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| Sunday, November 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Bansi: Kurukshetra ideal site for
capital Bar associations seek separate high court Scientists see plot in
Paroda’s removal Ban gone, yet no principals Singapore minister visiting
Haryana |
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NABARD schemes
under review Haryana gears up for Census Striking staff vent ire on
Governor too
Encroachments to be removed Jawan cremated with honours Doctor dies in
accident SC/ST body to hold rally on Dec 11 Governor opens dental congress Govt move on unpaid
power bills decried
Municipal councillors meeting Gold biscuits worth
15 lakh seized Teachers to protest at
Rohtak today Irrigation Dept to check water theft Three inter-state gangs busted
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Bansi: Kurukshetra ideal site for
capital KURUKSHETRA, Nov 25 — The former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, while addressing a press conference at Pipli, 35 km from here, today said Kurukshetra was the only suitable place to be the new capital of the state. He said the first requirement for the new capital was, the availability of the drinking water which was available in sufficient quantity in the town as Yamuna and Bhakhra canals were near the town. Secondly, Kurukshetra was centrally located and easily approachable for people from all parts of the state. Mr Bansi Lal said it was because of this that he had shifted the state Irrigation Department to Kurukshetra and he was planning to shift the office of the Haryana Public Service Commission and had also planned to spend sufficient amount on the development works here. “These were the reasons because of which the World Bank gave its consent for granting financial loan for shifting the state Irrigation Department at Kurukshetra,” he said. Criticising the formation of village welfare samities, Mr Bansi Lal said by doing so, the Panchayati Raj system was being abolished in the state. The formation of such village samities had led to rivalry among the villagers and moreover, the constitution of these samities was unconstitutional, he alleged. Describing the “Sarkaar Aapke Dwaar” programmes as deceptive he said in fact, the grant sanctioned by the Central Government for rural development, is detained. Now, the panchayats are directed by the district administrations to demand the financial help only for those projects for which the grant had been sanctioned by the Central Government. At this juncture, the panchayats in their respective applications demand grant for only those developmental projects and the Chief Minister devoting not more than half a minute to each panchayat, sanctions the release of grant at the “Sarkaar Aapke Dwaar” programme instead of granting financial help from the government treasury.” In reply to a question, Mr Bansi Lal alleged that the state government was at fault for the non-completion of SYL canal. He suggested that the Chief Minister should have got the SYL canal completed by pressurising “his friend”, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, as well as the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, as Ms Mamta Banerjee and a Telugu Desam Party minister had got their respective jobs cleared by pressurising the Prime Minister. When asked to comment on the plight of farmers in Haryana, Mr Bansi Lal said farmers in the state were a disappointed lot and the state and Central Governments should take steps to improve their condition. Mr Bansi Lal claimed that he would be elected as Chief Minister of the state, if the elections were held now. |
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Bar associations seek separate high court SONEPAT, Nov 25 — A meeting of the district bar associations of Haryana held here today unanimously resolved to work for the creation of a separate high court for the state of Haryana. The meeting demanded that in view of the sufferings of litigants and the general public a separate High Court should be immediately set up. The meeting was presided over by Mr B.K. Kaushik, President of the Sonepat District Bar Association. It was attended by the presidents and general secretaries of the district bar associations from all over the state. It was resolved to observe a one-day token strike on December 4 throughout the state to press for their demand. It was decided that on this day memoranda would be submitted to Deputy Commissioners and SDMs (Civil) at all district sub divisional and headquarters. However, a positive aspect of the meeting was that the meeting decided to go on an indefinite strike to achieve their aim. This was decided in view of the hardships which the litigants had to face because of occasional strikes by lawyers. However, the meeting resolved to observe the first and third Saturday of every month as a protest day till the demand for a separate high court was conceded. The meeting did not specify the mode of protest to be observed. Enquiries made by TNS show that the District and Sessions Judge of Sonepat, Mr. S.K. Sardana played a quiet but effective role in persuading the lawyer community to abjure indefinite strikes, which cost a lot both to the litigants and the public
