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| Monday, November 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Haryana may face acute power
shortage Relevance of Guru’s message stressed Chautala Govt “meddling in Gurukul affairs” Demand for HC gains
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Haryana officers told
to travel by bus Reversion order maybe
implemented 3 cases of polio detected in
Haryana Controversy over rural samitis Civic body plot encroached on Teachers sore over delay in new
pay scales Laloo steals limelight from groom One dies as truck rams into train
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Haryana
may face acute power shortage CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — Acute power shortage may hit Haryana soon in the wake of the move of the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre
(NRLDC) to stop it from overdrawal from the common pool. The NRLDC recently filed a suit with the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) urging it to give directions to the state not to resort to the overdrawal of power from the common pool. While the NRLDC asked the commission to give the necessary directions to all northern states, it accused Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir of being the main culprits as far as the overdrawal of power was concerned. The CERC had already informed the Power Utilities of Haryana about the suit and the state was asked to file its reply by November 22. While the quota of Haryana from the common pool varies between 200 lakh and 220 lakh units daily, it
overdraws about 25 lakh units per day on an average from the common pool. The case is scheduled to be heard in December and if Haryana fails to put up a good defence, it may be subjected to a substantial financial penalty apart from being asked to stop the overdrawal of power. “If Haryana is stopped from overdrawing, it will seriously affect the availability of power in the state”, official sources said. Moreover, the financial penalty is also likely to hit hard the already cash-strapped Power Utilities. The electricity needed for Haryana is mostly purchased from outside agencies and the state already owes Rs 250 crore to the NTPC and Rs 300 crore to the NHPC which have been converted into bonds because of Haryana’s inability to make payments in time. Up to September this year, Haryana had purchased power worth more than Rs 1,300 crore and these payments also have reportedly been kept pending because of the Power Utilities’ depleted coffers. While the total revenue collection in Haryana on account of power supply comes to about Rs 170 crore to Rs 180 crore a month, the expenditure incurred on the supply is estimated to be more than Rs 280 crore, including Rs 230 crore on the purchase of power from outside. Thus, every month there is a gap of Rs 100 crore between revenue collection and expenditure and it keeps increasing according to sources. It has been worked out by the Power Utilities that the gap between collection and expenditure can be brought down to Rs 245 crore annually by cutting down the line losses. The new power tariff rates, which are now under consideration of the Power Regulatory Commission of Haryana, aim at enhancing collection by Rs 250 crore annually so that this gap can be bridged. However, what has made the circles concerned apprehensive is the tendency of villagers not to pay electricity bills, which may effectively deflate the ambitious plan. “Much of the power purchased by Haryana is for the agricultural sector but getting payments from farmers for the electricity is difficult”, a source remarked. Meanwhile, the World Bank, which has already given Haryana a loan of Rs 300 crore (first instalment of the total package of $ 600 million), for reforming its power sector, is also reportedly not happy with the speed of reforms and is insisting that the state should accelerate the privatisation of the distribution network and only then would the second instalment of the loan by given. The Power Utilities had given an advertisement seeking applications from private sector companies for the distribution of power in 1999 when Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister. But since then there has been no move for the privatisation of the distribution network. Indeed, the works being carried out with the available loan are scheduled to be completed by December, though this is not going to happen, sources say. While the Power Utilities have got Rs 190 crore as reimbursement from the World Bank for completed works, Rs 110 crore is still pending, they add. |
