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| Sunday,
January 14, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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HUDA
auction: Haryana dithers on action Illegal
structures: legal action planned Spell
out stand on arms dropping: CPM Job-oriented
KU courses MC
retrenches 560 workers Criminals
seek ransom from traders |
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‘BJP to
emerge as alternative’ Pioneering
work in farming Chautala
visits Ottu Weir site Jaitley
to look into lawyers’ demand Haryana
to raise demarcation pillars in Yamuna bed Clarify
stand on tender issue, PGI head told Clerk
returns bribe money to peon! Ban on
book in varsity course sought Advani
lauds ITBP, CRPF’s role Youths
molest girl, case registered Former
DC seeks security Fake
detergent unit unearthed Workshop
for surveyors held Lohri celebrated
with gaiety Plan to
improve power supply
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HUDA auction: Haryana dithers on action GURGAON, JAN 13 — Haryana government’s dilatory tactics to initiate action against officials of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in its abortive attempt to effect scandalous auctions of commercial sites in some of the sectors has raised eyebrows in several quarters. When an effort was made to seek version of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Apporva Singh, who had cancelled the auctions, his office said that he was away to Chandigarh. However, unofficial sources said that he was in Gurgaon. The Administrator, HUDA, Gurgaon, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, said that the auctions had been cancelled by the Deputy Commissioner on account of some complaints regarding the exercise. According to sources, in case the auctions were carried
through, property dealers in collusion with the HUDA officials would have defrauded the government of several crores of rupees. It is learnt that the Chief Minister’s Flying Squad is inquiring into the incident. In case the inquiry was carried to logical conclusion, some in higher echelons of bureaucracy of the state, would fall in the net. There is strong move in a section of the government circles to bury the issue. The local Estate Office of the HUDA had advertised auctions of sites for Nursing Home, Clinic, Higher School, Nursery School, SCO’s and booths in various sectors and places, including Sectors 12A,45 and 46. The advertisement had attractive mast head: “HUDA offers a great investment opportunity you simply cant afford to miss.” An investigation into the case reveals some murky details involving land mafia-officers nexus. The development also cautions the government as to why officers in all categories and in various departments can virtually give their everything to be posted in Gurgaon and Faridabad. Here land is at premium and one deal could fetch a
fortune to racketeers. Also, such incidents cannot take place without some vested interests at higher level in the government and political circles. According to rules, the Administrator concerned fixes the reserve price, till certain limit, for a site to be auctioned. In case the amount of the reserve price is outside the pale of jurisdiction of the local Administrator, the Chief
Administrator decides the case. But during the entire exercise of advertisement for the cancelled auctions, fixing of dates and other details, the
Administrator was out of town. The Chief Administrator, HUDA, was also not in station. Prima facie, the
knee-jerk reaction of cancelling the auction at the 11th hour suggests that the Deputy Commissioner did not know of the entire thing. Incidentally, the Deputy Commissioner or his representative, as a rule, should be present at the venue at the time of auction. Although official circles are not ready to talk on the subject for obvious reasons, sources said that the Deputy Commissioner had ordered cancellation of the auctions a day before the auction was to be held. The Estate Office ignored the directive and went ahead with the preparations for holding the auctions. The DC followed up his directive by opening correspondence the following day. That is the day the auction was to take place, with the Estate Office, registering his protest on the proposed auction. The Estate Office had gone ahead with the preparation like laying the tent, tables and chairs and mat for the prospective bidders. After the DC’s written protest, the move for the auctions had to be abandoned. There is no documentary
proof, but sources said that before registering the written protest, the DC had also talked to the Estate Officer. The Estate Officer is said to have answered back saying that he had talked to the highest quarters about the auctions in the government and had got approval for the same. As per the advertisement, there was plan to auction seven commercial sites in sector 12 A. Significantly, there already about eight disputed cases concerning allottees and the HUDA with the District Consumer Redressal Forum. In some of the cases, the Forum had directed that the allottees may be given alternative sites in the same sector. It is common sense approach the litigants (original allottees) have to be first given the
