 |
| Thursday, December 7, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Malik takes charge as DGP Police to reopen untraced
crime cases: SP Auctioneers await commission Haryana postings,
transfers Ex-serviceman
‘denied’ benefits Removal of hostel
coordinators flayed |
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Marriages of 53 couples solemnised HR reduces losses
by 31 per cent 1.58 cr recovered as
power bill arrears IT Dept
Web site
launched Youths rob man
of Rs 2 lakh Entry tax on
petrol tankers Deadline ends on
encroachments Haryana workers
continue strike BKU for CBI probe
into paddy scam Punjab Wakf Board
‘better off’ Donate to Flag Day
Fund: CM Gang of criminals
busted Police visits naval
commando’s village Census vital for progress: Gulati
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Malik takes charge as DGP Chandigarh, Dec 6 — Mr M.S. Malik, an IPS officer of the 1969 batch, today assumed charge as the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Haryana here this afternoon. He has succeeded Mr S.P.S. Rathore, who has proceeded on leave in the wake of the infamous Ruchika molestation case for which Mr Rathore is facing trial. Mr Malik, a resident of a small village in Jind district, was commissioned in the Indian Army as Second Lieutenant in the Rajputana Rifles in 1969. He had led commando operations in the Bangladesh sector during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He topped the list of ex-defence personnel in the civil services in 1973. He was given the Haryana cadre and his first posting was as an Assistant Superintendent of Police at Jind. He has been district police chief of Jind, Gurgaon and Bhiwani and also had a couple of stints with the Railway Police in Haryana. He was awarded the President’s Medal for meritorious service in 1986. Mr Malik, who had three stints in the CID during Devi Lal’s government in Haryana between 1977 and 1989, was appointed Director-General of Vigilance, Haryana, in October last year after Mr Chautala became the Chief Minister by dislodging Mr Bansi Lal. Even as Mr Malik was appointed as the DGP, he would be holding dual charge of the Vigilance Department also for the time being, official sources said. Himself a keen sportsman, Mr Malik had accompanied the India hockey team to Bangkok in 1998 when it won a gold medal. He is vice-president of the Indian Hockey Federation and Secretary-General of the Haryana Olympic Association. The new DGP also holds a master’s degree in law and is registered in Panjab University for doing research on the subject of human rights and the security forces in India. Meanwhile, an agency report received here quoted Mr Malik as having said his first priority as the chief of the police force of Haryana would be to strengthen the law and order situation and create greater rapport among all levels of the police force. |
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Suspend Rathore,
says ex-minister FARIDABAD, Dec 6 — A former Haryana Minister, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, has demanded the suspension of the Director-General of Police, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, who has proceeded on leave, following his indictment by a CBI court in the Ruchika molestation case. In a statement here today, Mr Hooda charged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, with trying to shield the ‘accused’. He said that after the filing of a charge sheet against Mr Rathore, it was improper to send the DGP on long leave. He should have been immediately suspended. He said the Chief Minister had set a bad precedent by not taking strict action against the DGP. |
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Police to reopen untraced
crime cases: SP AMBALA, Dec 6 — If a case of heinous crime has not been solved, it does not mean the case has been closed. The district police is now preparing a list of untraced heinous crimes, investigations on which will begin afresh. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, the new Superintendent of Police, Mr K.K. Mishra, said that the list of heinous crimes which had not been solved was expected to be ready within a week. "The list will contain the untraced heinous crime cases which include murder and dacoity," he said. Mr Mishra said that special teams would be constituted to investigate these cases. "I will be personally monitoring the developments in each case. Once the list is complete, the investigations will begin immediately," he said. He said although he knew that a lot of time had passed since the heinous crimes took place, the police would be making a sincere effort to solve the cases. On the welfare of the constabulary, Mr Mishra said that 24 new houses had been constructed for them. "The inspection of the houses, which have been built at the Police Lines, is on. They are expected to be handed over to us soon. These houses are expected to ease the accommodation problem to some extent," he said. Mr Mishra, who believes in pro-people policing, said that police station-level committees were going to be formed for better and more effective policing. "The scrutiny of the names proposed for the committees is already on. The members of these committees are going to be like police wardens who are going to work in harmony with the police personnel," he said. He pointed out that during his tenure in Faridabad, he had launched a ''dost police'' campaign which had been a success. "I am keen that the image of the police should be friendly. For instance, I patiently hear the grievances of the people all the time and normally the problems are not major in nature and these can be solved easily," he said. The new SP said that the renovation work in all the police stations was on. "I am keen that