmful effluents. An expenditure of Rs 191 crore had been incurred on the project up to March 31. In the main towns covered under the project about 97 per cent of the work on sewers has been completed. Work on nine plants — Faridabad zone I, zone II and zone III, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Panipat zone I and zone II, Karnal zone II, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri zone I and zone II — has been completed. The remaining two plants are likely to be commissioned soon. In the case of the six smaller towns, work on the construction of sewage treatment plants and sewers in Gohana is under way. Work is also in progress at the other five towns. The Rs 26.98 crore scheme for Yamunanagar town was earlier administratively approved by the National River Conservation Directorate. An expenditure of Rs 22.88 crore had been incurred in Yamunanagar up to July 31. It is learnt that sewers with a total length of 16 km have been laid in the Yamunanagar-Jagadhri area. Both sewage treatment plants in Yamunanagar town are based on upflow anaerobic sludge blanket technology, which is suitable for tropical climatic conditions. Low-cost sanitation units (community toilet complexes) have been set up in Azad Nagar, the Camp area, the Chandpur area and Subzi Mandi, Yamunanagar. These will be maintained by Sulabh International for a period of 30 years. Improved wood-based crematoria have also been constructed in the town. These are eco-friendly. Bathing ghats on the banks of the Western Jamuna Canal have also been constructed here. Besides, 5,000 saplings have been planted under the YAP. |
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Ruchika case: women bodies plan dharna CHANDIGARH, Sept 16 — The CBI’s delay in filing charge sheet against the Haryana DGP, Mr S.P.S. Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case has alarmed the women organisations. The Punjab Istri Sabha yesterday faxed an appeal to the Director of the CBI in Delhi urging him to expedite the investigation into the case. “The accused in this case is present DGP, Haryana, who boasts that he can influence the case through his clout. In the meantime, he is leaving no stone unturned to harass the complainants as well as the witnesses. The basic requirement should have been to first arrest him and put him under suspension in the interest of free and fair investigation”, the appeal, signed by Ms Oshima Rikhi, president of the Istri Sabha, stated. “Everyone is eagerly awaiting justice....there is
apprehension among people that Rathore is getting the case delayed by applying dirty tactics as he wants to continue as the DGP by hook or by crook. Ruchika is no more. In the interest of justice and to give peace to the soul of the victim and to prevent repetition of such cases, we request you to finalise the case on top priority basis”, the appeal added. The Supreme Court, it may be recalled, in its order dated December 14 has asked the CBI to submit its report “preferably within six months” time. Since then eight months have passed without the CBI coming out with its findings. It is understood that procrastination by the CBI has led the women organisations, who were not directly involved in the case in its earlier stages, to take up the matter. Apart from the Punjab Istri Sabha, the Chandigarh Istri Sabha, Chetna, also a Chandigarh-based organisation, as well as some women activists have offered to support the cause, sources here said. A dharna is also being planned in front of the CBI’s office in Delhi by the women organisations. At least two influential Delhi-based women organisations have reportedly assured active support in case of sit in demonstration. Ruchika Girhotra, a 15-year-old school girl was allegedly molested by Mr S.P.S. Rathore in 1990 when he was an IGP and also the president of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association (HLTA). Ruchika, who was a member of the HLTA, was allegedly called by Mr Rathore to his office where he allegedly tried to molest her. The incident created a furore following which Mr R.R. Singh, who was the DGP at that time, was asked to conduct an enquiry. Mr R.R. Singh’s report stated that charge made against Mr Rathore was “based on true facts”. It said, “I am of the considered view that whatever Ruchika, a small girl of 15 years, has stated about her molestation by Shri Mr S.P.S. Rathore is based on true facts and I am of the opinion that a cognisable offence is made out. I would, therefore, recommend that a case under appropriate sections of the IPC be got registered on the statement of Miss Ruchika and investigated”. The report also accused Mr Rathore of organising a demonstration in his favour for which he paid the participants. Despite this adverse report no criminal case was filed against Mr Rathore who was in fact given a clean chit by the Haryana Government after some flimsy administrative proceedings. It was one Ms Madhu Prakash, whose daughter was a friend of Ruchika, who moved the court on the issue when she got hold of a copy of Mr R.R. Singh’s report. The high court ordered investigation by the CBI. Mr Rathore appealed against the decision in the Supreme Court but the appeal was turned down. Following the Supreme Court order, the Panchkula police filed a FIR against its DGP charging him of eve-teasing and molestation. Ruchika died in 1993. It was stated to be a case of suicide, though no suicide note was found on her. |
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4 criminals arrested FARIDABAD, Sept 16 — The police has arrested four members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for some looting and shooting incidents in the district. The accused were nabbed while they were planning a dacoity. According to police sources, the accused identified as Brijesh Kishore (Bihar), Prakash (Bihar), Raju, alias Yusuf, and Pratap (Chaubih Pargana, West Bengal) were arrested from a spot on the Mathura road yesterday following a raid. Two revolvers, five cartridges and two knives were recovered from them. However, one member identified as Moolan, a resident of Orissa residing in the Sarai Khawala locality here managed to escape. The arrested youths have reportedly ‘confessed’ to having shot at a factory manager and looting some lakhs of rupees cash from him. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case in connection with death of a bank manager under mysterious circumstances in NH-5 area of New Industrial Township (NIT) here yesterday. It is learnt that the body of S.K. Ramaswamy, Manager in Canara Bank, was found from his house in the locality. He was staying alone and had absented himself from his office for some days. |