alternative sites before inviting fresh bidders in the same sector. Here lies the catch. Had the proposed auctions been through, the litigants (the ealier allottees) would have to be adjusted in sectors like commercial sector of 29. Notably, the highest bids for the sites in sector 12 A would have reached maximum of about Rs 2.5 lakh. But a site of the same size in Sector 29 had fetched the government, in the last auctions, to more than Rs I crore. The District Consumer Redressal
Forum generally adjudicates that in case the litigant cannot be given the site, preferably in the same sector, he may be given an alternative site in another sector. In case the earlier allottees are given alternative sites (which may have to be done in at some point of time) in Sector 29, they have to be given at a the same bid price of sites in sector 12 A. So, the government is defrauded of several lakhs of rupees on stamp duty on each of the sites given as alternative measures in Sector 29. Also, in undeveloped Sectors 45 and 46 (residential), sites for clinics and nursing homes had been included for in the cancelled auctions. But normally, such sites, including booths, are allotted only after the concerned sector is full. |
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Illegal structures:
legal action planned FATEHABAD, Jan 13 — The local Municipal Committee has decided to take legal action against persons who have done illegal constructions within the municipal limits. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Municipal Committee here today. Mr Sushil Narang, working president of the committee, presided over the meeting, which was attended by 13 out of the 19 Municipal Commissioners. The local MLA, Mr Leela Krishan, was also present. Mr Narang, after a unanimous decision of the Municipal Committee to this effect, asked its Junior Engineer to submit within a week a list of those persons who had made unauthorised constructions. It was decided to take suitable legal action against the violators. The committee also resolved to proceed against those tenants of its property who had remitted their rents for the past six months. The members also resolved to demolish about 20-25 shops on the Thana Road so that the plots of the Palika Bazaar behind them could be auctioned. The committee also decided to accept the new house tax assessment policy of the state government. The poor sanitary conditions prevailing in the town also figured at the meeting. Instructions were issued to the Chief Sanitary Inspector of the municipality to launch a special drive to improve sanitary conditions. A resolution was also adopted to purchase a tractor-trailor and other equipment for sanitation purposes. Through a separate resolution, the president and the vice-president of the committee were authorised to rent out these civic buildings, which were earlier used as octroi posts. In a significant development, the Municipal Committee set aside the orders issued by the then Secretary, Mr Singla, through which he had declared the allotment of 58 plots of the auto market as ‘illegal’. The Municipal Committee resolved that instead of rejecting their allotment outrightly, the owners should be given an opportunity of being heard. The members also resolved to name a park near the Rattia crossing on the national highway as Sain Chowk. The Sain Sabha, Fatehabad, had expressed its desire to install a statue of their God, Sain Maharaj, in the park. They also resolved to ensure development activities in the Jawahar Chowk area on a priority basis, demolition of a water reservoir in Ward No 2 which had been declared unsafe and regularisation of the service of a female peon working on daily wages. |
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Spell out stand on
arms dropping: CPM ROHTAK, Jan 13 — The CPM has asked the Centre to spell out its stand on the CBI revelations that the arms dropping in Purulia in 1995 were meant for the Anand Marg to kill the CPM cadres and leaders before the last assembly elections. The CPM politbureau member, Mr Prakash Karat, today charged the Vajpayee government with adopting a soft attitude towards the Purulia arms-dropping case for the reason that the arms were to be used against the CPM and the Left Front government. He substantiated his charge by saying that the main accused Kim Davy had not been arrested and a British citizen, Peter Bleach, may be released under pressure of the British Government. “This total clandestine handling of the Purulia case exposes the anti-Communist attitude of the central government,” he said and added that the CPM politbureau had demanded an explanation from the Vajpayee government. Mr Karat was here today to address the general body meeting of the Haryana unit of the CPM on updated party programme and the present political situation. Mr Karat said the recent declaration of the RSS that the Ram temple would be constructed now in April 2002 proved the so-called “dharma
sansad” of the VHP was only a facade and it was the RSS that decided every issue. According to Mr Karat, the fresh date for the construction of the temple has been decided in view of the forthcoming elections to the UP Vidhan Sabha to create communal frenzy well before the elections. He also asked the Centre to issue a White Paper to tell the country what stand it would take at the WTO meeting to review the terms for agriculture, trade and related issues. In this regard, the CPM has supported similar concern expressed by a renowned agriculture scientist, M.S.