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Relevance of Guru’s message stressed YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 19 — Guru Nanak Dev was a democrat whose philosophy of universal brotherhood should be spread throughout the world, said Mr Hari Jaisingh, Editor, The Tribune, while speaking on the 33rd founder’s day of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, here today. “The Guru’s teachings of universal brotherhood, equality and fraternity are as relevant today as they were in the times of the great Guru,” he added. He said “The Tribune is respected because it does not hesitate to correct its mistakes”. He said there was an urgent need for another social revolution of the type ushered in by the great Guru. He said it would be our endeavour to reflect the people’s voice and speak the truth for the good of society as per the message given by Guru Nanak Dev. Prof Darshan Singh, Chairman, Guru Nanak Chair, Panjab University, Chandigarh, highlighted Guru Nanak Dev was a unrelenting crusader against every kind of injustice, untruth and inequality. Guru Nanak Dev fought for the rights of the downtrodden and underprivileged classes and advocated equality for everyone, including women. He said Guru Nanak Dev spent 22 years of his life travelling from place to place to propagate his mission. He stressed upon the Guru’s philosophy and his message of equality. Mr Bhupinder Singh
Jauhar, Chairman, managing committee, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, welcomed the chief guest and appreciated The Tribune for its fearless journalism. He said it had never hesitated to highlight the truth. He said The Tribune had become popular not only in the region but throughout the country. Dr Amrik Singh, Principal of the college, read out the brief report of the college. He said there were 5,000 students in the college and now the management had decided to start Guru Gobind Singh Institute of Engineering and Technology from next year. He said in sports the college had achieved a distinction. Bhai Sunil Arora and other ragis recited Gurbani. Mrs Neena Jaisingh inaugurated Sardarni Devki Jauhar Women’s Hostel of Guru Nanak Khalsa College and an exhibition of books on computer and Sikh history. The painting exhibition on Sikh history was also inaugurated by Mr Hari Jaisingh. Langar was served by students and staff members of the college. More than 5,000 men, women and children partook of the langar. |
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Chautala Govt “meddling in Gurukul affairs” KHANPUR (Sonepat), Nov 19 — Ms
Subashini, a Padma Shri awardee and a veteran freedom fighter here today reiterated that she would continue dharna till injustice was ended. Ms
Subashini, in her message to the Mahasabha, which was held here today in the government secondary school premises under the shadow of heavy police security, vowed that she would fight till her last breath but would not allow the name of Khanpur Gurukul to be misused. Ms Subashini had called a meeting of the Mahapanchayat as it was also ‘Parents Day’ today fearing violence and to check any untoward incident, the District Magistrate Sonepat had clamped Section 144
Cr.P.C. in and around the campus of the Gurukul. The police today had sealed all the roads and even Kutcha footpaths leading to the Gurukul campus. Four special reserves of police were deployed. The 87-year old Ms Subashini did not leave her place of dharna in the yagshala. She did not come out of the campus. But her supporters held a Sabha in the compound of the higher secondary school though no untoward incident happened, yet the speakers in the Sabha condemned the Om Prakash Chautala government for its blatant interference in the affairs of the Gurukul. The Sabha continued for more than five hours. Allegations and counter-allegations were made between the supporters of the newly elected president Baljit Singh and the supporters of the aged freedom fighter. Dada Baljit Singh Malik, president of the Gathwala Khap — the main body of the “Maliks” in the area who also presided over the Sabha maintained that the Chautala government was not interfering in the matter. The interference was only at the local level. However, speakers alleged that the Chautala government was interfering in the administration of the
Gurukul. Mr Mahabir Chaudhary, Vice-President of the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Sabha suggested that as Gurukul Khanpur was an institution purely meant for women’s education, only educated women should be nominated to its working committee. The number of male nominees should be restricted to only six and that too elderly people. The police allowed only Mr Kitab Singh Malik — a former MLA and Mr. Inder Singh
Bhanwala, former treasurer of the Mahasabha to meet Ms Subashini in the
yagshala. None else was allowed entry in the premises throughout the day. Ms Subashini told the two that even if the police forcibly removed her from the dharna site, she would start her dharna where ever she would be taken. “She would die but not how before injustice” she is reported to have told the two emissaries. |
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Demand for HC gains