exchequer. It further resolved to crave for the indulgence of the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India for the creation of a separate high court for Haryana. It urged the Chief Minister to work towards this goal and create a high court at a suitable place keeping in view the convenience of all concerned. The meeting called upon all sections of society to support and to work for the fulfillment of this long standing demand. The bar associations resolved to approach all members of Parliament and the Haryana Legislative Assembly to raise this question in Parliament as well as in the Assembly. On this occasion a new body named as the Haryana Bar Association coordination Committee was constituted to fight for the cause. Mr Kaushik, and Mr O.P. Sharma, president of the Faridabad District Bar Association, were unanimously elected president and general secretary, respectively of the coordination committee. It would also have a 21-member executive committee which will have one member from every district bar association and one member from the Haryana High Court Lawyers Association. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the presidents and secretaries of the bar associations at Karnal on December 9. Speakers at the meeting expressed the unanimous opinion that a separate high court for Haryana was a must to provide an identity to the state. It has become imperative to create a separate high court for the state as the newly created states of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have been provided with their own high courts. |
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Scientists see plot in
Paroda’s removal KURUKSHETRA, Nov 25 — The removal of Dr R.S. Paroda from the post of the Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research of Education (DARE), has shocked scientists of Kurukshetra University. Commenting on the development, president of the Kurukshetra University Teachers Association (KUTA), Dr Hari Singh said here today that “the scientists in general are demoralised by this rash action of the government. A proper procedure should have been followed to establish the charges against him. The scientists in India are already a demoralised lot and as a result not many students are pursuing a career in basic sciences” alleged that “the bureaucracy in the India is out to usurp all key positions, including those which require a high degree of super specialisation.” Professor Emeritus and vice-president of Indian Chemical Society, Dr S.P. Singh, termed the removal of Dr Paroda at this juncture particularly unfortunate as he was the president-elect of the Indian Science Congress. He said the annual meeting of the congress was to be held in the first week of January, 2001, which was to be attended by foreign scientists, including several Nobel Laureates. “What message are we sending to the scientific community, both in India and abroad,” he questioned. The Dean, Faculty of Science, Prof J.S. Yadav, a well-known environmentalist and president, Society of Cytologists and Geneticists of India, expressed concern at the removal of the head of an apex body dealing with research policies of the Government of India in agriculture. Professor Yadav agreed with Dr M.S. Swaminathan, popularly called the father of the Green Revolution, that such a step should be seen in the context of a greater conspiracy of the bureaucracy to control all key positions by usurping the Office of Secretary, DARE. The scientists, urged upon the Prime Minister to intervene without any delay and “restore the honour and prestige of the scientists reinstating Dr R.S. Paroda as the DG, ICAR, and Secretary, DARE.” |
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Ban gone, yet no principals KARNAL, Nov 25 — Despite lifting of the ban on recruitments for the posts of principal of privately managed colleges in Haryana, the universities and the government seem to be sitting tight on the selection process. It is learnt that the government had already issued instructions to different colleges for selecting principals on the basis of the new criteria of qualifications fixed by the state government. The directive followed the news item in The Tribune that some posts of principal were lying vacant in privately managed colleges. The state government has fixed a new criteria for the qualification for the posts of principal. Inquiries made by Tribune News Service show that there are about 19 colleges which were without regular principals. In some cases the posts of principal had been lying vacant for the past one to two years. This has affected the academic atmosphere and studies of students in these colleges. As per the new criteria the panel of experts for selection are to be appointed by the universities. Interestingly, the universities are not taking steps to appoint experts on selection panels. Inquiries showed that the managing committee of a college in Panipat had written to Kurukshetra University on November 8 to appoint an expert on the panel for the selection of the principal. But so far no name has been sent by the university for acting as expert on the panel. The managements of these colleges fear that the government step to select principals seems to be merely an eyewash. Otherwise, the appointments of experts could not be delayed for such a long period. Meanwhile, the managements feel that in the absence of regular principals, discipline in colleges and proper studies are the natural victims. The managements also feel handicapped in taking major decisions in the absence of regular principals. While on one hand the state government is keen to promote information technology in all colleges of the state, on the other hand the selection process is being delayed on one excuse or the other. A large number of teachers interviewed by this correspondent in the above said colleges feel that being sent on ad hoc basis has affected not only the studies but their career prospects. |
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Singapore minister visiting
