Govt gears up for wheat procurement
Our Correspondent

Hisar, March 21
The state government has made adequate arrangements for the procurement of wheat, which will commence from April 15.

Addressing a meeting of officials of Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Jind, Fatehabad and Rohtak districts here last evening, Mr Dharamvir, Commissioner, Food and Supply department said the government had set up 371 purchase centres in the state and the staff would be deployed on these centres from April 1.

He said six agencies had been authorised for the procurement in Haryana. These were: the Food Corporation of India, CONFED, HAFED, Agro Industries Corporation, Warehousing Corporation and the Food and Supplies department. The government would depute 35 IAS officers to ensure the smooth functioning of these centres. Besides the commissioners of four revenue divisions and Deputy Commissioners of districts concerned would be authorised to take appropriate decisions on the spot if need be.

Mr Dharamvir said the government would ensure payment to farmers within 72 hours. For this purpose the government had established a cash credit system of Rs 4,600 crore with the help of the Reserve Bank of India, he added. The government would ensure that the auction started at 10 am and closed in the evening at the appointed time at all centres.

The commissioner said the government had also made adequate arrangements for the storage of wheat. Along with godowns, the government had also arranged platforms for the storage of 15-lakh metric tones of wheat in the open. He said the government would purchase 1.80 lakh bags of 50 kg capacity for the purpose.

Rohtak civic body budget surplus
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, March 21
The budget estimates of the Municipal Committee, a Rohtak, show a surplus of Rs 63.13 lakh for the coming financial year.

As against an estimated income of Rs 9,01,38,686, the civic body proposes to spend Rs 8,38,25,000 on various development activities and the repayment of loans. The revised income of the municipal committee for the year ending March 31 has been estimated at Rs 7,57,43,686 against an expenditure of Rs 6,95,55,000, thereby leaving a balance of Rs 61,88,686.

Nearly 60 per cent of the estimated income has been earmarked for expenses on establishment. The civic body will spend Rs 5.48 crore on establishment during the coming year as against Rs 4.70 crore in the current financial year. The committee has reserved Rs 1.15 crore for development projects likely to be undertaken during the coming year.

The municipal committee proposes to earn Rs 3 crore from the house tax, Rs 1.50 crore from stamp duty and Rs 1 crore from the sale of land. It had planned to collect Rs 1.70 crore from the sale of land during the current financial year but till January last, the income under this head was nearly Rs 46.98 lakh only.

The civic body proposes to earn Rs 70 lakh as “development charges” from the new colonies or unauthorised colonies that it plans to regularise. The budget estimates include an income of Rs 60 lakh from rent, Rs 15 lakh from “dead animals” and Rs 20 lakh as its share from the vehicle registration licence fee.

The committee propose to earn Rs 45 lakh from surcharge on electricity and an equal amount under the head “miscellaneous”. The estimates, approved by the municipal committee at its meeting held yesterday, have not given details of the miscellaneous sources.

The committee plans to spend Rs 25 lakh on the construction of roads, Rs 20 lakh on the construction of shops and Rs 17 lakh on the pavement of streets. It has earmarked Rs 10 lakh for payment of pending bills and Rs 5 lakh for the construction of a park. It propose to spend Rs 10 lakh on repayment of loan during the coming year as well.

The civic body has reserved Rs 1.37 crore for contingency expenses and Rs 28.25 lakh for miscellaneous expenses and Rs 30 lakh for the construction of drains.

HBVN scheme finds few takers
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, March 21
The waiver of the surchage scheme introduced by the Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (HBVN) for the recovery of pending electricity bills has not found favour with the defaulters.

According to official sources, there are 60,683 defaulters in the urban and rural areas of the district. They jointly owe Rs 3,620 lakh to the HBVN as on July 31, 1999. Of these the domestic consumers in the rural areas of the district, totalling 48,967 owed Rs 3026.87 lakh and agriculture pump owners, totalling 1,116 owed Rs 188.01 lakh.

However, the introduction of waiver of surcharge scheme has not helped the HBVN in the recovery of the pending electricity bills.

Till February 28, only 112 agriculture pump owners and 8,520 domestic rural consumers had paid Rs 18.90 lakh and Rs 602.92 lakh, respectively.

Domestic consumers in the urban areas had responded favourably to the waiver of surcharge scheme. Against 7,128 urban domestic defaulters, who owed Rs 236.42 lakh, 2,258 responded to the scheme and paid Rs 170.16 lakh till February 28.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar, had visited villages to motivate the defaulters for making payments of outstanding bills. Open darbars and bijli sabhas were also held in the urban and rural areas in this connection.

