 |
| Saturday, December 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Hooda to focus on farmers Better power supply for Faridabad
soon DoT to open 60 new
exchanges Union: review move on retrenchment Interest rates for
loans fixed |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Haryana promotes two
PROs Strike: one booked
under ESMA He died a
hero’s death Rail reservation computerised Haryana treasuries to be computerised 10 govt schools in Jind
upgraded 114 cases of power theft detected
|
|
Hooda to focus on farmers CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who became president of the Haryana Congress for the third time yesterday, has decided to focus on farmers with the obvious intention of weakening the foundation of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal of Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Mr Hooda says Mr Chautala rode to power in the name of the farmers, who had been the mainstay of the Devi Lal clan. But today the farming community is disillusioned with Mr Devi Lal’s son due to unkept promises. The Congress leader, who retained the presidentship in the face of strong opposition by the former Chief Minister and leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Mr Bhajan Lal, beams with confidence and admits that due to preoccupation with the organisational elections, the Congress could not make the best of the situation created by the alleged exploitation of paddy growers in the state by the nexus among INLD leaders, officials of the procurement agencies and unscrupulous traders. This, he says, gave an impression to some as if there is a vacuum in Opposition circles of Haryana, which small parties (read Mr Bansi Lal’s HVP) tend to fill. This impression will be shortly removed because “direct takkar Congress aur Lok Dal mein hai. Log ab Lok Dal se naraaz hain”. He will soon organise demonstrations at the district headquarters and later at the block level. The programme will culminate in a big rally to be addressed by the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, either next month or in February. Reverting to his pet subject of “betrayal of the farmers by Mr Chautala”, Mr Hooda says the INLD leader led the farming community up the garden path by promising them free power and his men exhorting them not to pay their electricity bills. The moment Mr Chautala came to power, he changed his tune. The ruling INLD is now using “coercive” methods like linking the grant of various facilities to the public with a no-objection certificate from the power authorities as regard to the pending bills. The farmers, who were burdened with huge power arrears, feel cheated as they have now been virtually denied various facilities. The government will soon raise the power tariff. While the Punjab Government was able to get a relief package of Rs 300 crore for its paddy growers, Mr Chautala miserably failed to get a similar concession from the Centre for Haryana farmers, though the ruling parties in both states support the BJP government at the Centre. Mr Hooda says Mr Chautala has made the panchayati raj institutions redundant by setting up gram vikas samitis, through which the rights of an elected panchayat have been usurped to benefit the ruling party. The Chief Minister has shown his “anti-employee” character by ordering the retrenchment of hundreds of employees of certain boards and corporations. Instead of finding a mutually acceptable solution through dialogue, the government has committed excesses on its striking employees. The Jat from Rohtak says the “rising popular anger” against the Chautala government will ensure the downfall of it sooner than expected. When asked if the Congress will act as a catalyst for fomenting trouble in the ruling party, which appears to be unlike a divided house of the Congress, Mr Hooda says in democracy the representatives of the people take their political decisions as per the mood of their constituents. “No one can say with certainty when a wall appearing to be solid like a rock may fall like a house of cards,” he says. When pressed for a direct reply on the issue of the Congress supporting a breakaway group, if any, of the INLD, Mr Hooda says with a wink: “We will take an opportune decision at the opportune time.” He does not agree that the Congress is a divided house. He argues unconvincingly that the party had unanimously authorised Mrs Gandhi to nominate the president of the Haryana Congress. With her deciding in his favour, no one has any objection. In a democratically run party, before the elections every member has the right to advance his or her claim. He meaningfully adds: “If Mrs Gandhi had decided in favour of somebody else, I would have myself proposed his or her name.” He makes light of the absence of Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Birender Singh and certain other leaders from yesterday’s election. “They must be busy elsewhere. Otherwise also after Mrs Gandhi had taken the decision, the election was a formality.” Mr Hooda believes that all Congressmen, irrespective of their rank and status, will fight unitedly against the “anti-people” policies of the Chautala government and will leave no stone unturned to get rid of it. Accusing the Chautala government of burdening industry and the urban areas with huge taxes, Mr Hooda says his appeal to the industrialists is not to leave the state because “the Chautala government will not last long.” |
|
Better power supply for Faridabad
