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| Friday, October 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Miners rule protected forest area Vehicle fitness certificates on
sale! HKS rejects relief
package Ban on UP paddy
ineffective Chautala: foreign trip a success |
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Science teachers seek
practical allowance Major’s services recalled DTP office
blamed for illegal colonies Demonstration
over water shortage Youth rescued
after 4 hours Youth crushed
to death Bid to free
accused foiled, 2 arrested Businessman
shot dead 6 injured in clash Central team visits
grain markets Electoral rolls to be
available to public Board for curbs on crackers Food advisory panel
constituted
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Miners rule protected forest area MANDHNA (Morni Hills), Oct 19 — Two Haryana Forest Department employees, a block officer and a guard, received injuries after being beaten up by employees of contractors engaged in alleged ``illegal’’ mining in the Ghaggar river bed which has reportedly widened the river bed from 80 feet to 300 feet. The two, Mr Narender Singh and Mr Jai Bhagwan, said the incident took place when they tried to stop mining in the reserved forest area of the river bed which stretches for over three kms and runs along the Mandhna village. An FIR has been registered in this regard. They said mining in the protected forest area is prohibited but the contractors mining in the river bed are usurping the forest land as well as cultivable village land along the river bed. “They have picked up stones and boulders in the bed and have even dug up earth along the fields. Yesterday we tried to stop them from trespassing and they got together to attack us. One hit me with a stone on my head and the others beat up Mr Narender. We were unarmed and helpless,’’ Mr Bhagwan informed. The officials in the Forest Department, Haryana, said that the illegal mining in the protected forest area had lowered the water level considerably and widened the river bed, the width varying between 200 and 300 feet at different points. “In the guise of contractors, some private parties have also been held for quarrying in the river bed. Also, any attempt to demarcate the protected forest area has been defeated with violators crossing over to our side to dig up earth at night. However, we will undertake the same again following the incident,’’ an official said. The mining business has not gone down with the villagers as well. They contend that though the river bed in their belt has been auctioned, in the absence of any demarcation, the contractors have started eating into the village land and cultivable land has become barren gradually. Ruing the sad state of affairs, Maggu Ram says that the Administration has time and again been informed of the illegal mining activity going on near the village. “They continue to flout all regulations laid down in their contract with impunity. We have never tried to stop them since we are absolutely no match to the power they wield. We restrict our actions to giving complaints which have never borne any results,’’ he claims. The paddy fields in the village have been replaced by pebble-dotted craters and pits all over the cultivable land. The trolleys and trucks operating in the area have made pathways to reach the river bed. “We have loaded as many as 45 trucks of earth today and have been here for the last three days. We have no idea whether lifting of earth along the edge of the rivers is legal or not. We have been assigned the work and we are carrying it out,’’ informed the operator of a JCB digging earth along the bank of the river bed. |
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Vehicle fitness certificates on
sale! HISAR, Oct 19 — With certificates of fitness for public transport vehicles up for “sale”, Haryana’s highways are crammed with vehicles whose roadworthiness is suspect. These vehicles claim hundreds of lives every year in road mishaps caused by mechanical failure. Inquiries by The Tribune reveal that the issuance of certificates of fitness to buses, trucks, taxis and autorickshaws under the Motor Vehicles Act has been reduced over the years to an exercise in making easy money. These certificates are issued annually. Under the rules, such certificates testifying to the roadworthiness of the vehicle concerned are to be issued after stringent checks. However, the certificates are being issued for a price without physical checks on the vehicle. Even Haryana Roadways buses are issued these certificates without a mandatory annual check of their roadworthiness. Likewise, certificates of fitness are issued to private public transport vehicles. The owners pay the nominal annual fee plus a hefty bribe to get the certificates. This ensures that they do not have to spend money on maintaining the vehicle to keep it roadworthy. The Motor Vehicles Act specifies that every public transport vehicle should be produced before the Motor Vehicles Inspector once a year who will thoroughly check the vehicle for its roadworthiness before issuing a certificate of fitness. Under the rules, the vehicle should be free from all mechanical defects and must have all the mandatory fittings like rear view mirrors for example for public safety. Inquiries reveal that hardly any