all the police stations should have a clean look, water is provided to the people and there is adequate seating arrangement," he said. Regarding traffic, Mr Mishra said that it would be possible for a smoother flow of traffic, specially in the crowded markets, once the anti-encroachment drive by the district administration came to an end. "Once encroachments are removed from along roadsides, there will be adequate space. We have already held meetings in this regard," he stated. Mr Mishra observed that a common problem was misbehaviour by police personnel. "I have instructed that misbehaviour will not be tolerated at any cost. If any complaints are brought to my notice, swift action will be taken. We are trying to improve the image of the police," he said. He stressed that efforts were on to make the police in Ambala more people-friendly so that people did not hesitate to go to the police. |
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Auctioneers await commission KARNAL, Dec 6 — Over 3000 families of auctioneers in various grain markets of Haryana are on the verge of starvation. They have been denied their commission for the last about seven months. FCI officials have been sitting on the files and so far had denied them their dues. FCI officials and the procurement agencies are still wrangling over the payment to be made to these auctioneers. Inquiries made by TNS show that out of 120 grain markets in Haryana, auctioneers have been appointed by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board in at least 60 grain markets. They have been working in the grain markets for the last about 35 years. The auctioneers maintain that their commission worth about Rs 3 to 4 crore relating to the auction of wheat and paddy in these markets was pending towards the FCI and other agencies. Auctioneers work under the direction of the state marketing board which procures wheat and paddy for the FCI. The services of these auctioneers are hired at grain market level on the basis of commission. The charges are at the rate of 0.08 per cent under the market committee bylaws, 28(1). Mr Randhir Singh and Mr Ghanshyam Gupta, members of the Haryana Pradesh Auctioneers Association, have given a memorandum to Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, in this regard. It says that the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board has written to the FCI for making the payment. But the FCI has not taken any step. A deputation of the auctioneers led by Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, a BJP MP from Sonepat, recently met Mr B.D. Gupta (P.A. to the Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister) and submitted a memorandum to him. A deputation of the Haryana Pradesh Auctioneers Association also met Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MP and President of the Haryana BJP on November 30 and urged him to intervene in the matter. The deputation pointed out that the families of the auctioneers were finding it difficult to make their both ends meet in the absence of denial of the payment by the FCI. The association has also reportedly brought the matter to the notice of Mr S.N. Gupta, Director of the FCI. A deputation of the association also met Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister and urged him to use his good offices for the speedy payment of their dues. The Chief Minister, who is reported to be taking keen interest, has called the members of the association for a meeting on December 5 to sort out the matter with the FCI. |
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Haryana postings,
transfers CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — The Haryana Government today ordered the transfer of three IAS, 13 HCS and two HSS officers with immediate effect. The IAS officers transferred and given additional charge are Mr Shrikant Walgad, Administrator, HUDA, Panchkula, who has also been given the additional charge of Administrator, HUDA (Hq), and Additional Director, Urban Estates, during the leave period of Mrs Sukriti Likhi. Mrs G. Anupama, ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Faridabad, has been given the additional charge of Mela Administrator, 15th Surajkund Craft Mela to be held from February 1 to 15, 2001. Mr Rajeev Ranjan, SDO(C) of Panchkula, has been transferred as such to Ferozepore Jhirka vice Mr C.L. Sankhla, HCS, who has been posted as OSD (Rules), Local Government Department, against a vacant post. The HCS officers shifted are Mr S.C. Goyal, ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Panipat, who has been posted as Additional Director, Food and Supplies, Mr R.C. Varma, SDO(C)-cum-Additional Collector, Siwani, has been posted as Deputy Director, Local Bodies, against a vacant post. Mr Shiv Prasad, SDO(C), Ratia, has been posted as such at Nuh vice Mr U.S. Sohal, who becomes SDO(C), Panchkula, and Land Acquisition Officer, HUDA, Panchkula. Mr A.R. Goyal, City Magistrate, Ambala, has been posted as Land Acquisition Officer, PW (Irrigation), Ambala, relieving Mr O.P. Ranga. Mr M.K. Ahuja, SDO(C), Kalka, has been posted as SDO(C), Ambala, vice Mr Satbir Singh Saini, who has been shifted as such to Loharu. Mr S.K. Setia, SDO(C), Loharu, has been posted as Managing Director, Cooperative Sugar Mills, Gohana. Mr Sandeep Singh, Mr Lalit Kumar, Mr Virender Kumar Dahiya and Mr Virender Lather, newly appointed HCS officers, have been posted as SDO(C), Kalka, SDO(C), Siwani, City Magistrate, Ambala, and City Magistrate, Sirsa respectively. The HSS officers transferred are Mr Sube Singh, Under-Secretary,
PWD (B&R), and Mr Moti Lal, Under-Secretary, Public Health Department. They swap places. |
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Ex-serviceman
