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| Thursday, January 25, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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HUDA to develop capital assets Row in MD varsity over MoU INLD to refurbish image, hold camps
Workers for revision of minimum wages Students go on
the rampage Bandh against
professional tax held |
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Cops’ appointment: plea
to penalise panel Rs 24 cr spent on
beautification Immunisation camps
for Haj pilgrims Head cashier
surrenders 
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HUDA to develop capital assets CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The Haryana Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, decided that the state government would stand guarantee in favour of the Haryana Roadways Engineering Corporation to take a loan of Rs 18 crore from the IDBI for 200 chassis purchased to replace buses of the Haryana Roadways during the year 2000-2001. The Cabinet also gave its ex-post facto approval to the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVNL) for a short-term loan of Rs 80 crore obtained by it from Oriental Bank of Commerce and the Central Bank of India and of Rs 50 crore obtained by the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHBVNL) from the Central Bank of India. Similarly, the Cabinet also gave its ex-post facto approval to a total loan of Rs 91.14 crore taken by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam from the Power Finance Corporation Limited. The loan would be used for the construction of sub-stations and associated transmission works. It was also decided to implement a new scheme to create capital assets by utilising the funds received from the sale of surplus land or buildings or other property of the Government departments. It was decided that these capital assets would be developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation or the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board. Those surplus capital assets which cannot be put to any gainful use in other areas would be sold through open auction to save such land from encroachments. The Deputy Commissioners were directed to identify and prepare a list of such capital assets including land and building which are not being gainfully utilised. The Financial Commissioner Revenue would be the Nodal Officer for the administration of the scheme. As per the guidelines prepared for the utilisation of funds, the capital assets to be created includes construction of mini-secretariats in the newly created districts, housing facilities, office complexes and bus stands. These proceeds would, under no circumstances, be utilised for day-to-day expenditure on items like salaries, wages, vehicles, furniture, equipment and furnishing. However, these funds can be used for furnishing and furniture in case of new office complexes or mini secretariats. While 75 per cent of the estimated amount of proceeds from sale of such surplus capital assets in a particular area will constitute the plan resource and budgeted by the Finance Department, the provisions for the balance 25 per cent of the sale proceeds would be made under the non-plan budget. The FCR would further allocate 15 per cent of the funds, out of his share of 25 per cent, to the respective Deputy Commissioners. The remaining 10 per cent would be disbursed by the FCR among the Deputy Commissioners at his discretion. This scheme would act as an incentive to the Deputy Commissioners to take keen interest in its successful implementation. In case of Boards and Corporations, they would dispose of their surplus capital assets at their own level after following the procedure. In case where the land belonging to these organisations is under encroachment and they use Government machinery to take possession and disposal of such assets, the organisation would deposit 25 per cent of the sale proceeds with the Government through its Administrative Department. The Deputy Commissioners would be at liberty to get the projects executed either through HUDA, HSIDC, HSAMB, Haryana Tourism or directly through district level committee under their direct control and supervision. The upper ceiling for such project will be Rs 25 lakh in each case. Projects with estimated costs above this ceiling will be executed out of the 75 per cent component through the Public Works Department. In case the projects are executed through district level committees, the accounts would be maintained in the same manner as in case of Public Works Department. These accounts would be subject to audit as applicable to the State funds. The Cabinet also relaxed Government’s ex-gratia policy to provide employment to the second son of a peon in the department of Food and Supplies as his first son, who was provided employment after his death, also died leaving the family in hardship as a result of two deaths in three years. The peon Mr Lal Chand, had died on June 12, 1996, while in Government service. His son, Mr Lekh Raj, was appointed as peon under the ex-gratia scheme of the Government, but he also died on July 12, 1999. He was unmarried at the time of his death. As per the ex-gratia policy of the Government, job is provided to only one dependent of the family of the deceased employee which had already been provided to Mr Lekh Raj. Although the brother of the deceased employee does not fall within the definition of the family for the purpose of granting employment under the ex-gratia scheme, this being a peculiar case of two deaths in a family in three years, the Cabinet adopted a humane approach to provide succour to the family of the deceased peon. |
