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| Saturday, September 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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CAG finds bogus units under PDS CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Ghost units figuring in ration cards is a recurring phenomenon in Haryana. The Comptroller and Auditor-General’s latest report, which reviewed the functioning of the public distribution system for the period between 1992 and 1997, found that in all years there was a huge presence of ghost units. Agencies play coy, paddy prices
drop Ajay mobilises support for Sept 25
rally Plan to boost water supply system Robbers injure 5; loot cash,
jewellery |
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Near-total bandh in
Bahadurgarh Conviction obtained in 52 labour
cases 5 polytechnics may give training
to disabled Arrangements for mela reviewed Steering panel on pulse polio Traders
resent demolition drive Illicit
liquor seized, 6 held Haryana IMA to have legal cell Plan on village panels opposed Withdraw hike in food price:
tourism staff Subsidy on effluent treatment
plants GJU postpones counselling Sunam: Chautala to campaign Graft case against registration
clerk
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CAG finds bogus units under
PDS CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Ghost units figuring in ration cards is a recurring phenomenon in Haryana. The Comptroller and Auditor-General’s latest report, which reviewed the functioning of the public distribution system (PDS) for the period between 1992 and 1997, found that in all years there was a huge presence of ghost units. During the period under audit the maximum number of bogus units — 33 lakh in excess of the population — existed in 1992-93 and the least (10 lakh bogus units) in 1998-99. The CAG said that the existence of bogus units was indicative of the fact that the Food and Supplies Department was not exercising proper checks while issuing ration cards, and allowing the “leakage” of PDS items in the open market. The CAG’s queries in this regard were not answered by the Director of the Food and Supplies Department till August, 1999, the report added. The targeted public distribution system (TPDS) for selling essential items through the PDS to families living below the poverty line (BPL) at specially subsidised rates was also erroneously implemented in the state, the report said. An audit test-check of 16,876 forms used during a special survey conducted by the state government in 1998 revealed that only 6,111 families were eligible for BPL status. The remaining families (10,765) had radio and transistor sets, etc, and did not fall within the definition of BPL families. The CAG observed that in view of incorrect identification in the case of the test-checked forms, “the genuineness of the BPL families covered under the TPDS category could not be relied upon”. Another perennial problem of the PDS in Haryana, seemingly, was the phenomenon of low lifting of grains. Lifting of wheat and rice remained 6 per cent to 77 per cent and 8 per cent to 59 per cent, respectively, of the allocated quantities during the 1992-98 period, the report said. The lowest lifting of wheat was in 1994-95, when only 6 per cent of the amount allocated by the Union Government was lifted and distributed. The lowest lifting of rice, too, was in the same year as only 8 per cent of the allocated amount was lifted. For the RPDS (revamped public distribution system), the CAG observed, “the department never lifted the full quantity of grains allocated despite the fact that the quantity of grains requisitioned was very high compared to the allocation”. Neither the Director nor the Commissioner of the Food and Supplies Department gave any reasons for the low lifting despite being repeatedly asked on this score, the CAG’s report noted. Also, 34 per cent of the BPL families did not get the benefit of subsidised grains in 1998-99, though allocations were available, the report stated. The issue of levy sugar and kerosene under the PDS also came in for criticism from the CAG. It stated that in 1993 the state government arbitrarily decided that income tax assessees would not be given levy sugar, though no such provision existed under the PDS scheme. Moreover, the state government continued to draw the quota of levy sugar of the income tax assessees as well and distributed enhanced quantities among other consumers. It added that during a test-check of the records of Ambala, Faridabad, Panchkula and Sonepat districts, it was found that 10,266 ration card holders stamped as income tax assessees were denied levy sugar valued at Rs 63.69 lakh under the PDS during April, 1995, to March, 1999, and the sugar was distributed among other beneficiaries. The kerosene given to bogus ration card holders was worth Rs 29 crore during 1997-98, the CAG’s report stated. The ORG-MARG survey,
commissioned by the CAG, also found that most consumers
were unhappy about various aspects of fair price shops.