soon FARIDABAD, Dec 15 — The power transmission and distribution system in this district, which is one of the largest consumer of power in the state, is likely to improve in the near future, with commissioning of 220 KV double circuit ring mainline around the town and construction of some new substations. According to sources in the Power Department, the work on this plan of construction of 220 KV, double circuit ring mainline around Faridabad was progressing fast. The project is likely to cost around Rs 8.91 crore and would be able to evacuate power supply from the gas turbines in the Mujeri project here and to feed all types of power loads in the district. The section of the system from Samaipur village to Mujeri (10 km) and from Mujeri to Palla villages (12 km) had already been completed and had started functioning which had resulted in improved voltage and reliable power supply to several areas. The other section of this “ringmain” system comprising Palla-Palli Line (12 km), Pali-Samaipur Line (9.5 km) was near completion and was likely to be commissioned soon after removal of some obstacles, including certain ‘encroachments’ on the route. The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) had spent about Rs 4.50 crore on the first section, while the expenditure on remaining section would be around Rs 4.42 crore. The normal daily consumption of units of electricity in the district had been about 55 lakh units and the peak demand on the system could be of the order of about 2800 MVA. In contrast to this impressive figure, the transmission and distribution system in the district had not been up to the mark and insufficient to the task of handling the total demand of units supplied. Some positive measures taken in the recent past had ‘resulted’ in considerable improvement in the power supply and system reliability due to commissioning of 432 MW Faridabad Gas Power Project and construction of 220 KV substation at Palla with a capacity of 2100 MW and 220/66 KV power transformers at a cost of Rs 120
crore. The work was completed well ahead of schedule. The district has the largest concentration of industrial and urban consumers in the state. It contributes more than 20 per cent of the total revenue collections of the Haryana power authorities. Per capita consumption of power, which is a barometer of economic progress had been the highest in this district. The district has also the distinction of returning highest revenue per unit of electricity supplied to consumers. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, the state government had sanctioned three new 66 KV substations in the town, whose foundation stone would be laid by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, on December 20. He said these substations would be constructed at NH-3 (NIT), Sector 46 and Sector 31 here and would cost Rs 4.65 crore, Rs 2.15 crore and Rs 1.65 crore, respectively. He said these substations were likely to be commissioned by July, 2001. He said upgradation of the existing 33 KV Chhainsa substation in the rural area of Ballabgarh tehsil to 66 KV was also being taken up at a cost of Rs 325 lakh, with financial assistance from the Rural Electrification Corporation of India. |
|
DoT to open 60 new
exchanges SONEPAT, Dec 15 — The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to open 60 new telephone exchanges and fixed a target of providing 1.50 lakh new telephone connections in the state during the current financial year. Stating this, Mr N.K. Mangla, Chief General Manager, Telecom of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Haryana, said here today that the department had already opened 36 new exchanges and provided 70,000 connections in the state. Talking about the further development plans, he said the department plans to provide about 13,000 new connections in Sonepat district by the end of the current financial year. Of these, 6,500 new connections had already been provided to the subscribers on the waiting list. Moreover, nine new telephone exchanges would be opened in the district. He further said all the telephone exchanges would be made electronic and connected by an optical fibre cable
(OFC). Mr Mangla also unveiled the India Telecom Card (IT card) which would be available in the denominations of Rs 125, Rs 210, Rs 525 and Rs 1,050 from telecom centres in the city. |
|
Union: review move on retrenchment CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The Haryana Confed Employees Welfare Union has appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision regarding the retrenchment of 311 surplus employees of Confed. In a press note issued today, Mr Jay Narayan Kaushik, president, and Mr Sitaram Barbadia, general secretary of the union, said that not only 311 Confed employees, but 129 employees of Harcofed, 37 employees of Infed, 60 of the state Handloom and Handicrafts corporation and 68 employees of Housefed were being retrenched. Existence of more than 500 families had been threatened by the government’s inhuman and undemocratic step, it said. The Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who made the tall claim of giving a job to a person from every family, had shown his true colours by this decision, it alleged. The retrenched employees would take recourse to agitational path unless the state government accommodated them in other cooperative institutions or state government departments, it warned. Interest rates for
loans fixed CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The Haryana Government today fixed the rate of interest to be charged on various loans and advances granted to government employees, including all-India service officers, during the current financial year. A spokesman of the Finance Department said the rate of interest fixed in the case of the cycle advance would be 10 per cent. In the case of loans for cars, motor cycles, scooters, mopeds, house building, marriage and computer advance it would be 11 per cent. He added that it had also been decided that wherever loans were being sanctioned or granted for the second time in respect of house building, motor cycles, scooters, mopeds and computers, the rate of interest would be 12 per cent. He clarified that in the case of misutilisation of any loan, penal interest at the rate 10 per cent per annum would be charged from the defaulting employee over and above the normal rate of interest. |
|
Haryana promotes two