Swaminathan. |
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Job-oriented KU courses YAMUNANAGAR, Jan 13 — Kurukshetra University has decided to start examinations of undergraduates from April 1 in all institutions affiliated to the university. Mr R.S. Chaudhary, Vice-Chancellor of the university here yesterday disclosed that it had also been decided that results would be announced before June 15 to avoid inconvenience to students who had to apply for the higher study. He said earlier this practice was not prevailing in the university. Mr Chaudhary said the examination of postgraduate students would also be started from May 1 and the results announced before June 30. He appealed to all educational institutions of Kurukshetra University to introduce technical courses which could easily generate employment avenues to students. He directed those institutions should have proper facilities and adequate laboratories as well as library. He added that Kurukshetra University would also provide needed assistance to these institutions. Mr Chaudhary disclosed that university had introduced a number of new courses like Master of Information Technology, M.Sc. Computer Science and Software, Post Graduate Diploma in e-Commerce, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, Master Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Website Designing and many others. He said all courses were related to information and technology. He appreciated the vision of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of Haryana, under whose guidance the new education policy had been announced to provide 100 per cent employment. He stated that many companies i.e. Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, Satyam, Infosys and many other came to Kurukshetra University and 100 per cent eligible students had been selected for various companies. When pointed about the large- scale ragging in the campus he said 18 students were expelled and assured that in the next academic session there would be no ragging as such. He stated that a number of times surprise check had been conducted. He said the budget of the university was Rs 60 crore and the Haryana Government was providing Rs 17 crore and balance one was being given by the UGC. He stated that in 107 colleges affiliated to the university there were more than 1.5 lakh students. He said recently a six-member committee of National Assessment and Accrediation Committee came to university for rating. He said it is expected the first five-star rating would be provided. He added now the level of the university as per UPSC would be seven in the country whereas earlier it was ninth. |
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MC retrenches
560 workers FARIDABAD, Jan 13 — The Municipal Corporation of Faridabad in a bid to shed some weight, has given removal letters to 560 employees. According to Municipal Corporation (MCF) sources, the retrenched staff include 530 safai karamcharis and 30 malis (gardeners). They have been issued notices, which have been pasted outside the office of the MCF here. It is stated that these employees have been given one month’s advance salary and an additional salary for 15 days per year, depending upon the total years of service. The affected employees raised slogans against the MCF authorities and the state government yesterday. Some of the employees came to know about the action when they reported for duty. The authorities had to take the help of the police to disperse then from the office. It is reported that while the decision to remove the ‘surplus’ staff had been taken about a month ago, the notice in this connection was prepared recently. The
safai karamcharis had been staging a demonstration outside the office here for the past one week anticipating such action. One of the affected employees alleged that the state government had been taking action against the ‘unemployed instead of removing unemployment’. According to sources, some more employees who have attained the age of 50 or had completed 240 days of employment could face similar action in civic bodies. Mr Rattan Rohilla, a leader of the Haryana Safai Karamchari Mahasangh, has condemned the removal of the employees. He said while the workload of such employees had increased in the recent years, the state government had given a ‘New Year’s gift’ to the families of the employees by okaying their retrenchment. A spokesman of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, has also criticised the action. Describing it as an anti-employee step, he said the government stood ‘exposed’ on its assurances and promises made just before the previous elections. CONFED, a state government enterprise had removed about 311 of its employees recently. Earlier, several employees of the Haryana Minerals Limited, Haryana Spinning Mill, Hansi, Hafed, Housefed, Handloom Apex and Animal Husbandry Department had been removed in the past year, claimed the sangh. |