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Row in MD varsity over MoU ROHTAK, Jan 24 — The memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently signed by Maharshi Dayanand University and Delhi-based firm, PC Training Institute (PCTI), regarding the start of four computer courses through distance education this year has kicked up a row on the campus. According to knowledgeable sources, the PCTI is a small firm as compared to computer institutes like Zed, Aptech, NIIT, Hartron etc. However, the university authorities reached an agreement with the PCTI “ignoring” hundreds of applications and subsequent reminders submitted by various reputed computer institutes. Moreover, certain conditions were reportedly relaxed by the university authorities in the agreement allegedly to provide financial benefit to the firm at the cost of the university exchequer. A close perusal of the fee structure and sharing of revenue by different universities for similar courses gives rise to certain questions to which the university authorities have failed to provide a satisfactory answer. For example, Kurukshetra University is running similar courses in collaboration with Zed and Hartron. The fee for postgraduate diploma in computer application course has been fixed at Rs 14,800 per annum and the larger share amounting to Rs 7,800 goes to the university account and a sum of Rs 7000 goes to Zed institute. On the other hand, the fee for the similar courses has been fixed at Rs 12,000 per annum by Maharshi Dayanand University but strangely the larger share of Rs 7,200 is to be given to the PCTI while a sum of Rs 4800 would be left for the university. Besides, the university authorities revealed the study centres engaged by the PCTI had been authorised with awarding 25 per cent marks for assignments and internal assessment. They apprehended this would empower the authorities of study centres to exploit the students. It is also learnt the study centres engaged by the PCTI have been authorised to verify the educational certificates and documents of the applicants at their own level which could lead to admission of some bogus degree holders. It is also alleged the university authorities are going ahead with the four courses at a snail’s pace as the syllabi for them are yet to be prepared. The four courses are M.Sc (Computer Science), bachelor in computer application, advanced PG diploma in computer application and advanced PG diploma in information technology. The Vice-Chancellor, Maj-Gen Bhim Singh Suhag (retd), however, claimed the MoU had been signed in the interest of students. Admitting that a higher share of fee was decided to be given to the PCTI, he argued that no computer institute was ready for the agreement at a lower share in view of the strict conditions laid by the university. He said the university had specified a higher standard of the infrastructure and the teachers at the study centres engaged by the institute. |
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INLD to refurbish image, hold camps AMBALA, Jan 24 — To tone up the party cadre, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has decided to hold training camps in which party policies, programmes and major issues will be discussed. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, told mediapersons that the decision to hold four training camps had been taken at an important meeting comprising the state executive, MPs, district and block presidents and cell chiefs held at Rukmini Devi Hall, Ambala cantonment yesterday. Mr Chautala said another important decision taken at the meeting was that if the current outstanding power bill was paid by the consumer before February 28, the interest and surcharge would be waived. “If the amount of outstanding bill is high, then a facility for payment in instalments has been decided for tubewells,” he said. The Chief Minister said the first training camp would be held on February 11 and activists from Narnaul, Rewari, Jhajjar and Faridabad would participate. The second training camp would be held on February 18 in which activists from Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa would take part. The third camp would be held on February 25 and activists from Sonepat, Rohtak, Jind and Panipat would participate. The last training camp would be organised on March 4. Activists from Ambala, Kaithal, Panchkula and Yamunanagar would attend the camp. “In the training camp, party policies, programmes and major issues will be deliberated upon. We have been holding such camps even when we were in the Opposition,” he said. He said that the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, would be visiting Kurukshetra on February 3. “Among other things, Mr Vajpayee will be addressing a public meeting on February 3,” he said. Mr Chautala said that the party had also decided to publish a monthly party magazine. Earlier in the day, Mr Chautala inaugurated the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose park which is spread over 17 acres in Ambala cantonment. He also unveiled a statue of Netaji to mark the 105th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Mr Chautala said: “I promise to extend all possible help to fulfil the aspirations of the people till my last breath.” He appealed to voluntary and social organisations to contribute liberally for the development of the park. Incidentally, at the inauguration of the park, no Indian National Army member, or family member could be spotted. Mr Anil Vij, said Rs 68 lakh had already been spent to develop the park at a place till recently known as John Sahab ki Diggi. He said a 4,000 feet long and four feet wide track had been constructed in the park and a tubewell costing Rs 12 lakh had also been installed to supply water to the lake where boating facility would be added. |
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Haryana’s most wanted in police net HISAR, Jan 24 — In a major breakthrough, the police today arrested Haryana’s most wanted criminal Subhash Fauji who had struck terror in areas surrounding Hisar, Bhiwani, Fatehabad and Jind districts. He was nabbed in an early morning swoop on a house in Alewa village of Jind district where he was hiding. He was overpowered before he could use his loaded revolver, which has been seized. The SP, Mr Rajpal Singh, who was posted here a few weeks ago with a direction to arrest the notorious criminal, said the police team used the latest computer and electronic surveillance techniques to arrest him. He said Subhash Fauji was an ex-serviceman who had served in the Signals regiment of the Indian Army. He, therefore, had a good knowledge of communication systems. He said Fauji was using an electronic gadget to demand ransom. The police had put this gadget under observation and his movements were tracked on the computer. Despite police pressure, he continued threatening his victims. Subhash Fauji was produced in a local court this afternoon which remanded him to police custody for further interrogation. He has already confessed to committing all crimes for which cases had been registered against him at various places in the state. These include murder, extortion and dacoity. Mr Rajpal Singh said Fauji had joined the Army in 1996 but quit it on medical grounds two years later. He was an ace marksman. He entered the underworld during prohibition in Haryana when he began smuggling liquor. He shot at his rival Mahavir of Muklan village in December 1998. He was arrested by the police in this case but was freed by a mob. During this period he shot a person dead in Danoda Kalan village of Jind in a land dispute between his sister and the deceased. He began extracting heavy ransom from well-to-do professionals and businessmen in Hisar and other districts. In the past month he threatened more than 12 businessmen and extracted heavy amounts as ransom. The IG, Mr R.N. Chahlia, has announced rewards for all members of the police team which arrested Fauji. They include Mr Maan Singh DSP (HQ), Mr Ram Kumar, DSP, Hansi, Mr Balram, Mr Sube Singh, Mr Sajan Singh, Mr Tek Ram, Inspectors and several other policemen. |
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Workers for revision of minimum wages SONEPAT, Jan 24 — Hundreds of workers, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), took out a procession here today to press their demands for the revision of minimum wages and the imposition of a complete ban on lockouts, lay-offs, retrenchment and contract system. The procession was led by Mr S.N. Solanki and Mr Howa Singh, president and vice-president, respectively, of the Haryana unit of CITU. The procession passed through the main bazaars of the city and reached the mini-secretariat where the leaders submitted a memorandum, addressed to the President of India, to the district authorities. The memorandum urged the state government to take immediate steps for the revision of the workers’ minimum wages, which had not been revised for the past six years. The wages are required to be revised after every two years. It demanded the constitution of an advisory board, which should revise the minimum wages and fix Rs 3,500 per month as the wages of a worker employed in industrial units. It also demanded a 100 per cent payment of dearness allowance (DA) to all workers. The memorandum also demanded an amendment in the Payment of Wages Act and the imposition of a ban on lockouts, lay-offs, retrenchments and contract system. |
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Students go on
the rampage PANIPAT, Jan 24 — A mob of over 100 students of different educational institutions today damaged a number of shops, cars and a Chandigarh transport bus near Lal Batti Chowk here. According to information, the students were protesting against the beating up of six students of Arya College reportedly by youths of Balmiki Mohalla on Monday. More than a 100 students reached Lal Batti Chowk and started pelting stones on the shops. The police has taken about 35 students in custody and most of the shops at Pallika Bazaar, Insaar Bazaar and on service lanes have been closed. The district administration has also ordered the closure of all educational institutions for three days as a precautionary measure. The police reportedly gave a beating to the students for taking law into their hands.