PROs CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The Haryana Government today promoted Mr Ram Bhagat and Dr Rajbir Singh, Public Relations Officers, as Deputy Directors with immediate effect. Mrs Swaran Lata and Mr Ved Parkash Kamboj, Assistant Public Relation Officers, have also been promoted Public Relations Officers. On promotion, Mr Ram Bhagat has been posted Deputy Director, field, while Dr Rajbir Singh has been posted as Deputy Director, Ambala. He will also look after work of DPRO, Ambala. Mrs Swaran Lata and Mr Ved Parkash Kamboj on promotion as Public Relations Officer have been promoted in the production and Press Section at Chandigarh, respectively. The government also transferred Mr Jaswant Singh, DPRO, Ambala and posted him in the Press Section at Chandigarh. Mr Pawan Kumar, DPRO, Kurukshetra has been posted DPRO, Kaithal, while Mr Tara Chand Gupt, DPRO, Panipat, goes as such to Karnal. Mrs Sushma Saini, Public Relations Officer, Chandigarh, has been posted as DPRO, Panipat, while Mr J.P. Singh, APRO, has been posted at Kurukshetra and he would look after the work of DPRO at Kurukshetra. Strike: one booked
under ESMA CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The Panchkula police today arrested Mr N.K. Sharma, an employee of the PWD (B&R), Haryana Government, and booked him under ESMA. Mr Sharma, who is a leading figure in the pen-down strike by employees of the Haryana Government, was arrested near the venue of the gathering of agitators in Sector 17 here. Earlier in the day, the Panchkula police picked up Mr Ashok Goyal, also an agitator, from his house in Sector 7, Panchkula. |
|
He died a
hero’s death BHIWANI, Dec 15 (PTI) — Ashok Kumar gunned down five dreaded militants while fighting against them continuously for 10 hours. He continued to fire even after a bullet had pierced through his chest at Sabrangkot in Kashmir a few days ago. The body of this soldier was brought to his native village Ranila in this district and was cremated with state and military honours by giving him a guard of honour. Officers of the district administration and thousands of people were present on the occasion. Kumar belonged to 69 Armoured Regiment and was presently attached with 27 National Rifles. His father Goam Singh who had served in the Army was proud of his brave son. Kumar’s wife, Ms Rekha Devi, whom he married two and a half years ago showed rare fortitude by consoling members of the family and said she was proud of her husband who laid down his life for the nation. |
|
Rail reservation computerised PANIPAT, Dec 15 — After inaugurating a computerised reservation system at Kurukshetra, the Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Vinod Sharma, and the Chief Traffic Manager, Mr H.V. Sharma, inspected the overhead electrification system from Karnal to Panipat in a cable car today. Talking to mediapersons at the railway station here, Mr H.V. Sharma said it was a routine check. He visited the entire circulating area and instructed officials to curb pollution. He said a new pathway would be provided soon for those on wheel chairs. Mr Vinod Sharma listened to grievances of mediapersons relating to the railway station and assured them that they would be solved soon. |
|
Haryana treasuries to be computerised CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The Haryana Government will spend Rs 4.85 crore on computerisation of all district treasuries and sub-treasuries in the state. An official spokesman said the state had 21 district treasuries in total and 79 sub-treasuries at present. Computerisation of treasuries and sub-treasuries was under progress and was likely to be completed by the end of this year. All treasuries would also be connected with the state headquarters on-line through the Harnet by the end of next year. He added that the Finance Minister, Prof Sampat Singh, would inaugurate the 80th sub-treasury of the state at Bhattu Kalan in Fatehabad district tomorrow. |
|
10 govt schools in Jind
upgraded JIND, Dec 15 — Ten government schools in this district have been upgraded with immediate effect. Stating this here today, Mr H.S. Dhankhar, Deputy Commissioner, said the upgradation of these schools was announced by the Chief Minister at open darbars held in this district recently. He said government primary schools of Bhosla, Siwana Maal and Paju Khurd villages had been upgraded to middle schools, while middle schools of Khararwal, Dhatri Tek Singh, Karamgarh and Bikhawala villages had been upgraded to high schools. High schools of Nagura, Pipltha and Balerkha villages had been upgraded to senior secondary schools. He said a special grant of Rs 4.7 lakh was issued by the government for the repair of five school buildings in this district. |
|
114 cases of power theft detected SONEPAT, Dec 15 — The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has intensified its campaign to check cases of power theft in Sonepat operation circle. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal said here today that during this campaign, premises of as many as 704 consumers were checked during the first week of the current month and 114 cases of power theft detected. A fine of Rs 4.19 lakh was imposed on the erring consumers and Rs 1.16 lakh was recovered as fine. Seven cases were sent for registration of FIRs against the consumers who had failed to deposit the amount of penalty. The Deputy Commissioner said as many as 37 cases of power theft were detected in rural areas. In Gohana subdivision, as many as 42 cases of power theft were detected, he added.
Man, niece electrocuted AMBALA, Dec 15— A man and his niece were electrocuted in Shahzadpur
today. The incident took place when Laxman Das, 22, was taking his niece, Vinita, 10, to her school on his
bicycle. The cycle touched a wire which was lying on the road and both were electrocuted. They were rushed to the hospital where they died. Kunjeyans to meet on Dec 17 CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The annual meeting of the Kunjpura Sainik School Old Boys Association
(Kunjeyans) will be held on the school premises in Karnal district on December 17, according to a press note issued by the association president, Mr Sarbjit Singh
Kuki, here today. A cricket match between old students and present students will also be
organised. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