vehicle is produced before the MVI for the purpose. The owners only fill the necessary forms pay the fee and the bribe and obtain the certificates. That is what makes the post of the MVI highly prized. It is learnt that the posting is generally given to a favourite by the political top brass. The “reward” of such a posting runs into lakhs of rupees a month. Usually, Haryana Roadways foremen bag the prized post before their retirement. There have been cases where such vehicles met with accidents in other states hundreds of kilometres away on the day these were supposedly checked in Haryana by the MVI and issued a certificate of fitness. Old hands in the Transport Department recall that till the seventies, every vehicle was overhauled, painted afresh and given an entirely new look by the owners before producing it before the MVI. The state transport vehicles were too similarly propped up. However, over the years, the exercise has been reduced to an eyewash at the cost of public safety. They say that an employee of the Haryana Roadways carries the papers of several buses at a time to the MVI’s offices where certificates of fitness are routinely issued without a look at the buses which generally become decrepit within a year of their induction in the fleet. Though no bribes are paid for the service by the roadways authorities, the ritual compromises severely on public safety and comfort. In addition, the average life span of the costly vehicles is reduced. The fee for a certificate of fitness is Rs 150 for a heavy vehicle, Rs 100 for a medium vehicle and Rs 50 for a light transport vehicle. It is learnt that the current rates of the “unofficial fee” are Rs 1500, Rs 1000 and Rs 500 over and above the prescribed fee. Besides, you could also be handed over a receipt for Rs 500 as donation for the Haryana Olympic Association or the Red Cross. Lawyers say the Motor Vehicles Act provides for stringent annual checks on public transport vehicles to ensure that the public travels in comfort and that these vehicles do not endanger public safety due to a lack of proper maintenance. If the provisions of the Act were implemented fully, the number of road accidents would come down sharply. General insurance companies agree with them. A senior executive said if certificates of fitness were issued as per rules, road travel would become much safer than anyone can imagine. They say half of all road accidents are caused by
mechanical failures which generally do not reflect in police records. Inquiries reveal that most of the public transport vehicles are purchased on loans. The owners neglect maintenance of the vehicles in order to pay the instalments to the financier and earn sufficient profits. The neglect ultimately leads to mishaps on the road. They, nevertheless, get away with it because certificates of fitness are up for sale. General insurance company officials say that poorly maintained trucks account for 30 to 40 per cent of all road accidents involving this category of vehicles. They say that due to overloading the trucks tend to become decrepit very soon. However, these continue to ply on purchased certificates of roadworthiness. |
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HKS rejects relief
package FATEHABAD, Oct 19 — The Haryana Krishak Samaj (HKS) has rejected the proposed relief package to Haryana by the Central Government for the state’s paddy growers, terming it as a fraud on the farmers. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, a Congress MP and President of the HKS, said the farmers of Haryana simply wanted that their paddy was purchased at a price recommended by the Central Government and they had never demanded a relief package which, he said, was only an effort to “blindfold” the farmers. Mr Surjewala said eversince the NDA government had come to power at the Centre, there had been a drift from the pro-farmer policies of the Congress under which all grain brought to the mandis by the farmers was purchased by procurement agencies without going in to the varieties. Mr Surjewala alleged though the Central Government had categorised the paddy into two varieties, A and common, and announced MSP at Rs 540 and Rs 510, respectively, the fact was that the agencies were outrightly rejecting all “common” paddy being brought to the markets. He alleged the procurement agencies were rejecting the paddy on various excuses by terming is as “shrivelled, discoloured, green, broken, immature or exceeding the moisture content.” There was no scientific basis behind the rejection. The agencies, he said, were working on a go-slow plan. Mr Surjewala held the Central Government responsible for the problem of buffer stock of grains and said this was due to the withdrawal of subsidies on the PDS wheat supplied to the poor. He said the Central Government was befooling the farmers by announcing a package for the farmers while there was no explanation as to how this money would be distributed among the farmers or how the package amount had been calculated. He emphasised the farmers did not want a package, but merely that their paddy be purchased in accordance with the MSP. Mr Surjewala came down heavily on the Haryana Government which, he said, had failed on almost all fronts. He alleged law and order in the state was in a shambles. Heinous crimes were on the rise. Incidents of