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Criminals seek ransom
from traders HISAR, Jan 13 — Resentment prevails among local businessmen following a sudden increase in activities of criminals seeking ransom from them. Members of a gang headed by Subhash Fauji, a notorious criminal, who has been absconding for the past seven months, have demanded ransom from eight local traders during the past week. Three motor cycle-borne youths came to a shop in the local Grain Market on Thursday and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakh from Mr Bajrang Lal. They claimed to be members of the Fauji gang. They warned him to pay the amount in two days or face death. The police has registered a case in this regard, but the criminals have been threatening him again. The district police has set up a special team to investigate the matter. The team raided many villages in search of the criminals during the past 24 hours, but no arrest has been made so far. Mr Raj Pal Singh, Superintendent of Police, visited the market yesterday. He asked traders to provide clues about the criminals and assured them of their safety. The traders organised a meeting yesterday to discuss the situation. Addressing the traders, Mr Bajrang Dass Garg, president of the Haryana Beopar Mandal, said the police had failed to maintain the law and order in the town. |
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‘BJP to emerge as alternative’ GOHANA, Jan 13 — The Union Law Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, announced here yesterday that the Constitution would be amended to change geographical limits of the constituencies. He also announced that law would be enacted to ensure adequate and immediate payment of compensation to the farmers for their land acquired by the government. He described the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism as the biggest challenge before the country. Mr Jaitley was addressing a big rally organised by the BJP MP from Sonepat, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, under the banner of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. The rally was the culmination of five “yatras” taken out by the Morcha from various places in Haryana. Encouraged by the big response to the rally, senior leaders of the Haryana BJP made use of strong words to criticise the Chautala government. All five BJP MPs from Haryana, including the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I.D. Swami, were present at the rally. However, only two of the six party MLAs, Mrs Sarita Narayan (Kalanaur) and Mr Chander
Bhatia (Faridabad), attended the rally. Even the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, was conspicuous by his absence. The Haryana BJP President, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, said they had not mortgaged the party to anyone. Claiming that soon the party would be number one in the state, Mr Kataria said it would not need the crutches of support from any other party. He said on April 6 party units would be set up in all 6745 villages of Haryana to mark the foundation day of the BJP. The former Education Minister and a senior party leader, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, said: “We have extended our support. We have not surrendered.” Describing the ruling Indian National Lok Dal, a member of the National Democratic Alliance, as “Bapu-Beta and Sons Private Limited” Mr Sharma, however, added that the BJP would not allow the Congress and the former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, to humble Mr Chautala. But at the same time the BJP would also not allow the INLD chief to ignore the interests of the people. The rally adopted two resolutions demanding the withdrawal of the hike in power tariff and criticising constitution of Gram Vikas Samitis. It also demanded that the samitis should be disbanded. Barring Mrs Sudha Yadav, BJP MP from Mahendragarh, all other party MPs were highly critical of the Chautala government. The most vocal of them was Mr Sangwan, who belongs to Gohana. Mr Swami said the money being distributed by Mr Chautala under the “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programme had come from the Centre, which had given Rs 600 crore to Haryana for various development schemes. Mr Ram Chander Bainda (Faridabad) said the BJP’s influence had spread from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari, “Haryana jaisi chhoti-moti dhaanian” did not matter. Accusing Mr Chautala of backing out on his promises, Mr Sangwan said the success of the Gohana rally would begin the end of “dynasty rule” and the BJP would emerge as a new political alternative in Haryana. |