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Bandh against
professional tax held JHAJJAR, Jan 24 — On a call given by the Vyapar Mandal, a complete bandh was observed in the town yesterday in protest against the imposition of professional tax on traders and the ongoing drive to check power theft. All market places wore a deserted look as the shops and other business establishments remained closed. Thousands of local traders and businessmen gathered at Punjabi Dharamshala. Haryana Vyapar Mandal President Lakshmi Chand Gupta said the new tax was ‘unnecessary’ and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Terming the Chautala government as anti-traders. The gathering, later on moved in a procession and demonstrated before the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. |
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Cops’ appointment: plea
to penalise panel FARIDABAD, Jan 24 — The Sarva Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, had asked the state government to take action against the selection committee members and the panel which got 1600 police constables recruited and who were later dismissed recently. At a meeting of the sangh, held here today, employee leaders resolved to see appropriate action against the officials or individuals who responsible for making the 1600 cops come on the road. They said had the selection been held in a fair and impartial manner these policemen would not have become jobless after serving for five years. The sangh leaders said the government should punish the members who had not been making recruitments in a fair manner, perhaps due to greed or political pressure. The sangh leaders opined that if such a step was not taken it would send wrong signals to people who had started suspecting the whole system of recruitment in the state in the past several years. They said over 2000 employees had already lost their jobs due to no fault of theirs while the persons responsible had gone scot-free. The sangh demanded long-time measures to check political interference and the use of money in appointments. It suggested that those officials or board members who are in charge of the recruitment process should also be brought under the purview of the law and punished if the selections are quashed. The sangh has condemned the retrenchment of a large number of employees of various boards and corporations in the recent past. It said it would support the agitation of the safai karamcharis of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, who had been removed from service and others facing retrenchment. The sangh has appealed to the state government to convene high-level meetings with employee organisations to solve various issues leading to resentment among the staff. It said the authorities should not take one-sided decisions concerning the employees. |
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Rs 24 cr spent on
beautification YAMUNANAGAR, Jan 24 — The district administration has spent over Rs 24 crore on the beautification of this city, Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, said here today. The amount had been spent on the construction of two sewage treatment plants one in the camp area and the other at Baddi Majri village, near here. He said under the government small and medium town development schemes, Rs 59 lakh had been spent. The Deputy Commissioner stated that there was no street, mohalla and road on which work had not been done. He said traffic lights had been installed at Fountain Chowk to tackle traffic problem. He said a proposal regarding the construction of a coffee house and a banquet hall had been sent to the government. Another proposal for the disposal of medical waste had also been sent to the government. |
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Immunisation camps
for Haj pilgrims CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The Haryana Government will organise training and immunisation camps from February 3 for those going on Haj. According to a spokesman of the Haryana State Haj Committee, the immunisation camps will be organised in Faridabad, Gurgaon and Panipat districts. While the Faridabad camp will be organised on February 3 on the premises of the Sector 6 mosque, the two camps in Gurgaon will be held at Nuh (February 5) and Barkali Chowk, Nagina (February 7). The Panipat camp, which will be organised at Kallander Shah Dargah on February 10, will cater to the Haj pilgrims of Panipat, Sonepat, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Jind, Kurukshetra, Hisar and Bhiwani. |
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Head cashier
surrenders ROHTAK, Jan 24 — Krishan Lal Khurana, head cashier of the Haryana Roadways Rohtak depot today surrendered before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr K.K. Bali. He was found guilty of embezzlement of nearly Rs 27 lakh. The court issued a notice to the state in this connection. Mr Dharambir Singh, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, had alleged in his complaint that the cashier decamped with the government’s money placed in the chest. He was also reportedly absent from his duties since January 16 without informing the office. |
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INLD youth wing
gen secy CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — Well-known student leader Mohisn Chaudhry was today nominated all- India general secretary of the youth wing of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) by the wing president, Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, who is also an MP. Mr Chaudhry is at
presently studying at Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi. He hails from western UP and has been engaged in various student and youth activities. |
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Seven demoted CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The Haryana Government today demoted seven Under Secretaries posted in the Civil Secretariat here to the post of Superintendent with immediate effect in view of the judgement handed down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. They are Mr Sadhu Singh, Mr B.L. Grover, Mr Bharat Singh, Mr Tara Chand, Mr Puran Mal, Mr Sumer Chand and Mr Sube Singh. |
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