jail break had been reported and the authorities had allegedly connived in these. The INLD government, he alleged, was trying to gag its opponents by implicating young leaders of Opposition parties in criminal cases. He cited the examples of Mr Teji Mann, Mr Nirmal Singh, Mr Kitab Singh Malik, Mr Karan Singh Dalal and his own son, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala. He alleged that corruption was rampant in Haryana and only “pliable” officers were being posted on key posts. Mr Surjewala alleged trade and industry in the state was in low due to imposition of heavy taxes and shortage of power. He ridiculed the business tour of the Chief Minister and said that while the state government had not been able to provide proper atmosphere to its existing industry, the Chief Minister was talking of inviting foreign investors. |
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Ban on UP paddy
ineffective FARIDABAD, Oct 19 — The district administration seems to be caught in a difficult situation over the implementation of the ban imposed on paddy arrivals from the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh by the state government a few days ago. The step had been taken to ensure proper paddy procurement brought by farmers of the state to various mandis and to stop the distress sale of the produce as alleged by farmers. It is reported that while the ban continues on records, the fact is that farmers from UP are still bringing their produce to various mandis in the district. Tension mounted when the Haryana police set up barriers and tried to stop the UP farmers from crossing over in the past two days. It is learnt 200 tractor-trailers which were stopped at the border near Palwal on National Highway No. 2, hindered traffic on the road for several hours. While the district authorities deny any lathi charge on the farmers, it is alleged that the police had to cane-charge the protesters in order to push them back and clear the traffic jam on Tuesday. According to information, a similar situation developed yesterday but after a meeting of senior officials of the district and the UP authorities, the farmers were allowed to enter Haryana. About 500 quintals of paddy from UP was procured at Hodal mandi alone on Wednesday while the arrivals from UP on Monday and Tuesday were over 20,000 quintals. While the authorities are reported to be thinking of taking strict measures to effect the ban, arhtiyas and traders in mandis like Hodal, Hassanpur and Palwal are ‘unhappy’ over the ban. They are worried over the advance payment made by them to UP farmers for bringing their paddy here. According to an agent at Hodal, an amount of over a crore could be pending at this mandi alone where about 90 per cent of the total arrivals was from UP in the past few years. According to information, 90 and 50 per cent of the paddy arrivals at
Hassanpur and Palwal have been from the UP. The police, on the other hand, is reported to be finding it difficult to man every possible point of entry to the district. Although the police has been deputed at main points, there are several link roads which are used by the farmers from UP to bring their produce in the mandis here. The total procurement in the district so far has reached 7,000 metric tonnes of which about 400 tonnes have been purchased by various government agencies. This is about 260 tonnes more than that in the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile, a former minister and MLA from Palwal, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, and his supporters today staged a dharna at Ballabgarh in protest against the difficulties being faced by farmers in selling their produce. Demanding a proper package on the pattern of Punjab, he criticised the Chief Minister for conducting a foreign tour when farmers of the state were facing problems. |
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Chautala: foreign trip a success KURUKSHETRA, Oct 19 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who returned from his tour of south-east Asian countries, including Singapore, Japan and Korea, last evening, said it was for the first time in the history of Haryana that government procurement agencies had procured 57 per cent of the paddy which had arrived in mandis in a single season as against the earlier procurement of 9 per cent. The Chief Minister was talking to mediapersons shortly before redressing grievances of the people of the area at a sarkar aapke dwar programme at Pipli Rest House, near Kurukshetra, today. To a question on the issue of paddy procurement, Mr Chautala said instead of raising hue and cry, opposition leaders should first apprise themselves of the factual position. He said he was grateful to the Union Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, for treating farmers of Haryana on a par with those of Punjab while deciding the relief package for damaged paddy. Mr Chautala said he would meet the Governor, Babu Parmanand, to apprise him of the achievements of his foreign visit and then inform his Cabinet colleagues before making it public. He described his trip as highly successful, saying that its purpose had been fulfilled. Mr Chautala said the interests of the farmers were safe in his hands and he would not allow any injustice to them. To another question, Mr Chautala said jobs were being given on merit and not sold as was the practice with the previous government. He said the recent recruitment of police personnel and teachers was ample proof of this fact. The vacancies meant for reserved categories had been filled with deserving candidates of these categories. In case the candidates of the reserved categories were not available these had been kept vacant and not filled with candidates of the general category. Mr Chautala redressed grievances of a large number of people of the area. He was accompanied by the Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Kumar, and the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu. |