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Pioneering work in farming YAMUNANAGAR: There is no shortage of food in the world, says Mr Surinder Singh Hara, who was recently given the Punjabi of the Millennium award at the World Punjabi Conference held in Chandigarh. Mr Hara was honoured for his achievements in agriculture, horticulture and agro-forestry. Mr Hara, who has visited a large number of countries, has a 100-acre farm at Amadalpur, about 15 km from here. The farm has more than 15,000 poplar trees, 500 fruit trees, including litchi and chikoo, besides the wheat, sugarcane and turmeric crops. Mr Hara says that with present-day technology, 20 billion people can be fed at the nutrition level prevalent in the USA. He is concerned over the shortage of wood all over the world. In India, forests are being cut and the shortage is acute. Mr Hara is critical about the functioning of agricultural universities. He says their research and development work is not up to the mark, especially in Haryana, and in the past 30 years they have not been able to come out with new technologies. Mr Hara says his philosophy is that one must do one’s best in one’s work. He says one must set one’s own standards of excellence and pursue perfection. He is primarily interested in agricultural development in general and farming in particular and is trying to bring about higher production on Hara Farms. He wants to control pollution and maintain the ecological balance while creating unprecedented wealth for the country. On Hara Farms 10 years ago they used to mature a poplar tree in 10-12 years and later the period was reduced to 8-10 years. He says the current crop of poplars in expected to mature in six to eight years. A mature tree, according to his definition, has a girth of 100 cm at chest level, is 100 ft high and weighs one ton. The farm produces 20 tons of timber per acre per year. He says the aim is to produce 25 tons, possibly 30 tons, of timber per acre per year. He says in natural forests the world over (developing as well as developed countries) timber production ranges from 1 ton to 4 tons per acre per year. Moreover, in natural national forests the undergrowth is of little economic importance. On the farm the undergrowth is high-value spices (mainly turmeric), fruits and other food crops. He says after visiting 60 countries of agricultural importance he has come to the conclusion that there is no wasteland. There is a lot of land lying waste because its economic use has not been identified or it is not being put to optimum use. For example, Hara Farms is sandwiched between the Western Yamuna Canal and the Yamuna river. Some 25 acres get waterlogged, especially during the monsoon, reducing productivity to near-zero. He says that they have 8 acres under pisciculture. With the latest methodology, he hopes the fish output will rise to 4-5 tons per acre per year. He says in the matter of crop growth , there are four essentials — irrigation, plant food, sunlight and management. Management includes heavy investment, technology and hard work. Besides high economic returns and giving gainful employment to a large number of persons, Hara Farms can theoretically contain pollution. From modest pioneering efforts in forestry started in 1981 by Hara Farms and the nearby Kalsia Farms, farm forestry is growing all over northern India at a fast pace. Consequently, over 200 wood-processing facilities have come up in Yamunanagar and Jagadhri. He says that unofficially it has been reported that timber worth at least Rs 1 crore is sold every day and Rs 3 crore worth of wood products (plywood, wood board, crates, etc) are exported daily. Those who visit the farm go convinced that wood will increasingly come from agro-forestry, which needs to be encouraged.  |
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Chautala visits Ottu Weir site SIRSA, Jan 13 — “My government has been able to recover pending electricity bills of more than Rs 500 crore without resorting to the use of force”, claimed the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here. He was talking to mediapersons at the Ottu Weir site after inspecting the progress of construction work of Rs 28.5 crore weir project at Ottu village in the district yesterday. The Chief Minister said his government had successfully made consumers pay their electricity dues voluntarily. Terming the allegations of misbehaviour with consumers as baseless, Mr Chautala said electricity was no more a facility but it had become an essential service for which consumers had to pay, so that developmental works were carried out. He claimed that power tariff in Haryana was lesser than that in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. However, he evaded the question concerning the neighbouring state of Punjab. Expressing his satisfaction over the progress of the construction work of Ottu Weir, he hoped that it would be ready by June before the monsoons set in. It would provide water for irrigation to thousands of acres of land. He announced the construction of two additional canals from this weir with which water would be made available for irrigation through ‘lift system’ to farmers in the parched area of the district. The weir, which is being constructed under the World Bank’s Haryana