But the influence of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), which is opposed to paying of the pending bills, appears to be swaying upon the rural consumers of the district.

The Deputy Commissioner, however, is very optimistic that the rural consumers, including the agriculturalists, would favourably respond to the new waiver scheme.

Mr Khullar said FIRs registered against 25 consumers for theft of electricity had been withdrawn after they deposited the penalty amount. Nearly 50 more such cases were under process, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner claimed that the voluntary disclosure scheme introduced from March 1 for the regularisation of unauthorised load was getting a positive response.

The UHBVN officials, Mr Khullar said, were holding camps in different wards of Rohtak and Meham towns to help the consumers in getting unauthorised load regularised.

Youth cremated, Yamunanagar tense
Ashwani Dutta

Yamunanagar, March 21
The situation worsened here today, even as Ashwani Vashisht was cremated in a tense atmosphere.

Ashwani (30) died in CIA custody yesterday, resulting in the tension.

The post-mortem was conducted this morning by three doctors. The examination was videographed. The doctors — Dr Dipen Jain, Dr Rajiv Aeron and Dr Dinesh Goel — sent viscera to the forensic laboratory in Karnal.

A crowd assembled at the civil hospital did not allow the body to be taken away till they were provided the post-mortem report, only after Ms Renu Fulia, SDM, Jagadhri, and Mr Rajender Singh, DSP, handed them the report that the body was taken by the crowd to the home of the deceased where thousands of people had assembled. They were raising slogans against the police department.

The body was taken for cremation under heavy police bandobast.

The bazar remain closed even as a special police force from Ambala, Panchkula and Kurukshetra was summoned to control the situation.

Meanwhile, the police resorted to lathi charge in the main bazar to disperse the mob, who threw stones on police vehicles.

In the melee, two media men — Rakesh Bharti of Amar Ujala and press photographer Kapil Sehgal — were beaten by the police. Following this, all pressmen assembled there and blocked the road and raised slogans against the police. The injured newsmen were shifted to civil hospital, where heated argument took place between doctors and mediapersons.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajiv Sharma, and Mr K.K. Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police, called on the injured newsmen in hospital.

Mrs Rama Kaushal, Civil Surgeon, said that both newsmen were stated to be out of danger.

Yesterday, the mob became unruly and smashed many vehicles and burnt one bus of the Haryana Roadways. Two buses which were partially damaged were saved by the quick action of administration and official of Haryana Roadways Department. A police bus was also smashed. The police has to resort to firing and lathi charge to disperse the mob.

About five days back, a bag containing Rs 2.16 lakh was looted near Dushera Ground by three miscreants who fled with the money. On March 19, Mohan who is running an STD booth was taken away by the CIA staff for interrogation in this connection. Mohan was residing in the building of Ashwani. So, he was also taken away by the CIA staff and allegedly beaten to death.

The Yamunanagar police has registered a case under Section 302, IPC, against seven policemen and arrested an ASI.

The mob today damaged a Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam bus and burnt a scooter.

Dr J.P. Sharma, MLA of Yamunanagar, condemned the incident and demanded a probe into it. He said that action should be taken against erring police officials and demanded the transfer of SSP Yamunanagar.

Mr Hari Singh Ahlawat, IG, Ambala Range, also visited the twin city and discussed the situation with the officers.

2896 new houses for Haryana staff
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 21
The state government has constructed about 2896 new houses and flats for the government staff here. These houses will be inaugurated formally by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, at a function here on March 22.

According to the authorities concerned, a new housing board colony having 2714 houses of various categories has been developed in Sector 55 here. These houses, built at a total cost of Rs 19 crore, comprise two categories. While about 1998 houses have been built on a one marla plot, the rest have been developed on two marla plots.

About 200 houses have been reserved for state government staff, 24 for employees of the Haryana Housing Board. These houses would be allotted against the payment of Rs 1,01,400 (ground floor), and Rs 91,700 (first floor), respectively.

The construction of this colony was taken up in December, 1998, by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). In the two marla category, about 716 houses have been constructed. An amount of about Rs 7.92 crore has been sent on these units, having two rooms, each with a kitchen, bath and a store. The ground floor unit would cost about Rs 1.60 lakh, while a first floor house would be available for Rs 1.45 lakh. The cost of the houses would be realised through monthly instalments.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.C. Jain, said that HUDA had also constructed about 182 multi-storeyed flats in Sector 16-A.

