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Friday,
March 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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62 cr arrears released for Haryana teachers Sharp fall in wheat production
feared Kisan Sabha men hold dharna
Unity eludes Haryana Cong men Govt promoting land mafia: BJP
leader |
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Probe sought into Chautala’s
wealth FMD cases ‘on rise’ in Faridabad HUDA
earmarks Rs 250 cr for development Haryana press to
print notifications Computer seminar
for cops Decline in female
ratio in Rohtak 1.5 lakh robbed
at gunpoint HAU students observe strike Immolation bid by student Convocation held Haryana school holidays Surjewala made
party observer Ex-Haryana minister held 4 DSPs
shifted 
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62 cr arrears released for Haryana teachers Chandigarh, March 29 But all that is history with the Higher Education department releasing the arrears, having received the sanction of 80 per cent Central Government assistance which had been put in the cold storage for non-implementation of UGC guidelines. The release of arrears totalling to Rs 62 crore will benefit 6000 teachers employed with the department, the claim of each running into nearly Rs 1 lakh on an average. “The arrears will be released in the current financial year in the next couple of days or so. It involved a lot of effort at every level and Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala too took up cudgels on behalf of the teaching community by taking up the matter with the Union HRD Ministry”, the Director of Higher Education, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, said. She added that after taking over at her present posting concerted efforts were made to satisfy the teaching community and the non-release of arrears was a thorn in the flesh, looked into with concern and taken up on a priority basis. “This being through, our only expectation from the teachers is to deliver the goods in classrooms. If we are watching their interest, they too, must take care of the student, their primary and only concern,’’ she stated. It may be recalled that the UGC recommendations had come in 1996 and had only partially been accepted by the then ruling Bansi Lal government. For not accepting these in toto and having played with the recommendations to suit their whims and fancies, the Central Government had rejected the state’s claim on Rs 61.23 crore. While the arrears were released for all other categories, the teachers were left in the lurch. However, despite representing at the Central Government level, little progress was made and the 80 per cent assistance turned down. Not only has the teaching faculty benefited but the department has been able to secure clearance of the backlog of 96 private aided colleges as far as assistance for salaries from the state government is concerned. Costing the state treasury around Rs 5.50 crore each month, the practice of submitting aid for two months has been done away with since the treasury found the requirement of Rs 11 crore hard to meet in a single go. This has been replaced by a monthly account by colleges to them thus sorting the hiccups chronic to these colleges every month and cause of dissatisfaction for many. |
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Sharp fall in wheat production
feared Fatehabad, March 29 Though no accurate figures of the fall in production can be worked out, farmers fear that there may be a fall of 10 per cent in the production of wheat and over 30 per cent in that of grams this year. According to sources, the wheat crop was sown in 1.67 lakh hectares last year while this year wheat crop has been sown in 1.70 lakh hectares. But the total production of wheat is not expected to cross seven lakh tonnes. Even government procurement agencies are not expecting the arrival of more than 5 lakh tonnes of wheat. The arrival last year was 5.26 lakh tonnes, while the production was 7.45 lakh tonnes. Experts say the fall in the production of wheat this year is due to shortage of irrigation water caused by scarcity of rain. The district administration has made all arrangements for the procurement of wheat in the district. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, convened a meeting of procurement agencies in his office today. The SDMs, Mr S.K. Setia and Mr R.K. Chauhan, the District Food and Supplies Controller, Mr I.D. Khan, and senior officers of all government procurement agencies attended the meeting. The Deputy Commissioner said the administration was expecting an arrival of five lakh tonnes of wheat this year. Elaborate arrangements had been made for proper storage of wheat. Arrangements for potable water and lights had been made in the Fatehabad, Rattia, Tohana, Bhattu, Bhuna, Bhuna and Dharsul grain markets and 30 purchase centres in the district. The procurement exercise would be totally transparent, he added.