Water Resources Consolidation Project, would replace more than hundred-year-old structure. The 50 per cent construction work of the new weir was completed by the end of December. The Chief Minister announced that a tourist complex-cum-lake on this weir would be constructed promoting tourism in the area. For this purpose the Canal Rest House at Ottu was being transferred to the Tourism Department. Regarding anti-encroachment drive of the government, Mr Chautala said his government had issued instructions to the administration to implement it without any slackness. Mr Chautala said for the first time, a traffic policy in the state had been formulated to regularise traffic. Under this policy, a police post would be installed at every 30 km on national highways. The post would be equipped with additional facilities of mobile first aid van and telephone. Trauma centres as already working in Rohtak, would be set up in Karnal and Sirsa, besides, on the Jaipur and Agra highways passing through the state. |
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Jaitley to look into lawyers’ demand SONEPAT, Jan 13 — The Union Law Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, assured the members of the coordination committee of the Haryana Bar Association here yesterday that he would look into their demand for the creation of a separate high court for Haryana and discuss the issue with senior officials of the Union Law Ministry. The minister, however, asked them to seek cooperation from the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in this regard as his recommendations were necessary for accepting this demand. Mr Jaitley had a brief halt at the residence of Mr Gulshan Chhabra, a BJP leader, while on his way to Gohana town, 35 km from here, to attend a state-level rally of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) there. The minister agreed that he extended his support to the demand for the setting up of a separate high court for Haryana but this could not be fulfilled until the state government agreed to it. The members of the association apprised the ministers of their agitation on this issue and gave the details about the talks already held between them and the Chief
Minister. They also said their struggle would continue till the demand was accepted by the government. Later, addressing a huge rally at Gohana town, the minister highlighted the decisions taken by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre during its 34-months tenure and said the crop insurance scheme and the credit card scheme for farmers had already been introduced. He claimed that the remunerative prices for agricultural produce had been fixed by the government and the farmers were satisfied with these prices. Referring to the demands of farmers, he promised that the Central Government would ensure early release of compensation to the farmers whose lands had been acquired by the government for various purposes. |
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Haryana to raise demarcation pillars in Yamuna bed SONEPAT, Jan 13 — Following the reported refusal of the Survey of India
(SOI) authorities to fix pillars to identify the land between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the Yamuna river bed, the Government of Haryana is reported to have decided to construct the pillars on its own and requested the SOI to give demarcation for the same. According to sources, 89 pillars are to be constructed for Rs 8.90 lakh in the Yamuna river belt of this district. Though officially it has not been made known in this regard but sources have revealed that on
account of erosion on the Haryana side by the Yamuna river 3,396 acres of land has gone to Uttar Pradesh side due to change of course by the Yamuna river, only 3,000 acres of land has been recovered on Haryana side whereas 541 acres of land of Ganaur tehsil in this district has gone to UP. In 1979, on the recommendation of the Dixit award, a Boundary Act was made and in pursuance of the same, the revenue records were exchanged between the two states in 1987. Thereafter, the Central Government got necessary pillars including the boundary between these two states were installed with its assistance. Frequent disputes about the land between these two states had cropped up and sometimes violent clashes took place between the farmers of UP areas and the districts of Sonepat, Panipat, Karnal and Faridabad in Haryana. Ms Anita Chaudhary, Commissioner of Rohtak Division had convened a meeting of the Deputy Commissioners of districts concerned here recently and asked the DC Faridabad to undertake the work for fixing the pillars but on account of his transfer no headway has been possible. Shortage of funds has come in the way in fixing pillars and unless the provision for the funds is made in the Budget, the work is not likely to be taken up in the near future. |
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Clarify stand on