‘denied’ benefits FARIDABAD, Dec 6 — Capt K.M. Thapar (retd), who devoted 10 years of his life in the Army and its related wings is now a disillusioned man. He never dreamt that he would be denied the benefits of pension and other facilities given to ex-servicemen after retirement. Captain Thapar who resides in Sector-7 here is still battling to get his dues from the Defence Ministry. Besides writing dozens of letters to the authorities concerned in the past few years there is hardly any office in New Delhi that he has not visited. He claims that no satisfactory answer had been given to him by the officials about his claims of pension, increment arrear and medical reimbursement. Captain Thapar joined the Army as an Emergency Commissioned Officer on January 23, 1963. He remained in service till September 16, 1967. He joined the NCC wing of the Army as a commissioned officer from October 9, 1967, and remained in service till April 8, 1970. He served as an Assistant Secretary in the Zila Sainik Board from March 12, 1993, to March 3, 1997. According to Captain Thapar, he is eligible for a pension and increment and has cited some cases similar to his, in which such benefits had been granted. Conditions of Captain Thapar and his family became even more difficult when he met with an accident last year resulting in about 40 per cent disability. His claim for reimbursement of Rs 22,000 as medical charges has not been paid by the authorities so far. Captain Thapar has also written a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. |
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Removal of hostel
coordinators flayed KURUKSHETRA, Dec 6— The Kurukshetra University Non-Teaching Employees Association’s president, Mr Man Singh, in a press note here yesterday, has demanded an extension for hostel supervisor Narender Singh, who was working at the university for more than two years. They have also condemned the removal of hostel coordinators Anita Choudhary and Surender Kumar through a resolution of the executive council of the university. Mr Man Singh has described it as a political decision and an attack on the university autonomy. They also demanded that Extension should be granted to sweepers and securitymen who had been working for the last many years, they demanded. They also condemned the suppression tactics adopted by the authorities and the police against the striking employees of the Haryana Secretariat, Chandigarh. The association further demanded that the provision of dearness allowance instalment should be announced on the Central Government pattern as had been done by other state governments. The ban imposed by the state government on recruitments in universities be lifted without further delay, it added. |
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Marriages of 53 couples solemnised KURUKSHETRA, Dec 6 — In order to provide help to the downtrodden who are unable to arrange marriages of their daughters, the Jai Ram Vidyapeeth in Kurukshetra has been organising mass marriage free of cost for the past decade. Last night also Brahamchari Devender Swaroop, President of the vidyapeeth at Rishikesh, Hardwar and Kurukshetra, arranged the mass marriage of 53 couples at the vidyapeeth situated on the banks of the holy Braham Sarovar. It is a feature of the Gita Jayanti Utsav which is celebrated every year in Kurukshetra. The vidyapeeth has adopted a unique method of celebrating the marriages and selection of needy couples. Brahamchari Swaroop told TNS that a two-member committee comprising Mr Krishan Kumar Kaushik, an advocate, and Mr K.S. Saini, an industrialist, tour the state to find out the antecedents of the couples. They were responsible for finding the genuineness of the needy couples. The parents of both grooms and bridegrooms were provided photographs of each other to provide their consent. After both parties gave their consent, the committee gave its nod and final preparations were made under his guidance. The couples were selected without any bias of religion. They could be Muslims, and Sikhs or belonging to backward classes, and other castes. They hailed from all over the state. This year the couples were selected from the districts of Kaithal, Karnal, Jind, Kurukshetra and areas of Pehowa and Patiala in Punjab. Tastefully decorated “bedis” are constructed on a big pandal. Both groom and bridegroom are made to sit at the yajna site and the marriage is solemnised as per their respective religions. The vidyapeeth organises a big feast. Over 4,000 guests were given a feast yesterday. A “pritibhoj” is held for all during the day. The newly wed couples were blessed by the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, and Brahamchari
Swaroop. |
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HR reduces losses
by 31 per cent CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — Haryana Roadways today claimed to have succeeded in reducing its losses by 31 per cent as a result of better management during the first seven months of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period last year. It has also decided to introduce “ 2x2 special buses” to provide shuttle services on major routes. Mr Ashok Kumar, Transport Minister of Haryana, said despite an additional cost of Rs 5 crore per month on account of the increase in the price of diesel, the contribution of Haryana Roadways to the state exchequer had gone up from Rs 28 crore to Rs 53 crore during this period, registering an increase of 90 per cent. He said for bringing about further improvement in the availability of transport services, about 210 routes would be opened to private operators under the new district route scheme formulated by the department. The minister said Haryana Roadways would add 1,100 new buses to its fleet, in replacement of old ones. As many as 400 buses had already arrived. He said the decision to introduce “2x2 special buses” had been taken keeping in view the heavy rush on major routes. These buses would be got fabricated by the department. The minister said field officers of the department had been asked to impose a heavy penalty on the plying of unauthorised maxi cabs and other vehicles without a permit. He said centralised advance booking had been introduced at all bus stands. |