It was found that ration shops were opened irregularly
and infrequently. Besides stocks of rice, wheat and
edible oil were rarely available. |
Agencies play coy, paddy prices
drop LADWA, Sept 22 — Government procurement agencies entered the markets in Haryana yesterday to begin paddy procurement. In Ladwa, which is the biggest market in Asia for paddy procurement, the arrivals of paddy were 15000 quintals according to Mr Ved Parkash Singhla — president of the Ladwa Grain Merchants Association. The Hafed, which is the main procuring agency here, bought just 2500 quintals of paddy out of the total arrivals. The F.C.I. the major procuring agency here, did not buy a single bag. In Haryana, the government has fixed the days on which particular agencies will procure paddy from different markets in the state. Apart from the purchase by Hafed in Ladwa, the remainder of the paddy was purchased by millers. The government support price for I.R.-8 (common) variety has been fixed at Rs 510/- per quintal while for the fine variety it is Rs 540/- per quintal. While the paddy purchased by Hafed at Ladwa was at the minimum support price that purchased by rice millers was at price lower than the support price. Mr Iqbal Singh, a farmer maintained that if the government agencies did not buy bulk of the paddy, the prices are likely to crash following more arrivals.Mr Ved Parkash Singla also felt that the state agencies and the F.C.I. should enter the market in a big way to make bulk purchases so that the prices did not crash when arrivals reached their peak. In the Kurukshetra market, the paddy arrival was between 17000 to 18000 quintals.The D.F.S.C., which is the main procuring agency here, purchased between 25 to 30 per cent of arrivals. Here also the rest of the paddy was purchased by the rice millers at prices below the support price. The attitude of the government agencies here too was lukewarm. In Shahbad market, the paddy arrival was 10000 quintals yesterday. Here also Hafed bought only between 20 to 30 per cent of the total arrivals. In Indri, the arrivals were 3000 quintals. Although the farmers agreed that the support price was fair they were apprehensive that once more arrivals started the government agencies would not buy the bulk of it and farmers would suffer. There was no problem of
“bardana” in the markets visited by this
correspondent. Traders maintained that arrivals would
reach their peak in a week or so. The Haryana Rice
Millers Association will not make any purchases today as
a symbolic hartal against the procurement policy of the
government and the prices of levy rice. |
Ajay mobilises support for
Sept 25 rally FATEHABAD, Sept 22 — The Indian National Lok Dal MP, Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, said here today that the state government would follow the directions to be given by former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal on his 87th birthday celebrations at Sonepat on September 25. He was addressing party workers at the local Shri Ram Sewa Samity Dharamshala today. He was accompanied by the party MLAs Mr Nishan Singh, Lila Krishan and Mr Jarnail Singh. The workers’ meeting was organised to mobilise support for the September 25 rally. The INLD leader said when his father Mr Om Parkash Chautala took over as Chief Minister 13 months ago, his predecessor had left the state coffers empty. Despite this shortcoming, the Chief Minister not only managed the state affairs immaculately but also visited all 90 Assembly constituencies in the state and redressed peoples’ grievances at their doorsteps. Mr Ajay Singh Chautala said till the time Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister of Haryana, nothing had been done for the development of the state and all sections of society, were fed up with the style of functioning of the former Chief Minister. The youth leader said ever since his father has come to power all 36 “biradaries” had been getting their due from the government. The MP castigated the opposition parties, in the state and said neither the Congress nor the HVP had any programme, policy or leadership. The opposition parties, he said, had made a one-point programme of criticising the state government. He called upon the people, specially the senior citizens to reach Sonepat on September 25 to felicitate Ch Devi Lal on his 87th birthday which the INLD is celebrating as “Vridh Samman Diwas”. Earlier, Mr Ajay Singh
Chautala, visited the drug deaddiction medical camp
organised, by the police-public forum Prayas at the local
Raghunath Dharamshala. |
Plan to boost water supply
system FATEHABAD, Sept 22 — The Public Health Department has spent Rs 2.5 crore on the construction of new waterworks, boosting stations, repair of existing waterworks, construction of RCC channels in waterworks and laying of pipelines at different villages in the district. The projects will cost an additional Rs 6 crore. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, the projects had been undertaken in compliance with the announcements made by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, during his visit here under the “sarkar aapke dwar” programme. Mr Malik said work on the construction of nine waterworks one boosting station repair of two waterworks and laying of pipelines in three villages had already been completed. He said expansion work of the water distribution system was in progress in the urban areas of Fatehabad, Tohana and Rattia, added that Rs 70 lakh had already been spent on these projects and Rs 2.50 crore more would be spent on the projects. He claimed that after the completion of the projects, the supply of drinking water in the towns would improve. Mr Malik further said