ground FATEHABAD, Nov 19 — The demand for a separate high court for Haryana is gaining ground. Though the advocate fraternity of the state has been raising the demand ever since Haryana was carved out as a separate state in 1966, it has came to the fore now with three new states that came into being recently getting their own high courts immediately. A deputation of the Haryana Bar Association, will meet the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Union Law Minister and the State Chief Minister in this regard. A spokesman of the District Bar Association told this correspondent that a meeting of presidents and secretaries of all District Bar Association of the state held at Hisar yesterday expressed resentment at the indifferent attitude of the all concerned towards the demand of the lawyers. The representatives of the district Bars will now meet at Sonepat on November 25 to chalk out the strategy. Observers see the demand of a separate high court as an implied demand of a separate state capital for the state too. Though the state has been sharing Chandigarh as its capital with Punjab for the last 34 years, the city has been a cause of dispute between the two states. The people of Haryana want their own capital that represents their ethos. They feel that their capital must be a town in the heart of the state, so that the people from any part of it do not have to travel long distances to reach there. ROHTAK (FOC): Expressing solidarity with the lawyers in Jhajjar district, members of the District Bar Association have announced to strike work on November 20 and 21 to lodge a protest against non-acceptance of their demand for setting up a separate high court for the state. A decision to this effect was taken at a general body meeting of the association held here on Saturday, said Mr Narinder Singh Kataria, secretary. |
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Haryana officers told
to travel by bus HISAR, Nov 19 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has directed that all officers will travel by Haryana Roadways buses to participate in the “Sarkar Aap Ke Dwar” programmes in the future. Speaking at the “Sarkar Aap Ke Dwar” held in the nearby Bhatla village last evening, Mr Chautala said that his government wanted to cut expenses on oil. He said a lot of oil was wasted as the officers travelled by cars individually. Mr Chautala said the ministers and he himself had also started using Ambassador cars to save fuel. Sonepat: Mr Om Prakash Chautala, inaugurated the Canal Colony constructed at a cost of Rs 4.50 crore on the Sonepat-Rathdhanna road near Bandepur village near here on Sunday. The three-storey building consists of 47 residential houses and a rest-house. It will house the offices of the Irrigation Department and Rai water services divisions. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of a 33-KV power sub-station at Khewra village on the Sonepat-Bhaghpat road. NARWANA: The Chief Minister reassured the farmers that adequate water would be provided to the agriculture sector through minors distributaries and canals so that every inch of land could be irrigated to ensure the timely showing of the rabi crop in the state. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Barsola feeder, near here, constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore. The feeder would irrigate 17,871 acres of land in the 13 villages of Jheel, Ghasso Kalan, Ghasso Khurd, Bhagwanpura, Daroli Khera, Sedda Majra, Uchana Kalan, Uchana Khurd, Baroda, Khapar, Barsola and Kota Kalan. |
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Reversion order maybe
implemented CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The Haryana Government on Monday may carry out its earlier order of October 6, relating to the reversion of seven under-secretaries belonging to reserved categories to superintendents, following objections raised by the court regarding Mr Sadhu Singh’s petition because of which it could not be filed on Saturday. Mr Sadhu Singh had earlier filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the Haryana Government’s interpretation of the court order in the Ajit Singh Janjua case. The court, while dismissing the petition on November 13, gave seven days’ time for approaching the other forum, which was understood to be the high court. Mr Sadhu Singh told TNS that his petition could not be filed in the high court on Saturday as the application was considered incomplete because it did not have the addresses of some of the affected employees. Mr Sadhu Singh said he would file the petition on Monday which would then be heard on Tuesday. As the seven-day deadline fixed by the Supreme Court for filing the petition will be over on Monday, the state government is considering the implementation of its earlier order reverting the seven under-secretaries, official sources said. Meanwhile, in a related development, Mr Karambir Singh, president of the Haryana unit of the All-India Confederation of SC, ST and Backward Classes, today demanded that the state government should implement the roster point formula advocated by the Devi Lal-led government in 1979 for filling vacancies in government offices besides boards and corporations. While there was 20 per cent reservation for SC and ST candidates in each category of