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1.58 cr recovered as
power bill arrears SONEPAT, Dec 6 — The surcharge waiving scheme launched by the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has yielded results in this circle. The Superintending Engineer of the UHBVN operation, Mr Prem Sagar, told mediapersons here today that at least 4,324 farmers of the circle had deposited arrears of the electricity bills totalling Rs 1.58 crore. The UHBVN had waived the penalty of Rs 55.14 lakh which was imposed on farmers for non-payment of the electricity bills, he said. Officials of the nigam had checked 3,474 premises of consumers and detected 545 cases of power theft during the past five weeks. A fine of Rs 20.81 lakh was also imposed on consumers,
allegedly involved in power theft and recovered Rs 13.7 lakh as fine. Mr Sagar said FIRs had been lodged against 86 consumers who failed to deposit the amount of the bills and fine. The officials also sealed 3,300 defective meters. Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, reviewed the progress of the UHBVN at a meeting here today. He took a serious note of complaints about
erratic power supply and non-replacement of electricity wires passing over roofs. He directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to redress the complaints. |
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IT Dept
Web site
launched CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today inaugurated the official website of the Income Tax Department, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Region, www harihimaincometax.com, at the office of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax at Panchkula. The website contains information generally required by tax payers. Essential income tax forms have also been provided on the website which can be easily downloaded. The basic provisions of tax laws have been explained to help the tax payers. A provision for a tax news bulletin has also been made on the website through which the tax payers can get information regarding important developments and decisions of the department. The Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Region, Mr J.S. Ahluwalia, said the Income Tax Department was being restructured. In the restructured set-up, information technology would play the most important role. All functions and operations of the department would be fully computerised, which would not only add to the efficiency and effectiveness of the department but also ensure transparency in the administration. |
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Youths rob man
of Rs 2 lakh FARIDABAD, Dec 6 - Two youths snatched a bag containing Rs 2 lakh from Mr Ashok Kumar, a resident of Sector 7 here, a few minutes after he withdrew the money from a bank yesterday. According to a complaint lodged by Mr Kumar, two scooter-borne youths snatched the bag at about 11.30.a.m. when he stopped his scooter near his house. They overpowered him and snatched the bag. Meanwhile, in another incident, a 42-year-old man was stabbed to death allegedly by his cousin at Panhera village of Ballabgarh subdivision last night. According to information, the suspect identified as Ganga, allegedly stabbed his cousin Om Prakash over a family quarrel. The victim died on the spot. A case of murder has been registered. |
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Entry tax on
petrol tankers AMBALA, Dec 6 — The tankers carrying petrol and petroleum product which enter the Municipal Council area will now have to pay an entry tax. The entry tax will be Rs 150 for a tanker with 10,000 litre capacity, while the tax will be Rs 15 for a 1,000 litre capacity tanker. The green signal for the entry tax for tankers has been received from the Haryana Governor, a press note said. The release stated that looking at the cash crunch of the Municipal Council, Ambala Cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, at a meeting held at PWD Rest House, had suggested that an entry tax should be imposed on the fuel tankers. The Municipal Council expects a revenue of about Rs 10 lakh from the entry tax. Deadline ends on
encroachments AMBALA,
Dec 6 — The deadline set by the district administration for the removal of goods kept in front of the shops ended yesterday. The other deadline for removing encroachments in front of the shops will end on December 10. Some shopkeepers could be seen complying with this directive but most of them preferred to wait and watch the action initiated by the district administration. As shopkeepers pile up goods in front of the shops, it affects the traffic. The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr
D. D. Gautam, at a meeting held at Panchayat Bhavan said that the administration was going to take action against those who were yet to remove the goods which had been kept in front of their shops. Mr Gautam has appealed to the shopkeepers to remove the encroachments in front of their shops by December 10. He has made it clear that if by December 10 encroachments are not removed, action will be taken and the encroachments will be removed at the cost of the defaulters. |
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Haryana workers