Haryana CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — The Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, Brig-Gen George Vee, will visit Haryana tomorrow on the invitation of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Mr Chautala met him in Singapore on October 10 last to seek investments from Singapore in Haryana. During his visit the minister would familiarise himself with the infrastructural facilities available in Haryana. The Singapore minister, commonly referred to as B.G. George in Singapore, will have breakfast meeting with the Haryana Chief Minister at Haryana Bhavan in New Delhi which would be followed by a field visit to Gurgaon. Mr George is known for his active interest in India largely influences the policy decision in trade and industrial sectors in Singapore. He will see the infrastructure development in Udyog Vihar, Industrial Area as also residential accommodation and developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority and private sector. He will also visit the pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy Development and Research Centre, Gurgaon, apart from visiting Gol Club developed by private sector. During his Gurgaon visit the Minister will be accompanied by the Haryana Finance Minister, Prof Sampat Singh. A spokesman of the Industries Department hoped that the visit of the Singapore minister will boost further the foreign direct investment not only from Singapore but also from other countries. During his three-day visit the Singapore Mr Chautala had gone there with his officers and a delegation of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. |
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NABARD schemes
under review ROHTAK, Nov 25 — The credit absorption capacity of the agriculture sector is fast reaching its saturation point in Haryana, says a study conducted by the NABARD in the district between November 13 to 24. The studies were intended to take an integrated review of the physical and financial progress of the on-going schemes of the NABARD in the district, including those covered under its automatic, re-finance facility. The study lays stressed on the development and promotion of the non-agriculture sector by motivating and providing credit to the prospective rural borrowers so as to generate employment opportunities in the villages. It will also check exodus of rural work-force to urban areas which would help reduce the dependence on shrinking size of agriculture land, the study suggested. Thus, the financing of non-agriculture sector assumes a greater role in social engineering also, it said. The study revealed that during the past three years, the targets projected in the district credit plan (DCP) under the SSI head were under-achieved at 51, 47 and 31 per cent during the 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 respectively. During the study, the NABARD officials visited 131 beneficiaries. Of these 108 beneficiaries had availed composite loan and 23 were financed under the integrated loan scheme. The study revealed that the banks were not performing active role in the process of
identification of borrowers. The majority of the borrowers approached the banks on their own. The role of the District Industries Centre and the Khadi and Village Industries Board was also very limited in identification or sponsoring the cases in the non-agriculture sector. The recovery performance of the Land Development Banks and the Central Cooperative Banks in the non-agricultural sector was poor ranging between 18 per cent to 37 per cent. The recovery position of the PNB, Kathmandi branch, was as low as 19.3 per cent, the study revealed. |
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Haryana gears up for Census BHIWANI, Nov 25 — Mr Sunil Gulati, Director, Census Haryana, stated that the preparations for the main Census were in full swing throughout the state. He was addressing a press conference here at the Panchayat bhavan yesterday. Mr Gulati said the abridged house lists had already been prepared at each tehsil, municipal council and municipal corporation. Mr Gulati said the divisional-level training had already been over. He stated that the first second and third round of training programmes to enumerators and supervisors would be held in December, and January, 2001. He further said people were being made aware of the Census operation. Several chetna rallies were arranged in the state. Describing about the particulars being taken up during the Census operation, the Director told that as per the Registration of Birth of Death Act, 1969, the registration of births and deaths had already been made compulsory by the Government. City magistrate Ramnath and SDM Yogesh Chand Bhardwaj were also present at the press conference. |
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Striking staff vent ire on
Governor too CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — Despite today being a holiday, the agitating government employees of Haryana assembled in front of the 30 Bays Building today also and held demonstrations demanding reversion of seven under secretaries belonging to reserve category. About 200 persons, including a good number of women employees, sat at the venue and throughout the day they raised slogans against the Haryana police, Governor of Haryana Babu Parmanand and Haryana Government. When asked why Babu Parmanand was made the target of attack, the employees claimed that the Governor had a hand in stopping the government from implementing the reversion order. Indeed, a lot of sloganeering was also being done against the policy of reservation itself. While the indefinite fast by Promilla Sharma, an employee of the office of the Haryana Registrar of Cooperative Societies, entered the fifth day today, four women employees from the DPI’s office started 24-hour relay fast from today. Ms Kamlesh Bajaj, Ms Meenakhshi Sharma, Ms Chandraprabha Sharma and Ms Shashi Sharma were on relay fast today and they would be replaced by four other employees tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Panchkula police continued crackdown against the strikers and last night picked up four agitators. They are, Deepak Dahiya, Narayan Singh and Jai Narain from the Irrigation Department and Balbir Singh, who works in the Secretariat. Meanwhile, in a statement here today, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President of the Congress party in Haryana, said that the agitation of employees had paralysed the working of the state government because of which people were suffering. |