the water supply in 26 villages of the district had been
increased from 40 litre per capita to 70 litre per
capita. He claimed that of the 241 villages in the
district, the water supply had been augmented to 70 litre
per capita in 106 villages. |
Robbers injure 5; loot cash,
jewellery FARIDABAD, Sept 22 — Panic gripped some parts of Ballabhgarh town after a gang of robbers reportedly struck at some houses last night. At least five persons, including a woman, were injured after they were allegedly beaten up by the robbers who also decamped with cash and valuables worth several thousand rupees. According to reports some armed robbers entered a house at Uncha Gaon in Ballabhgarh town at about 3 a.m. today and started beating the inmates of the house with iron rods. Vijay Singh, his wife, Rani and two of their tenants, identified as Ramesh and Ram Sagar, were injured. The robbers allegedly fled after taking cash worth Rs 6,000 and jewellery and ornaments worth Rs 20,000. All injured persons have been admitted to the local government hospital. The gang also struck at
another house in Adarsh Nagar in Ballabhgarh and
seriously injured the owner. A case under Sections 459
and 380 of the IPC has registered. |
Near-total bandh in
Bahadurgarh JHAJJAR, Sept 22 — A near-total bandh was observed in Bahadurgarh today. The call for the bandh was given by the Zila Nirman Sarv Vargia Sangarsh Samiti in support of their demand to create a new district of Bahadurgarh. The samiti spokesman, advocate, Rahul Dev, said the bandh was fully supported by all communities of the town particularly the traders. All shops and other trading centres except medical stores were closed for the day. Main markets of the town, including Rohtak Road, Railway Road, and Main Bazar, wore a deserted look. School and colleges were also closed following a strike by students. Earlier, a procession
was also taken out by the samiti and a memorandum of
their demand was handed over to the local MLA, Mr Nafe
Singh Rathee. Extending full support to the samiti, the
MLA assured that he will take up the matter with the
Chief Minister. He requested the members of the Bar
Association and samiti to call off their strike and
agitation. Taking note of the MLA’s assurance the
samiti suspended its agitation till November 1. |
Traders resent demolition drive FARIDABAD, Sept 22 — Shopkeepers and traders of the NH-5 area of new industrial township (NIT) kept their shops and establishments closed for the second day today in protest against ‘demolition” of encroachments by the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF). Several shops, kiosks rehris and constructions which were allegedly made on the encroached land had been demolished by the corporation in the past few days. The MLA from the NIT area, Mr Chander Bhatia, and some political leaders also ‘intervened’ in the matter, but the MCF authorities had decided to continue its drive. The authorities had announced that if the shopkeepers failed to remove the encroachment themselves within 10 days, the MCF would be forced to take strict action. According to some local residents, many shopkeepers had encroached upon several feet in front of their shops leaving almost no parking space and for movement of traffic in majority of markets, including the NH-1, the NH-2, the NH-3, The NH-4 and the NH-5 which is having a population of about four lakh. The protesting shopkeepers had alleged that the authorities had been functioning in an ‘autocratic manner’ and had not given them adequate time to listen to their point of view. They claimed that all shops and commercial establishments had not ‘encroached’ upon public land, but the administration had not been acting in a proper manner. A delegation of the shopkeepers met senior officials and sought time to solve the problem amicably. Meanwhile, the rubble has been lying on main roads at some places causing inconvenience in flow of traffic. MCF officials have
already demolished illegal construction on the green belt
of the National Highway — (Mathura Road, Sarai, old
Faridabad, Railway Road, Neelam Chowk, Bata Chowk,
removing over 250 shops, 90 kiosks, 30 fences (grills)
and about 200 jhuggis in the past one week. |
Conviction obtained in 52 labour
cases CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana Labour Department today claimed to have conducted 620 inspections, launched 33 prosecutions and obtained conviction in 52 cases for the effective implementation and enforcement of various labour laws during the second fortnight of August. A spokesman for the department said Rs 1,70,455 was realised by way of fine imposed by various courts. A sum of Rs 2.30 lakh had been recovered from various industrial establishments on account of unpaid accumulation of wages. He added that expenses
of Rs 61,804 had been incurred by the department on the
training programme. |
5 polytechnics may give training to
disabled CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today identified five polytechnics in the state for upgradation in such a manner as to provide technical education and training to disabled persons. An official spokesman said the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development had asked the state government to identify five polytechnics for inclusion in the list of 50 polytechnics in the country where the scheme for the disabled was being implemented. The polytechnics identified are the Government Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hisar, Government Polytechnic, Sirsa, Government Polytechnic, Nilokheri, the Government Polytechnic for Women, Sirsa, and BPS Mahila Polytechnic, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat district). The state government had