continue strike CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — The statement between the Haryana Government and its employees continues even as the pen-down strike of the employees belonging to the general categories and backward classes entered its 21st day today. The employees again held a big rally outside 30-Bays building in Sector 17 to press their demand for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement in the Ajit Singh Januja-II case regarding the accelerated promotion to Scheduled Caste employees. Members of the Punjab General Category Welfare Federation and joined the rally. Various speakers criticised the Chautala Government for allegedly terrorising the employees who were protesting peacefully. |
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BKU for CBI probe
into paddy scam KAITHAL, Dec 6 — Mr Goon Parkash, President of the Ambala division of the BKU, in a statement issued here yesterday demanded a CBI inquiry into the paddy scam. He said he had led a deputation of farmers to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, last month and urged him to take action against officials allegedly involved in bungling in paddy purchases. Paddy was being purchased much below the minimum support price-from farmers and later sold to the Food and Civil Supplies Department in connivance with the officials, he alleged. He threatened to move the high court in case the government failed to order an inquiry. Meanwhile, Mr M.S. Lathar has been appointed the DFSC in place of Mr Jai Pal Singh who had been suspended by the government. In another development, both mandis observed a strike here today demanding inquiry in the scam. |
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Punjab Wakf Board
‘better off’ PANIPAT, Dec 6 — The newly appointed administrator of the Punjab Wakf Board, Dr M.R. Haq, said the number of Wakfs in the country had increased to 3 lakh during the past 40 years. The number of registered Wakf boards had also gone up to 24, he said. Talking to mediapersons here last evening, Dr Haq claimed that the Punjab Wakf Board was financially and administratively better placed as compared to the other boards of other states. Dr Haq said the Uttar Pradesh Wakf Board, with more than 1.5 lakh Wakf, was not in a position to pay salary to its staff. Similarly, the annual income of the Andhra Pradesh Wakf Board, had not crossed Rs 40 lakh, he said, adding that the Punjab Wakf Board had an annual income of about Rs 12 crore. |
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Donate to Flag Day
Fund: CM CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand and Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today appealed to the people to donate liberally to the Armed Force Flag Day Fund. In a message issued on the eve of Armed Forces Flag Day, the Governor said the funds so collected were being used for the welfare of soldiers, ex-servicemen and their dependents. The Chief Minister conveyed his good wishes to the armed forces and said the nation would always remain indebted to the brave soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation. |
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Gang of criminals
busted JIND, Dec 8 — The police has busted a gang of criminals with the arrest of its eight members. The gang was involved in a number of crimes in different parts of the district. Stating this here today, Mr Rajpal Singh, Superintendent of Police, said they had been identified as Ramesh, Satpal, Daesher, Vijender, Mahavir, Dinesh, Rajinder and Pawan. He said the police had recovered a pistol, four cartridges, two knives, one motor cycle and one scooter from their possession. The police has seized ornaments, a moped, three television sets and several household articles from them. |
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Police visits naval
commando’s village ROHTAK, Dec 6 — A Delhi police party visited Madodi village, 10 km from here, on Monday to inquire about the antecedents of naval commando Satbir Singh who was seriously injured in a firing by an intruder at the official residence of the Naval Chief, Admiral Sushil Kumar, recently. According to sources, the police visited the village as they suspected Satbir’s version in which he stated that the fired several rounds on the intruder but missed the target while the assailant fired a single shot which hit him in the thigh. The police talked to a cross-section of people, including his father Ramphal and school-going brother Dharambir. Villagers told the police that the family had a good reputation. |
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Census vital for progress: Gulati FATEHABAD, Dec 6 — The Director Census Operations, Haryana, Mr Sunil Gulati, said the forthcoming census operation was the largest public exercise in the world. Mr Gulati was addressing the opening session of the two days district level Training and
Sensitisation Conference on census at the local Bal Bhavan yesterday. He said Fatehabad was the 16th district in Haryana where such conference has been organised. Earlier, welcoming Mr Gulati, the DC-cum-Principal Census Officer, Mr Anil Malik exhorted the master trainers and supervisors to make sure that no substandard and fictitious data was allowed to be entered as the census operations were very vital for the development activities. |
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Revenue realisation
of power nigams up CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — Mrs Meenaxi Anand Chaudhary, Chairperson of the Haryana Power Utilities, said here today that the revenue realisation of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam had increased by 32.07 per cent 23.21 respectively, during November as compared to the corresponding period last year. |
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