These flats, built under the group housing scheme, were meant for employees of HUDA, Urban Estate and members of the Town and Country Planning Employees Welfare Organisation (HEWO).

Dry conditions hit gram output
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, March 21
Insufficient rainfall and dearth of canal water have resulted in low production of gram crop.

According to official figures the sowing of gram is limited to 1.25 lakh acres in the district. The matter is of concern as this sowing shows alarming proportion as compared to the state. Going by the official figures of the past five years, the farming of gram is declining. Bhiwani district topped in farming of gram five years ago and official figures show sowing of gram was done on 3.73 lakh acre in 1995 and farmers attained 18 to 20 mounds crop per acres.

This encouraged gram farming and gram was sown on 4.12 lakh acre in 1996. A decline in gram cultivation was registered in 1997, with sowing being done on 4 lakh acre.

The farming of gram is totally dependent on rain or canal water in southern Haryana and obviously continuous feeding of water could get better results. Sowing of gram was done on 4.35 lakh acres in the district in 1998, but dry weather dampened the hopes for better crop.

The drought spell in 1999 adversely affected farmers and sowing was done only on 1.25 lakh acres. This year, gram was grown only on 1.18 lakh acres. “What if we sow seeds on a large area, there is no water either from the sky or from canals and our demand for water is still unheeded” says Ramdhan, a farmer of Devsar village.

He said lack of rain and dry canals would certainly affect the crop this year too. Billu of the same village said the government had not initiated any scheme to increase gram production and chemical urea which was used to increase its production had damaged fertility. “Alewa” disease can develop if excess urea is sprinkled on gram crop.

Farmers of other areas like Mundhal and Dadri are a worried lot since the underwater table is not quite suitable for cultivation and canals are running dry. 

Survey on child labour sought
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 21
Exploitation of children in the industrial units of this region continues as the efforts of the state government for eradication of child labour have ‘failed’ to a great extent on account of the alleged apathy of the Labour Department authorities.

It is alleged that due to the pressure of factory owners the state government had failed to conduct a survey for detection and identification of child labour. The issue has come into focus as a number of children working in factories have protested against the alleged high-handedness of the owners who are violating the minimum wages Act and other labour laws.

Mr S.N. Solanki, President of the Haryana Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), yesterday urged the state government to order a comprehensive survey for detection and identification of child labour in all factories registered under the factories Act in all districts of the state.

In a press statement he also demanded that cases should be registered against the owner of factories which employ children below 14 years. He also said that the principal employer having direct or indirect effective control on the working conditions prevailing in the factory should he held responsible if any child labour has been employed in the factory or in its ancillary unit. The contractor or agent who acts on behalf of the principal employer to get the work done at the residence of a worker or at any other place should also be covered under the survey.

The industrial belt of Sonepat had lately been witnessing a spate of protest meetings and demonstrations particularly in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and a number of factories.

He alleged that several female workers in certain factories had lost their jobs and others had not been paid salaries for the past few months. He also alleged that some female workers had been implicated in false cases and demanded an immediate end to their exploitation.

Training centre for women cops
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21
In view of the increasing number of women in its work-force and the limited facilities available, the Haryana police has worked out an ambitious plan for a women’s training centre in Gurgaon.

To be funded by the Government of India (GOI) in collaboration with the state government, a formal proposal for the same has already been forwarded to them under the modernisation programmes initiated by the police department.

At present, training of all police personnel is carried out at the Madhuban police training college, single-handedly managing not only training of new recruits, men and women, but handling promotional courses for officers of the state as well.

“The training centre for women will not only cater to those employed in the state but will enable others from the region to avail themselves of the facilities. While the brass tacks in the case have been worked out as far as training personnel of other states is concerned, a final approval will come only once we get the nod from the Government of India,” the DIG (Modernisation and Welfare), Mr Anil Dawra, informed.

To be strictly in accordance with the norms laid down by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, the training centre will have faculties of social sciences, police science, criminology, law, research and development , forensic science lab, computer centre and a telecom wing to impart education.

Likely to be the biggest training centre for women police personnel in the region, it is to come up at a cost of Rs 16.32 crore which includes Rs 12 lakh for the building, Rs 2 crore on employment of additional staff and training of existing staff besides Rs 2 crore for vehicle.