Kisan Sabha men hold dharna Jind, March 29 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sheokand said the Vajpayee government was pursuing policies of privatisation and liberalisation, which were started by the Congress government in 1991. He said the Union Government was bent upon ruining our farm and industrial sectors by adopting these anti-people policies. He said with the lifting of restrictions on the import of 1,429 items the agriculture sector and the economy of our farmers would be adversely affected. Mr Sheokand alleged that the Chautala government was also following anti-people policies by increasing electricity and water rates. He said the state government had failed to fulfil its election promises made to the farmers. Mr Sheokand demanded the withdrawal of hike in power and water rates and adequate power and water supply to the farm sector. |
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Unity eludes Haryana Cong men Chandigarh, March 29 Mrs Kidwai was talking to senior Haryana Congress leaders about the party’s agitational programme on the tehelka expose. She said the Congress had decided to prepare the video cassettes because the print media was owned by “big capitalists”, who had been given several concessions by the BJP government in the Union Budget. Therefore, the print media would not write against the BJP government. Doordarshan, which was completely controlled by the government, had blacked out the tehelka expose. Only certain private satellite channels were playing the tehelka tapes but their reach was limited. Urging the party men to be united at this crucial juncture, Mrs Kidwai said the tehelka expose had provided the best opportunity to the Congress to discredit the “fascist” BJP. If Congressmen failed to sink their differences, they would not be able to cash in on this opportunity. Her appeal, however, seemed to have no effect on the Haryana Congressmen. Shortly after her appeal, efforts were made by opponents of Mr Hooda to change the character of the Panipat rally to be held on April 8. Mr Hooda had announced the rally immediately after he was humiliated at the Bhiwani rally organised by the Bhajan Lal camp on March 4. Mr Birender Singh said since the AICC had asked the party men to organise demonstrations at the block level from March 24 to April 15 to highlight the tehelka expose, the Panipat rally, which was being described as a state-level rally, should be the culmination of the current agitation launched by the party because after the state-level rally, it would not be possible to continue the agitation till April 15. If that was not possible, the Panipat rally should be rescheduled. He also suggested that the Congressmen should court arrest at Panipat in a big way after the rally because the “arrests” would have a lasting impact just as the tape showing the former BJP President, Mr Bangaru Laxman, accepting a wad of currency notes had made an impression on the public mind. The former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, also supported Mr Birender Singh’s suggestion. He said it was futile to talk of unity in the party. Though the leaders swore by unity in the presence of the Central leaders, the reality was that there was no unity among them. In an obvious reference to the Panipat rally and Mr Hooda, he said before announcing the rally even the local MLA or other local leaders were not taken into confidence. A former Haryana Minister, Mr Nirmal Singh, interrupted him by saying that everything was fine in the party when he (Mr Bhajan Lal) was given all powers by the party high command. It was, however, a different matter that at that time only nine party MLAs could be elected in 1996. Mr Bhajan Lal retorted by saying that he had come to the meeting uninvited. Mr Hooda clarified that all elected members of the AICC (Mr Nirmal Singh being one of them) were invited to the meeting. Before the situation could take an ugly turn, Mrs Kidwai intervened to say that the “jail bharo” agitation would be a part of the second phase of the current programme given by the party high command. A veteran party leader, Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, said leaders like him had been to jail several times and they would again go to jail as and when the party gave a call. But Mr Bhajan Lal had never been to jail and now was the time when he should take the lead. Mr Bhajan Lal said he would court arrest this time. The Deputy Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, requested Mrs Kidwai to ask the senior party leaders to announce their plans to hold rallies only after clearance from the party high command. He regretted that individual leaders were announcing the plans to hold rallies at the drop of a hat, without taking the party into their confidence. He said there were six Congress MLAs from Ahirwal and they also wanted to hold a big rally in their area. But they first wanted clearance from the party high command. Among others who spoke were Mr Harpal Singh, former party president; Mr Dharamvir, MLA; Mr Kuldip Sharma, president of the Karnal DCC; Dr J.P. Sharma, MLA from Yamunanagar, and Mrs Chandrawati, a former minister. An AICC observer, Mr K.K. Tiwari, also addressed the party men. The meeting condemned yesterday’s police lathi charge on Youth Congress workers, in which the AIYC president, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, was injured. It also demanded a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre to those farmers whose crops had been damaged by the recent hailstorm in Haryana. It condemned the deaths in police custody in Yamunanagar and Ellenabad. |
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Govt promoting land mafia: BJP
leader Faridabad, March 29 Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Gurjar said Faridabad had become a hotspot for land and mining mafia. He claimed certain influential persons, having ‘direct or indirect connections’ with the Chief Minister or his sons, had been involved in grabbing prime land and getting ‘contracts’ for mining work in the region. Stating that while the authorities had been demolishing jhuggis and houses of poor people in the name of anti-encroachment drive, he said the illegal development of colonies, houses and shops by ‘influential persons’ was not being noticed by these law enforcing agencies. Giving several examples of alleged ‘illegal construction’ going at present in the district, he said certain ‘top’ officials of municipal corporation, son of a former minister and some individuals having close links with the Chief Minister or his sons had been ‘engaged’ in such activities at several places in the district. Demanding a CBI probe, he said land worth about Rs 30 crore had been sold in an illegal manner in the nearby Ismailpur village. He also alleged that some of the INLD activists had been flouting norms and developing markets and shopping complexes. He said the police and district authorities had been harassing only those who had no connections with ‘high ups’ in matter of mining of construction material and even in digging of soil. Mr Gurjar said he had raised the issue of ‘illegal constructions’ with the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation and declared that he, along with his supporters, would stage a dharna outside the corporation’s office, after a week, if no action was taken to check land mafia activities.