government jobs, there was under-representation of SC employees in government departments as well as in boards and corporations, Mr Karambir Singh said. According to him, the representation of SC personnel in boards and corporations was only 3 per cent in the Class I category, 6 per cent in the Class II category and 13 per cent in the Class III category. Similarly, the representation of SC employees in government departments was 6 per cent in the Class I category, 7 per cent in the Class II category and 13 per cent in the Class III category, he said. The newly formed Backward Classes Employees Welfare Association also held a meeting at Panchkula today. No decision could be taken at the meeting on whether the backward classes should throw in their lot with the general category or with the Scheduled Castes. It was decided to hold another meeting on November 26 at Panchkula to decide the issue. Mr Desh Raj Lamba, president of the General and Backward Classes Employees Organisation, who called up TNS, alleged the Backward Classes Employees Organisation was set up by the government to divide the staff. He said the pen-down strike would be withdrawn if the government implemented its order reverting the seven under-secretaries. Mr Prithwi Singh Loyal, who had started an indefinite fast demanding the reversion of the under-secretaries, was picked up by the Chandigarh police and admitted to the hospital in Sector 16. He was booked under 309,
IPC. |
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3 cases of polio detected in
Haryana FARIDABAD, Nov 19 — The Haryana Health Minister, Dr M.L. Ranga, said here yesterday three cases of polio had been detected in the state. Of these, two were from Panipat and one from the Mewat region. The state government had decided to get eyes tested of school student studying up to class VIII in order to check eye disorders, as part of the new health policy. Dr Ranga said the target of checking the eyesight of schoolchildren was likely to be achieved by the year-end. He said the help and cooperation of voluntary organisations was being taken in this exercise. He said he main idea behind the campaign was to check eye related disorders in school and college students. He said the situation had become alarming due to rising cases of eyesight disorders. The state government had decided to open at least two hospitals to cater to the needs of the poor and residents of slum areas here. These hospitals would be located in Sectors 3 and 30, respectively. The government was likely to give permission to open three medical colleges in the private sector at Gurgaon, Kaithal and Mullana (Ambala) soon, he added. The minister said Karnal, Yamunanagar and Ambala districts had been chosen by the European Commission for launching special health projects. These health projects envisaged opening model hospitals and providing advanced health care facilities. |
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Controversy over rural samitis SIRSA, Nov 19 — The plan of the Haryana Government to constitute rural development samitis has created a controversy. Though the Chief Minister has assured due representation to all communities and sections in the rural development samitis, many believe that it is meant to allow a few persons to prevail upon the village panchayats. This has evoked resentment in some villages. It is perhaps for this reason that the meetings of gram sabhas have been postponed. Now the government is planning to hold meetings of gram sabhas after holding meetings of Deputy Commissioners and Rural Development Officers. Expressing her views on the issue, a member of the Zila Parishad, Mrs Pushpa Mehta, alleged that the ruling party had vested interests in the formation of samitis. She criticised it as a faulty procedure and expressed her surprise at the way the Zila Parishad was being ignored in the matters of rural development. Mr Krishan Godara of Congress said this government plan would create division among rural people instead of paving way to progress. He opined that there were sufficient provisions in the Panchayati Raj System to enable the execution of development works, if only the government wished to do so. The government, however, believed that the formation of samitis would put a check on contractors working in villages and would ensure quality of work. Mr Jaimal, General Secretary of BJP, said gram panchayats were constitutionally given sufficient rights to carry out development, for which they had been given grants by the Centre. |