At Rs 22 crore, a recruit training centre is also on the anvil to ease the burden of the Madhuban Training College. “With all new recruits being trained at this college in Bhondsi, we can have promotional courses for officers running throughout the year at Madhuban”, Mr Dawra added.

All subjects to be taken up at the women’s training college will also be taught at the centre for recruits, meant for both men and women. While the state government will bear the cost of the piece of land, funds for the staff, its training and other associated aspects will be borne by the GOI.

With 1000 to 1500 recruits passing out each year, the police department has to resort to help of the Haryana Armed Police (HAP), taking barracks, staff for training and borrowing some from the districts where the number of personnel is already short. This tends to put undue pressure on the normal courses being run at Madhuban and the new projects are the police department’s answer to this.

Nand Kishore gets best student award
Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 21
The annual prize distribution function of SD College (Lahore), Ambala Cantonment was held here today.

A total of 577 prizes were given away with includes 220 girl prize winners. There were 396 academic prizes, 81 cultural prizes, 15 NSS prizes, 17 NCC prizes and 68 sports prizes.

The overall best student principal’s medal has been bagged by Nand Kishore, MA II, for achievement in social service, cultural activities and blood donation during the past five years.

The gold medal has been awarded to Aparna Bansal for standing first in B.Sc. II non-medical exam in university and Suman Lata for standing first in BA I exam in KU.

The silver medal has gone to Aditi for standing second in B.Sc. II non-medical in KU, Monika for standing second in BA III in KU and Priyanka Jain for standing second in B.Sc. II home science in university.

The other meritorious students include Lavkesh Gupta, Gayatri, Palak Bhasin, Shivani Wadhawan. Monica Aggarwal, Seema Kansal, Ritu Rani, Anumeha Bains, Anshul Chauhan, Anup Bansal, Shivani Verma, Bala Mehta, Anupama Sehgal, Monica Kalra, Smriti Mittal, Sonika Bansal, Ashima Nijhawan, Shivnarian, Meenakshi Gupta, Ram Asra, Komal Anand, Anjali, Shili Aggarwal, Puja Sharma, Manik Singh and Preeti Chaddha.

In competitions held at KU, in singing Bhairavi Verma was first and Mohit Kumar and Arti Verma were second. In speech, Vishal Dhawan was first and Sapna Kapoor and Tarun Kaushal were second. In painting, Chandra was first and Jaswinder Singh and Bhavna were second. In poetry recitation, Nidhi Khanna and Ram Bhakt were first and Lavkesh and Shikha Uppal were second. In dhwani anukar Munish Kumar was first and Deepti Goel was first in mono-acting.

Twentyone students were honoured for participating at the national/inter-varsity level in gymnastics, cricket, handball, football, swimming and cross-country.

The principal of the college, Dr Desh Bandhu, in his annual report said that they were planning to start B.Sc. (Honours) in information technology ad M.Sc. Software. Besides setting up a modern computer lab and five rooms, the library is also going to be expanded.

3 killed, 6 hurt in mishaps
Our Correspondent

Panipat, March 21
Three persons were killed and six injured in different incidents during the past 24 hours in the district.

According to information, Satpal was run over by a train and killed near Ganjbar village this morning. He had reportedly gone out for morning chores. Meanwhile a mutilated body was found near Madloda on the Panipat-Safidon road today. The Railway police had registered cases.

In another incident, Rizwan of Uttar Pradesh reportedly committed suicide by consuming poison yesterday. A love affair was said to be the reason behind the suicide. He was admitted in a serious condition to Civil Hospital, where he later died.

In fourth incident Raju and Sonia, brother and sister, of the local Wadhawa Ram colony, were seriously injured when they were attacked by three persons last evening. They had been admitted to Civil Hospital. Money transaction was said to be the reason behind the attack.

40 passengers hurt in mishap
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 21
At least 40 passengers sustained minor injuries when a Haryana Roadways bus overturned on the GT Road near Pio Munyari village, 15 km from here, yesterday.

According to a report, the bus was on its way from Delhi to Chandigarh. The driver lost control and the bus rammed into a road divider injuring the passengers. The injured passengers were given first-aid and sent on other buses to Chandigarh. A case has been registered.

In another incident, a scooterist and his son sustained injuries when a truck hit their scooter near the railway over-bridge here yesterday. The injured persons were admitted to hospital and their condition was stated to be out of danger.