prepared the project reports of these institutions for
submission to the Union Government for its final
approval. |
Arrangements for mela reviewed YAMUNANAGAR, Sept 22 — A meeting of the officers of the district administration was held at the mini secretariat here yesterday in connection with the organising of the Kapal Mochan mela.Presiding over the meeting the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajeev Sharma, directed all officers to make arrangements for providing all facilities to the pilgrims. He directed the Naib Tehsildar and the BDPO, Bilaspur, to complete the work regarding the acquisition of land so that the land owners could be informed in time. He directed the Civil Surgeon here to appoint sweepers for the mela area as per the requirements. The Deputy Commissioner asked the Executive Engineer, Public Health Department, Naraingarh, to arrange drinking water for the pilgrims. He issued directions regarding the filling of sarovars after their cleaning work was completed. The Public Works
Department was directed to repair the link roads.Mr
Rajeev Sharma also asked the SP to depute sufficient
police force in the mela area to maintain law and order. |
Steering panel on pulse polio CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana Government today constituted a state pulse polio steering committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan. The other members of the
panel are the Financial Commissioners and Secretaries of
the Finance Department, the Education Department, the
Development and Panchayats Department and the Social
Welfare and Women and Child Development Departments; the
Commissioners and Secreta-ries of the Agriculture,
Transport and Sports Departments, the Director, Public
Relations Department; the Director-General Health
Services; the Secretary, Red Cross; and the Presidents of
the Rotary Club, the Lions Club and the I.M.A. The
Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Health Department,
will be the member-secretary of the committee. |
Illicit liquor seized, 6 held FARIDABAD, Sept 22 — The police has seized over 3,000 pouches of illicit liquor and arrested six persons in three separate incidents in the district. According to police sources, about 3,000 pouches of liquor were seized from a Tata Sumo intercepted near Chhainsa village. Three persons, Suresh, Rambir and Jai Kishan, were arrested on the charge of liquor smuggling. The police has also
arrested two persons, Attar Singh and Babu Ram, from
Sector-7 and seized 145 pouches of illicit liquor from
their possession. In another case, Moolchand of Khambi
village was arrested while trying to smuggle 28 pouches
of liquor. |
Haryana IMA to have legal cell AMBALA, Sept 22 — “We are planning to set up a legal cell which is going to be of assistance to both doctors as well as patients,” the newly-elected president of the Haryana unit of the Indian Medical Association, (IMA) Dr D.S. Jaspal said here today. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Jaspal, said since the time the Consumer Protection Act has come into being, in many cases doctors against whom case has been filed by patient, had been forced to spend sleepless nights despite the fact that they were not at fault. He said doctors were not
fully aware of the various laws and they were being
forced to pay hefty fees to the advocates. “With the
formation of the legal cell which will be similar in
pattern to the legal cell set up by the Kerala unit of
the IMA, free legal advice will be given to IMA
members,” he said. The legal cell would consist of
retired judges, legal luminaries and doctors. |
Plan on village panels
opposed CHANDIGARH Sept 22 — A former president of the Haryana Congress, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, has opposed the proposal of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to set up village committees to undertake development works up to a cost of Rs 50 lakh. In a statement issued here today, Mr Surjewala said Mr Chautala’s scheme was “a clever move to sideline and frustrate the working of the panchayati raj institutions, especially gram panchayats, in order to swindle public money through his own henchmen.” Referring to the elucidation of the scheme by Mr Chautala in a statement made in Hisar, Mr Surjewala said if the proposed village committees, comprising seven to 11 members, were to undertake activities such as the construction and repair of veterinary hospitals, chaupals for backward classes and other public buildings in villages, then what would be the functions of the gram panchayats. The Congress leader said this brainchild of Mr Chautala “smacks of his semi-feudal mentality which will do irreparable damage to the democratically elected villages bodies set up under the constitutional provisions to give representation to all sections of society, including the Scheduled Castes, the backward classes and women.” He alleged that Mr Chautala’s motive behind setting up the village committees was to instal his own “henchmen”, activists of the INLD who did not have the backing of the rural population, and thus to take away the democratic rights of the common man. Mr Surjewala said the
Congress and the Haryana Krishak Samaj, which he headed
would oppose this “malicious” move of Mr
Chautala. Warning Mr Chautala against the move, Mr
Surjewala urged him to desist from taking such a step
which would violate the spirit of the Constitution. |