tender issue, PGI head told ROHTAK, Jan 13 — Following complaints of gross violations of the procedure laid down for the purchase of medicines and equipment for the PGI here, the state government has asked Dr S.B. Siwach, Director of the PGI, to clarify his position. In his letter dated January 8, Mr G. Madhvan, Financial Commissioner and Secratary, Health Department, has raised certain objections regarding a tender inviting a variety of equipment for the PGI. Mr Madhavan also sought an explanation of the procedure being adopted presently for the purchase of medicines. Mr Madhvan said the Director might be aware that the decisions for purchases exceeding a sum of Rs 15 lakh were taken at the level of the high-powered purchase committee presided over by the Chief Minister and the tenders were also invited by the Director, Supplies and Disposal, Haryana. However, he said, an advertisement had appeared in an English daily inviting tenders up to January 19 for the equipment. Mr Madhvan asked the Director to clarify the reasons for not asking the Director, Supplies and Disposal, Haryana, to invite tenders. |
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Clerk returns bribe
money to peon! REWARI, Jan 13 — An interesting case pertaining to the return of bribe money by a clerk of the District Education Office here to a peon of Government High School, Badhrana, has come to light. According to information released to the Press by Mr Satender Singh, president of the Rewari district unit of the Haryana Government School Teachers Union, the peon, Kalu Ram, recently approached the clerk, Rajender Singh, for the release of money from his provident fund. It is alleged that the clerk “extorted” Rs 1,000 from the peon to do the needful. However, the peon made a written complaint to Mr Satender Singh seeking his help to get back the bribe money. Consequently, Mr Satender Singh met the District Education Officer, Mr R.P. Yadav, and brought the matter to his notice. Rajender Singh came to know of it and returned the bribe money to Kalu Ram in the presence of some persons at the latter’s residence. On January 10, when Mr Satender Singh and Kalu Ram met the DEO, Rajender Singh was summoned who reportedly confessed to his fault and sought pardon. |
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Ban on book
in varsity course sought ROHTAK, Jan 13 — The Haryana Guru Ravi Das Samaj Mahasabha has demanded a ban on the sale and the distribution of Hindi book ‘Kavitayan’ as it
allegedly contains derogatory material against the Dalits. The mahasabha president, Mr Ram Mehar, regretted that Maharshi Dayanand University had prescribed this book for its Prabhakar course. The book, he said, contained a poem titled “Chamaron ka
Naach” (page 39) which was full of casteist references. The book, he said, would create caste hatred, humiliation and discrimination against Dalit boys belonging to the Chamar caste. This book would create venomous atmosphere in the colleges and schools. This malicious, derogatory and venomous literature must be banned in schools, colleges and universities, he wrote to the chairman, National Commission for SC/ST. Mr Ram Mehar pleaded for strict action against the author of the book. He has also urged the Haryana Governor and the Chief Minister to direct the university to withdraw this book from the Prabhakar course and initiate action against the staff responsible for the inclusion of this book in the syllabus. |
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Advani lauds ITBP,
CRPF’s role SONEPAT, Jan 13 — Union Home Minister L K Advani, inaugurated a medical centre for mentally retarded persons at the Indo Tibetan Border Police Centre at Saboli village 15 km from here today. Speaking on the occasion Mr Advani said that the unilateral ceasefire announced by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in the month of Ramzan had yielded good results and it had been appreciated not only in India but in the whole world. Even super-powers like the USA and Russia have endorsed the line of action adopted by India to solve the problem of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that Pakistan had, however, not taken any effective steps to stop the cross border terrorism and on this account Pakistan had been isolated in the world. |
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Youths molest girl,
case registered JHAJJAR, Jan 13 — The Bahadurgarh police has registered a case of molestation and beating up of a girl under Sections 354, 442 and 506 of the IPC against two youths of Tanda Heri village. According to the police, Ms Seema Kumari of Tanda Heri village in her complaint to the police alleged that Baljit and Surjit of the same village entered into her house when she was alone and molested her. Meanwhile, the mother of the girl arrived and tried to save her but the youths thrashed the girl and the mother. In another incident Jitendra and Sandeep were injured seriously in an accident between a Tata Sumo, in which they were travelling, and a tractor on the Badli-Pelpa road on Thursday. The tractor driver fled the scene after the incident. The injured were rushed to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered against the tractor driver. |