Chautala to address party workers today
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, March 21
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will address party workers and office-bearers of eight districts — Panchkula, Ambala, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Panipat and Sonepat — tomorrow on the premises of Jat Dharamshala, Karnal.

This was disclosed by the Transprot Minister, Mr Ashok Arora, here today. He said the main aim of addressing the party workers was to mobilise the party workers to participate in the rally being organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to repose faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister on March 25 in Delhi. Mr Arora said the rally would be a historic one as about five lakh persons were expected to participate.

Refresher courses in 8 subjects
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, March 21
Maharshi Dayanand University will conduct and organise refresher courses in eight subjects during the forthcoming academic session.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allotted refresher courses in Defence and Strategic Studies, Law, English, Hindi, Chemistry, Physical Education, Geography and History to the university for the current as well the coming academic session. The time schedule for the courses would be announced later.

The Controller of Examination, Dr K.C. Bhardwaj, said roll numbers in respect of undergraduate annual examinations to be held in April had been despatched to the candidates.

Truck rams into 4, three die
Our Correspondent

Kaithal, March 21
Three persons were killed and one injured seriously when a truck hit them at Babral in Samba tehsil last night.

The reports said that the four persons were replacing a tyre of their tractor-trailer when the truck (JK0-417) hit them.

One of them died on the spot while the other two succumbed to injuries at hospital. They have been identified as Bachan Singh (42), Ajit Lal, (33) and Baba Ram. The injured has been identified as Shamsher Singh. The driver of the truck has absconded. A case has been registered.

Man held after six years
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, March 21
The police today arrested a proclaimed offender who had been absconding from police custody for the last six years. The offender was produced before the court today.

Mr SP, Mr Hanif Qureshi, told mediapersons here today that Mangat Ram, son of Buhar Singh of Dhani Tali Wali village, was booked by the police in 1994 and an FIR registered against him. But he absconded from police custody. The police also arrested three persons for indulging in satta gambling. 

Irrigation branch to be modernised
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21
The Haryana Irrigation Department will modernise the Barwala branch and improve the tail Bhakra main line system.

While stating this here today, a spokesman of the department said that the Barwala branch would, therefore, remain closed from March 24 to April 8 as the work to modernise it would be carried out during this period under the Water Resources Consolidation Project. Similarly, the tail Bhakra main line system would remain closed from Apirl 9 to 24 as it would be linked to the Sidhmukh Nohar system.

The tail Bhakra main line system would include the Bhakra main branch and its system, the Fatehabad branch and its system, the Pirthla distributary, the Samain distributary and the Fatehabad distributary.

Permanent Lok Adalat for Jagadhari
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21
After its success in settling bank loan cases, the next step of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority will be to open its door to settling cases related to compoundable criminal offences, a spokesman of the authority told TNS.

The compoundable offences, punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), include those relating to uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person, assault or use of criminal force, adultery, defamation.

The spokesman said a Permanent Lok Adalat was being set up at Jagadhri. It would be inaugurated by Mr Justice V. K. Bali, chairperson of the authority, on March 24.

Haryana transfers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21
The Haryana Government has placed the services of Mr G.Prasanna Kumar at the disposal of the Union Government for appointment as Director-General, Anti-Adulteration Cell in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with immediate effect.

The government has also issued the posting orders of four other officers.

Mr Shamsher Singh Saini has been posted as Vigilance Officer, Hafed, and Mr C.P. Kapoor as OSD (Inquiry Cell), Directorate of Secondary Education.

Mr Jabir Singh has been posted as Deputy Director (Administration) in the Directorate of Sports. Mr Ram Avtar Bansal has been posted as Under Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department.

HPCC chief mobilising people
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21
Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), has started a whirlwind tour of the state for mobilising people for the “Lalkar” rally being organised by the HPCC in Panipat in April.

The tour programme of Mr Hooda, distributed by the PCC office here, shows Mr Hooda giving prominence to Rohtak district in his itinerary.

Cops seek help in catching criminals
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 21
The Sonepat police has introduced a scheme to motivate police officials and citizens to help apprehend criminals.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, told mediapersons here today that a list of 20 notorious and dreaded criminals had been prepared and circulated to all the police stations and police posts in the district.

Robber held, truck recovered
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, March 21
With the arrest of a criminal today the Jhajjar police claimed to have solved several cases of dacoities, robberies and thefts in various districts of the state. The suspect was apprehended during the investigation of a case registered on March 16.