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Encroachments to be removed AMBALA, Nov 25 — Three different committees have been constituted in Ambala district for removing illegal encroachments and improving cleanliness and sanitation and to check punctuality in schools, hospitals and offices. This was stated by Mr D.D. Gautam, Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, in a meeting of traders of Ambala city and Cantament in a newly constructed conference hall in Panchayat Bhavan at Ambala city, last evening. Mr Gautam said that for removing illegal encroachments in front of shops, ten days period is given to the ownes of the shops and a period of 15 days is given to remove platforms constructed in front of their shops themselves, otherwise, administration will take action. While talking to traders the Deputy Commissioner said that the electric polls causing hinderance for traffic would be removed. He said that a uniform policy would be framed for removing encroachments and no pressure of any kind would be tolerated. He promised the traders that administration would provide space for construction of parking places and for construction of toilets in the markets. He warned the executive officers of the Ambala city and Cantonment that they would be held responsible if any new illegal construction took place in their respective areas. He also said that their aim is not to harass anybody, but the campaign to clear illegal encroachments has to be executed on the directions of the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court. |
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Jawan cremated with honours ROHTAK, Nov 25 — The body of Arvind Singh (19), Rifleman of the Rajputana Rifles Batallion was cremated at his native village Samargopalpur, near here, today. Arvind Singh was recruited last year and was posted at Srinagar. He died on November 23. The army officials who accompanied the body said Arvind was engaged in a search operation and was killed on the spot when assailants fired two grenades on the search party. Naib Subedar Ram Phal, father of the deceased is serving as head clerk in the same
battalion. Capt. V.P. Dahiya, Secretary, Zila Sainik Board, Mr J.N. Gahlaut, Secretary, District Red Cross Society, Ms Sarita Narayan, MLA from Kalanaur were among those who paid homage to the martyr. |
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Doctor dies in
accident AMBALA, Nov 25 — Dr M.P. Singh (36), a resident of Ambala Cantt, was killed in a head-on collision accident on Ambala-Chandigarh road near Ambala city today late evening. He was posted as Medical Officer at the Civil Hospital, Fatehabad. His wife was injured seriously and admitted to the local Civil Hospital. However, two of his kids were unhurt in the incident. According to one of his relatives, Mr Singh was coming from Chandigarh after attending the marriage of his younger brother. He was on the way to Ambala Cantt when the accident occurred. The Maruti car of the deceased collided with a Sumo car near Baldev Nagar at Ambala city. The bride and the bridegroom and the baraties were travelling in some other vehicles. It is learnt that a reception had been arranged at Ambala Cantt on Sunday to welcome the newly couple. After getting the information the Civil Surgeon, Ambala, Mr R.K. Patnaik, reached at the hospital. A message regarding accident was conveyed to the Director, Health Services, Haryana, and the PMO, Fatehabad. The Ambala unit of Indian Medical Association expressed its condolence over the sudden death of Mr Singh. |
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SC/ST body to hold rally on Dec 11 FARIDABAD, Nov 25 — The All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations will hold a ‘maha rally’ on
Ram Lila grounds in New Delhi on December 11 to press for withdrawal of some anti-reservation orders, oppose liberalisation and scrapping of the Constitutional Review Commission. Stating this, the chairman of the confederation, Mr Ramraj, said here today that members of the organisation would also gherao Parliament on the same day. He was addressing a meeting of the confederation here, convened in connection with the
preparations of the proposed rally. He said the union government had been ‘indifferent’ as a ‘move’ was on to scrap reservation in the government jobs and service. There should be time bound promotions for
safai karamcharis and the National Commission for SC/ST be empowered, he added. |
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Governor opens dental congress CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand has urged the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), public and private sectors, industrialists and import export houses that adequate funds should be made available to promote research activities in our country to identify problems relevant to our society and find solutions thereto rather than depend on outside help. The Governor was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the three-day 28th congress of the Indian Prosthodontic Society (IPS) here last night. Congratulating the IPS for organising its congress at Chandigarh, Babu Parmanand said dental doctors were making significant contribution for the people to enjoy their lives to the fullest by not only restoring the tooth structure that is closest to the natural shape but is able to perform all normal functions it is supposed to. |