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Former DC seeks
security ROHTAK, Jan 13 — Apprehending danger to his life as well as members of his family, Mr Anil Kumar, a former Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, has requested the Chief Secretary, Haryana, to provide him with adequate security. According to sources, Mr Anil Kumar, a suspended IAS officer, in a letter to the Chief Secretary on Thursday, alleged that DSP Banwari Lal of the State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) went to his house in Chandigarh on January 10 and in his absence threatened his wife. He said he was in Rohtak at the time of the incident to appear before SVB officials in connection with a corruption case lodged here. Mr Anil Kumar is a co-accused with a former minister, Sri Kishan Das, in a case of misuse of funds earmarked for the construction and repair of flood-hit roads. |
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Fake detergent
unit unearthed ROHTAK, Jan 13 — The police unearthed a small scale factory allegedly manufacturing an imitation of a popular detergent during a raid here on Thursday. According to police sources, following a tip-off a police party raided the premises of the factory located at J.P. Colony on the Bhiwani road here and seized raw material, empty bags and wrappers, which were sent to Madhuban for testing. A case was registered against Dharmvir of Bihar, Naresh of Kharhar village and Deepak of J.P. Colony under Sections 420 and 486 of the IPC and Sections 63 and 64 of the Copyright Act. |
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Lohri celebrated
with gaiety AMBALA, Jan 13 — The festival of Lohri was celebrated on the campus of SA Jain College, Ambala City, with gaiety. On this occasion students presented a cultural show which consisted of bhangra, solo dance and folk dances. The function was presided over by Mr Kuldip Jain, president of the management committee of the college. The Principal of the college, Dr C.L. Singla, and secretary of the management committee, Mr Kirti Prashad Jain, were also present on the occasion. A similar function was also organised in MDSD Girls College. Girls organised a cultural programme. The Principal of the college, Mrs Kiran
Angra, was also present on the occasion. |
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Workshop for
surveyors held PANIPAT, Jan 13 — A workshop on machinery breakdown, equipment insurance and claims, organised by the Institute of Insurance Surveyors and Adjusters, Haryana, was held here today. More than 50 surveyors from all districts of the state attended. Inaugurating the workshop, the Regional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company, Ambala, Mr V.K. Khattar said engineering and electronic equipment covered under the new machinery insurance policy would grant insurance cover to plant, machinery and mechanical equipment at work, or during maintenance operations. Mr K.D. Kohli, a surveyor, gave details about the engineering machines policies laid down by the different insurance companies. |
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Plan to improve
power supply CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Haryana Power Utilities have a comprehensive plan of Rs 60 crore to strengthen power transmission and the distribution system in Gurgaon district, an official spokesman said here today. He said under the plan, six substations would be set up in the district . There would be 220 kv substations at Manesar and Sikandarpur while four 66 kv substations would be set up in Gurgaon city (Sector 55-56, Sector 33-34, sector 40-45 and 9-A). Also, the capacity of substations at the DLF and Sector 23 would be augmented. The spokesman said the 220 kv substations at Sikandarpur would be constructed by the Power Grid Corporation of India. This substation would allow additional power from the grid network for Gurgaon and give relief to the already overloaded 220 kv substation at Badshapur. |
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Revenue ‘leakage’ CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau has detected two cases of revenue “leakage” involving more than Rs 11 lakh. Following this finding, departmental action has been recommended against the gazetted officers, a spokesman of the bureau said. |
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Two DSPs
shifted CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Haryana Government has transferred DSP Balwan Singh (Traffic Staff) to Gohana. Mr Pratap Singh, DSP, Gohana, has been posted as DSP, 5th Battalion, Haryana Armed Police (HAP), Madhuban, against a vacant post. |
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