Science teachers seek
practical allowance AMBALA, Oct 19 — Science teachers working in government and government-aided schools in the state have demanded practical allowance on the pattern of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The Haryana Vigyan Adhyapak Sangthan in a memorandum to Chief Minister has urged to provide them 10 per cent of the salary as practical allowance. The memorandum stated that the science teachers had to work more than other teachers. Since there is no arrangement of laboratory assistants in most of the schools, science teachers have to look after the maintenance of the laboratories and equipment. They demanded that they should be allowed to upgrade their academic qualifications and the post of science teacher should be declared technical post and the prescribed facilities should be provided to them. The president of the Haryana Science Teachers’ Association, Mr Devender Gautam and the organising secretary, Mr Mahender Bhatnagar, said that the Chief Minister was keen to develop science and technology especially the information technology in the state and it would be possible only if the government encouraged science education and the persons teaching science subjects. |
Major’s services recalled AMBALA, Oct 19 — The first death anniversary of Major Gurpreet Singh, who attained martyrdom in the valley, was observed here today. Floral tributes were paid at the memorial built in the memory of Major Gurpreet Singh at Tepla village, on the Jagadhari road. Among others, wreaths were laid on behalf of Chief of the Army Staff, Army Commander, Western Command, Colonel of the Dogra Regiment, Corp Commander, Commander of 1 Arty Brigade and CO of 110 Medium Arty Regiment at the function which was held in the morning. Senior Army officers were present on the occasion, a family member said. Col Inder Singh (Retd), father of late Major Gurpreet Singh, said the basic structure of the memorial is complete and only finishing touches needs to be given, which will be done within a fortnight. “The Haryana Government as fulfilled all its promises, which were made on my son’s martyrdom,” he said. |
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DTP office
blamed for illegal colonies PANIPAT, Oct 19 — A member of the District Grievances Committee, Panipat, Chaudhary Amar Singh Jauhri, today alleged violation of the Haryana Land Development and Regulation Urban Area Act. He said unauthorised construction in unapproved colonies was going on due to the indifferent attitude of the District Town Planner’s office, despite the Chief Minister’s directions and Deputy Commissioner’s instructions to the contrary. Mr Jauhri alleged that the DTP office had taken no action on unauthorised construction in Hari Singh Chawla Colony and other colonies coming up on agriculture land. The fact that the District Town Planner (DTP) had been transferred and no officiating or regular DTP appointed had encouraged the encroachers. Mr Jauhri pointed out that the DTP office was working without any check and not a single industrial unit had come up as per the sanctioned plan under the jurisdiction of the DTP office in the town’s industrial belts. He criticised the district administration which had assigned the DTP office the additional job of issuing a no-objection certificate for each plan submitted to the Nagar Parishad. A number of factories were not conforming to the by-laws as the staff of the DTP office was reported to be hand in glove with them. Development charges were either underassessed or were not even recovered. Around 30 plans submitted by citizens of Panipat were reportedly pending for want of no-objection certificate from the DTP office, Mr Jauhri alleged. |
Demonstration
over water shortage FARIDABAD, Oct 19 — Hundreds of residents of Jawahar Colony and nearby areas held a demonstration outside the office of Commissioner of Municipal Corporation here today against the shortage of water supply. The demonstrators which included several women raised slogans and demanded adequate supply of drinking water in the colony, especially ward No. five and six of the locality. They also gheraoed the Municipal Corporator of area and MLA of NIT region, who reportedly assured them of a suitable action soon. Pressure of water supply is reported to be low in several other parts including Sector 16, and 19. |
Youth rescued
after 4 hours FARIDABAD, Oct 19 — A youth who got buried alive while working in a well at a village near Hathin was rescued after four hours with the help of the police and local residents today. According to information, Aslaf (25) was working with three others in the well at the time of the incident. He was helping a mason in plastering the sides of the well which was recently dug. A huge mass of earth caved in suddenly and the youth got buried under it. |