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Civic body plot encroached on PANIPAT, Nov 19 — Encroachment and unauthorised construction on a plot of the civic body here has come to light. Sources revealed a plot (No. 189) with an area of 1008 square feet situated in Ram Nagar was sold by Shanti Devi, widow of Melu Ram, to Baldev Raj, son of Ram Lal, and Madan Lal, son of Takan Das, in December 1995. It is reported that in the site plan there is another plot with the same number 189 belonging to the civic body. This measures, approximately 72 square yards towards the west of the sold plot and there is a road thereafter. In the sale deed the road is reported to be on the west of the sold plot and mention of the plot belonging to civic body is omitted. It is also reported that towards the east of the sold plot is a plot of Bela Ram. The land between the plot of Bela Ram and the road is approximately 1682 square feet whereas the area of the sold plot is only 1008 sq. feet. This clearly proves that while mentioning the western dimensions of the sold plot correct information was not mentioned in the sale deed and taking benefit of this anomaly. Baldev Raj and Madan Lal encroached on municipal land which was twice demolished with police assistance. The municipal land is reported to be very valuable from the commercial angle. |
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Teachers sore over delay in new
pay scales SONEPAT, Nov. 19 — The Haryana Government College Teachers Association today criticised the state government for its failure to grant the new pay scales to the college lecturers and release the amount of arrears to them. It also deplored the delaying tactics adopted on this issue by the government. In a press note issued here, it urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, to intervene and order the pay fixation of the college lecturers and release the arrests without any further delay. The association urged the state government to grant Class I status to the college lecturers to attract talent in the profession. It also demanded immediate formulation of the rational transfer policy and end the
statement on this issue. It also concemned the alleged assault on Mr Jagroop Singh Dahiya, a lecturer of Government College, at Nahar village by anti-social elements and demanded the arrest of the assailants. |
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Laloo steals limelight from groom ROHTAK, Nov 19 — The Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, stole the show at a marriage party at Tilyar Tourist Complex here last night. As soon as he entered the complex, a majority of people stood up and surrounded him. He had come to attend the marriage of the son of Ms Kanti Singh, RJD MP. Accompanied by several ministers of the Rabri Devi government, including former Union Minister, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Mr Yadav remained at the party from 10 pm to 2 am, drawing more attention than the bride and the groom. The RJD chief regaled the people with his witty remarks. He covered his head with a woollen shawl in the typical Bihari style to ward off the winter chill. But he declined to comment on any political issue. Although the RJD leader remained in the town for four hours, no civil or police official was seen at the venue. When contacted, the SSP, Mr P.K. Agrawal, said he was not informed about the visit of the leader by any government agency, including the CID. |
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One dies as truck rams into train ROHTAK, Nov 19 — One person was killed and two were injured when a train rammed into their vehicle at an unmanned level-crossing between Asthal Bohar and Kalhawar villages today. According to sources, 3483 Dn Ganga Jamuna Farakka Express was on its way to Bhiwani when it struck a truck carrying building material at 12 noon. Bhajan Lal, one of the three occupants of the truck, died while being taken to the PGI and Rajesh and Babloo were injured. In another incident, Rekha of Bidrauli village in Sonepat district succumbed to her burn injuries at the PGI here today. She was admitted on November 15. In yet another incident, an undertrial reportedly died of a heart attack. He was charged under Sections 302 and 334 of the IPC in Faridabad district. |
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Train delayed to stock pantry PANIPAT, Nov 19 — It is reported that Malwa Express (No. 9368) bound for Indore coming from Jammu Tawi was delayed at the local railway station last evening to enable the pantry car vending staff to replenish the stock of eatables including tea and coffee. As the train’s coach No. 93364 had been converted into a pantry car, it had no facility for interconnection with other coaches. It is reported that the railway authorities put to use a general coach of the train and 150 second class passengers were deprived of entry into that coach, causing a revenue loss of about Rs 1 lakh both ways. |
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Sonepat medical college gets nod SONEPAT, Nov 19 — The Union Health Ministry has granted sanction for the opening of Hindu Medical College in this city. According to official sources, Mr Ram Kumar Mittal, President of the Hindu Educational Society, had applied for the opening of this college in view of the persistent demand of the people of this region. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, had given a green signal to the society and assured assistance for this college. |
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