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I-card drive in Sonepat begins tomorrow SONEPAT, Sept 16 — On the directive of the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, the district administration will launch a month-long campaign from September 18 to issue photo identity cards to voters of six Assembly segments, namely Baroda (R), Gohana, Kailana, Sonepat, Rai and Rohat in the district. Announcing this, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, told mediapersons here today that the step had been taken to provide one more opportunity to voters to get themselves photographed during the period. He said voters could also get their photo identity cards corrected, if required. Duplicate identity cards would also be issued to voters on filing applications to the authorities concerned, he said. The district administration would also try to find out the names of voters who were registered in more than one constituency and delete their names from voters’ lists, Mr Rajpal said. He said voters of Baroda (R) and Gohana Assembly segments would be photographed at the office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer in Gohana, whereas the voters of the Kailana Assembly constituency at the office of the SDO in Ganaur. Voters of Sonepat Assembly constituency would be photographed at the Local Election Office, whereas the voters of the Rai Assembly constituency at the Rai office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer. Voters of Rohat would be photographed at the office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer in Kharkhauda, he added. |
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College Principal given ultimatum REWARI, Sept 16 — Mrs Anita Yadav, President of the Haryana unit of the All-India Mahila Congress, yesterday gave an ultimatum to the Principal of Government College, Nahar, that if B.Com. part I girl students were not allowed to switch over to arts faculty within a week, the Mahila Congress would organise a protest rally at Nahar on September 25. She urged the Education Minister, the Director of Higher Education, Haryana, and the Vice-Chancellor of MDU, Rohtak, to immediately intervene in the matter. According to sources, girl students had sought admission to the commerce department on the assurance that if they found the course difficult they would be permitted to change over to the arts department. Mrs Yadav alleged that her repeated requests in this regard had been rejected by the Principal. |
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Students protest against bus fares SIRSA, Sept 16 — Meanwhile the dispute between students and private bus operators flared up again today with private bus operators insisting students pay full fare violating the agreement reached at a meeting in the office of the Deputy Commissioner a few days ago. Following this the students staged a dharna and blocked traffic for three hours in Ellenabad in the district and demanded immediate action against the erring bus operators. The police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the angry students. According to the students it was agreed in the meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office that students will be charged Rs 1 for the first 15 km and Rs 2 beyond that but a few private operators forced the students to pay Rs 6 triggering of the agitation. |
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Teacher held for exploiting girls SIRSA, Sept 16 — A shocking case of exploitation of minor girl students by a teacher has come to light in the district. According to information a JBT teacher, Bhagwan Dass used to take girl students to isolated rooms in the school and forced them to masturbate him. One of the girls reported the matter and the teacher was caught red-handed. He was arrested under Section 354 IPC. In an unrelated case the Kalanwali police and Ellenabad police arrested five persons under the Gambling Act. |
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Krishak Uphaar
Yojana cleared CHANDIGARH, Sept 16 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, yesterday approved the introduction of the Krishak Uphaar Yojana from October 2 for the benefit of the farming community. The scheme, to be implemented by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, will benefit farmers by Rs 1.52 crore per year. Under the scheme, farmers will be issued coupons by the market committee concerned on the production of form J issued to them by kutcha arhtiyas for the sale of produce worth Rs 5,000 or more. The number of coupons will increase with the amount of sale of produce in the denomination of Rs 5,000. A draw of lots of the coupon holders will be held every six months at the district level. In each district, for one season, there will be two first prizes, each for Rs 40,000, eight second prizes of Rs 25,000 each and 12 third prizes of Rs 10,000 each. |
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Jat samiti to launch stir from Sept 25
SONEPAT, Sept 16 — The Haryana Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti has decided to launch a movement from September 25, the birthday of the former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Devi Lal, to force the Indian National Lok Dal government, headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to grant reservation to the Jat community in government jobs in the state. This was announced by Mr Tara Chand Mor,
co-convener and spokesman of the samiti, at a press conference here today. Mr Mor further said the samiti would hold a dharna on October 2 at Rajghat in the Capital to press for its demands. |
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Justice Mongia to inaugurate complex CHANDIGARH, Sept 16 — Mr Justice R S
Mongia, a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, will inaugurate on September 17 the new judicial complex of Yamunanagar constructed at a cost of Rs 3.40 crore. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will preside over the function. An official spokesman said it was a
three-storey building and had provision for 15 court rooms. |
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