Youth
crushed to death ROHTAK, Oct 19 — A youth was crushed to death by a Haryana Roadways bus here today. According to sources, Pawan of Kamla Nagar locality here died on the spot when he was run over by a bus (HR 46-6719). In a separate incident, a 75-year-old man succumbed to his injuries when a Tata (407) vehicle hit the autorickshaw carrying him near Model School here last evening. The deceased has been identified as Hukam Chand of Sonepat. In another incident, unidentified robbers stole a Maruti (DL-36-0751) near Bhalaut village today. |
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Bid to free
accused foiled, 2 arrested ROHTAK, Oct 19 — Six accomplices of a murder accused opened fire in the sessions court complex yesterday to free him. The assailants also shot at police but missed the target. The police chased them and arrested two of them while others managed to escape. The police seized a revolver and eight live cartridges from their possession. According to police sources, Ashwani had been lodged in the district jail on the charge of murdering Narendra a few years ago. He was produced in the sessions court yesterday. The assailants managed to free him. However, some lawyers caught hold of the murder accused. The police has registered a case under Sections 307, 148, 149, 353 and 186 of the IPC against the assailants. |
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Businessman
shot dead FARIDABAD, Oct 19 — A local businessman was shot dead in Sector 37 today by four armed persons. The victim was identified as Promod Singhal. The motive for the crime was not known. The police have registered a case. Mr Ranbir Sharma, SSP, said the culprits had been identified and would be arrested soon. In another accident, a two-year child was crushed to death by a tractor in Nangla village, 5-km from here. The driver escaped. |
6
injured in clash SIRSA, Oct 19 — A dispute over a trifle in Chikasahiba village, 15 km away from the district headquarter, last night left six injured. According to the information received today, the dispute arose as Jeet Singh and Preetam Singh of the village asked passers by riding a tractor to reduce the volume of their transistor. One of the riders opened fire injuring Jeet Singh. Preetam Singh was also attacked with iron clubs. Both were admitted to the local civil hospital. The other party, however, alleged that the two had abused and beaten their people. |
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Central team visits
grain markets AMBALA, Oct 19 — The Central team today began survey of grain markets in Haryana from here. A team member said grain samples were to be collected from different mandis in the state. These would be tested tomorrow at the Central Grain Analysis Laboratory in New Delhi, he added. The report of the four-member Central team was likely to be submitted this week. The team, during its visit to Punjab earlier, had visited seven districts and collected 43 samples on the basis of which the report was submitted to the government. |
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Electoral rolls to be
available to public CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The Haryana Election Department today decided to make available to the public electoral rolls as these are public documents. The Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Mr R.K. Rao, said copies of the entire set of electoral rolls, or part of it, could also be bought by any organisation or individual for market research or any other purpose. He said this decision was taken under Rule 33 of the Registration of Electoral Rules, 1960, which provided that every person had the right to inspect and get attested copies of the electoral rolls on the payment of the prescribed fee fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer. |
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Board for curbs on crackers CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The Haryana State Pollution Contral Board today appealed to the people of the state to restrict the bursting of crackers during the Divali festival, in the public interest. A spokesman for the board said a survey was conducted recently which revealed that the noise level during such festivals exceeded the prescribed limits to a great extent and posed a considerable health risk. He said the bursting of crackers should not be permitted between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. He added that no bursting of crackers should take place in the silence zone. Besides, the use of crackers should be restricted to certain designated places or open areas. |
Food advisory panel
constituted CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The Haryana Government today constituted the State Food Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of the Food and Supplies Minister to advise the state government on matters pertaining to food and supplies. The ex-officio members of the committee include the Financial Commissioner and Secretary. Finance Department, the Commissioner and Secretary, Food and Supplied, and the senior Regional Manager, FCI. |
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