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Govt move on unpaid
power bills decried CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — The Congress party has strongly reacted to the Haryana Government’s move to deny important facilities to people who do not produce self-assessment regarding their electricity consumption. In a statement today, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, HPCC President and MLA said this would amount to strong arm tactics because the responsibility of collecting electricity bills was of the HVPN, which was a statutory body and not a government department. Mr Hooda said Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister himself had encouraged people earlier not to pay electricity bills. The HPCC chief said to deny a citizen a ration card, cooperative loan, registration of property and fertiliser and seed would be serious misconduct on the part of the state government and it would deal a heavy blow to the farmers. |
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Municipal councillors meeting AMBALA, Nov 25 — Cutting across the party lines, municipal councillors of Ambala Cantt today held a meeting to discuss the case of attestation of caste certificate by Mr Hira Lal Yadav who was arrested and later released. The meeting of the municipal councillors was held in the chamber of the municipal council President, Pandit Shankar Dass. The councillors at the meeting demanded that either Mr Hira Lal Yadav’s name should be withdrawn from the case or the names of the officials who had signed on the caste certificate after the attestation by Mr Yadav should be made a party in the case. |
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Gold biscuits worth
15 lakh seized PANIPAT, Nov 25 — A team of GRP staff, has nabbed a person carrying 29 gold biscuits valued at Rs 15 lakh, during a routine check in a running train. According to sources an Amritsar-bound passenger Ram Labhaya travelling in Paschim Express was nabbed on November 17 during routine check by the GRP staff personnel. The officials got suspicious when the passenger refused to open his bag during the routine investigation. He was taken to Panipat Railway Station and his bag was searched and 29 gold biscuits hidden in the inner layer of the bag were seized. Gold biscuits were sealed under the witness of Commercial Inspector Dharam Pal by the chowki in charge GRP Police Station, Panipat and a case was registered. Ram Labhaya, however, maintained that biscuits had been imported through proper channel and customs duty was paid but he was not able to produce the papers. |
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Teachers to protest at
Rohtak today YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 25 — Mr Jarnail Singh Sangwan, senior vice-president, Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh, and Mr Jagpal Singh, block president of the sangh, alleged that the government had not confirmed teachers who were appointed on contract basis. He said neither the pay anomalies had been removed nor the recently recruited teachers posted in other districts. He said in some places there were no transport facilities available thus few teachers have joined the duties. Mr Sangwan said more than 50,000 teachers would take part in rally to be organised in Rohtak tomorrow to urge the government to accept their demands. He said vehicles had been arranged from Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala and Panchkula to take the teachers in the rally. The teams have been constituted to persuade the teachers to attend the rally, he added. |
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Irrigation Dept to check water theft BHIWANI, Nov 25 — In the wake of severe drought in the district and the dire need of water for irrigation, police and Irrigation Departments have been asked to check water theft by deploying necessary personnel along canals. The administration has been receiving reports in this regard. It may be recalled that the district administration had to face resentment of irate residents of Nimriwali village and Jatu Luhari against the inaction of the administration despite several representations against water theft. The farmers of Sangwan village lodged a complaint against water thefts on Wednesday in the open darbar of the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sant Kumar Joshi, assured them that every effort would be made to stop these theft. |
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Three inter-state gangs busted SONEPAT, Nov 25 — As many as 25 cases of murder were registered during the past five months, the Superintendent of Police told mediapersons here yesterday. Referring to cases of loot, the SP said 10 out of 16 loot cases have been solved and booty worth Rs 12 lakh recovered. Giri Raj of Jakhauli village, Amarpal and Pardeep of Tatina (UP) were arrested in connection with the loot committed at Jakhauli village in September. The SP said three inter-state gangs of dacoits, including two of Kutchha-Banyana, responsible for dacoities in Chirashmi village, Nangal Kalan village and in an industrial unit falling under the jurisdiction of the Rai police station area were busted. |
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State-level BJP meeting on Nov 27 PANIPAT, Nov 25 — A state-level meeting of the BJP is scheduled to be held on November 27 in Panipat. The question of the BJP candidate for the election of chairman of the Panipat Nagar Parishad is expected to be discussed in the meeting. It is reported that the state president of the BJP, Mr Ratan Lal Kataria and the state executive, Mr Ram Dass Aggarwal, are expected to attend the meeting. |
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