Withdraw hike in food price:
tourism staff PANCHKULA, Sept 22 — The Haryana Tourism Karamchari Sangh today opposed the decision of the management of the State Tourism Corporation to raise the charges of the food served to the employees on duty. In a joint statement issued here today, the President of the Panchkula district unit of the sangh, Mr Dhan Singh, the Secretary, Mr Jai Lal Jagta, and the state unit general secretary, Mr Rajinder Saroha, said the employees of the corporation had been forced to eat outside because the management had raised the charges of the food served to Class IV employees. They alleged that the bureaucracy had raised the charges to accommodate their own relatives and small-time politicians. The poor employees, they said, had been unnecessarily burdened. The sangh leaders said if the management did not withdraw the hike, the employees would launch a statewide agitation. Mr Saroha said a delegation of the sangh would meet the Managing Director of the corporation in this connection on September 26. They also demanded
security for the tourism employees when they returned
from duty at mid-night. |
Subsidy on effluent treatment
plants CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has earmarked Rs 35 lakh to provide subsidy for the setting up of sewage treatment plants, common effluent treatment plants and hazardous waste disposal systems during the current financial year. A spokesman for the board said the subsidy would be 25 per cent of the cost of the project with a maximum of Rs 10 lakh, whichever was less, provided the remaining amount was arranged by the promoter or the local body or the department concerned. He said the board had also earmarked Rs 11 lakh to strengthen its monitoring network. The board would also
conduct pollution load assessment studies in the state.
Apart from this, the awareness programme would be
upgraded, for which an additional amount of Rs 4 lakh had
been earmarked for the current financial year. He said a
public awareness cell had been set up at the
headquarters. |
GJU postpones counselling CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, has postponed counselling for engineering colleges scheduled for tomorrow. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Mr R.K. Chauhan, said a decision to this effect had been taken in view of the possibility of an increase of 300 seats in engineering and information technology courses. He said the north-west unit of the All-India Board of Technical Education held a meeting today at which certain decisions were taken which could lead to an increase in the number of seats in engineering institutions. Mr Chauhan said 1,020
seats were recently increased in various engineering
colleges to widen the scope of technical education. |
Sunam: Chautala to campaign CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will campaign for three days in favour of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, in the Sunam assembly constituency where a byelection is scheduled to be held on September 29. Mr Chautala will address public meetings at Ubhawal, Duggan, Namol, Dharamgarh, Ganiduan, Gopal Nagar, Sunam and Indra Basti on September 24. He will also address
rallies at Daska, Kanakwal, Bhanguan, Jahepal, Cheema,
Sheroan and Sunam town on September 26 and again in Sunam
town on September 27. |
Graft case against
registration clerk CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau yesterday claimed to have nabbed Jagdish Garg, registration clerk at Dhand sub-tehsil in Kaithal district, while allegedly taking illegal gratification of Rs 500 for the registration of a plot and shop in Bhat Colony. An official spokesman
said a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act had
been registered against the suspect at the bureau police
station at Ambala. |
Jagadguru calls on CM CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Jagadguru Shakracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peeth Jayendra Saraswati made a courtesy call on the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here last evening. The Jagadguru blessed Mr Chautala and enquired about the well-being of members of his family. The Jagadguru was on his
way back from Leh, where he took a dip in the sacred
Indus river. He also paid obeisance at the Mata Mansa
Devi shrine at Panchkula. |
Seminar on tourism on Sept 23 CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Kurukshetra University's Department of Tourism will organise a seminar on "Tourism and International Understanding" on September 23 at the university auditorium to celebrate its 10th anniversary. A spokesman for the
department said Mr Herbert Traxi, Ambassador of Austria,
would be the chief guest, while Mr Inder Sharma would be
the key speaker. |
2 water channels to be closed
for repairs CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Haryana Government today notified that the Barwala branch of the Irrigation Department would remain closed for modernisation work under the Water Resources Consolidation Project from October 15 to 30. An official spokesman
said the Fatehabad branch would also remain closed during
the same period for carrying out restoration and
construction work. |
Medical officers’course
concludes CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The three-day in-service oriental course for medical officers from seven J.E. endemic districts of Haryana concluded today. The doctors had
deliberated on the control and management of Japanese
encephalitis known as brain fever. |
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