Probe sought into Chautala’s
wealth Kaithal, March 29 He was addressing mediapersons at the local tourist complex after touring number of villages in the district to mobilise party workers for April 8 Congress rally at Panipat. The Chief Minister was busy in settling personal scores with his political rivals and was adopting vindictive attitude and number of senior Congress leaders were allegedly implicated in false cases, he added. Mr Chautala might have to pay a heavy price for this misadventure, as he stood exposed before the people, who feel cheated by him, he added. The former minister accused Mr Chautala of making false promises with the farmers to provide free power, employment to youth, tax concessions to businessmen but no promise had been fulfilled so far. Replying to a question about the participation of Mr Bhajan Lal, former Haryana Chief Minister, in Panipat rally, Mr Singh said he was optimistic about Mr Bhajan Lal’s participation in the rally. |
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FMD cases ‘on rise’ in Faridabad Faridabad, March 29 While the head of cattle who have died of disease in the district is reportedly less than five, it is learnt that the head of cattle affected by the disease is increasing. Two buffaloes died recently in Andhrola village of Hathin subdivision. Over 15 buffaloes are reported to be suffering from the disease in nearby villages. In many villages, panic-stricken cattle owners have started taking the help of “trained” and “untrained” individuals. Although there are several veterinary hospitals in the region, it is learnt that most of them suffer from a shortage of staff or medicines. Some of the doctors posted in the rural areas are reportedly not regular in attending the veterinary hospitals. The Animal Husbandry Department has reportedly decided to launch an immunisation programme in the district from April 1 to check the spread of the deadly disease. The villages likely to be covered include Jajru, Jarsetu, Dayalpur, Banakpur, Machhsar Bhanakpur, Chandawali, Sahupura and Seekri. |
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HUDA
earmarks Rs 250 cr for development Chandigarh,
March 29 This was decided at the 81st meeting of HUDA held under the chairmanship of the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh, here today. The total budget of HUDA for 2001-2002 will be Rs 967.14 crore, as compared to Rs 750.12 crore during the current financial year. HUDA will spend Rs 574 crore on acquiring land as compared to only Rs 225 crore during the current year. Keeping in view the policy of the state government to adopt austerity measures, the administrative expenditure or revenue expenditure of HUDA will be only 4.37 per cent of the total budget. HUDA will float 14 residential sectors in various towns next year. These towns included Hisar, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Panchkula, Fatehabad and Narnaul. It had floated a record number of 25,000 plots in various towns of the state during the current year. Out of these about 5,000 plots were offered to economic weaker sections of society whose monthly family income was upto Rs 2100. In the next financial year, HUDA will offer possession of 19,462 plots to the allottees. Apart
from this, HUDA will also construct auditorium at Panchkula and
Gurgaon, an open-air theatre at Gurgaon, modern jail at Gurgaon,
sports complexes in Panchkula and Gurgaon and a college building at
Gurgaon. |
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Haryana press to
print notifications Chandigarh, March 29 An official spokesman said here today modernisation programme of the Haryana Government Press in Sector 18, here was nearing completion. The old letter-press system was being replaced by offset machines. He said this year the purchase of paper had been kept to the minimum because the Printing and Stationery Department had sufficient stock of paper with it. Consequently, the department had returned Rs 12.23 crore to the Finance Department out of Rs 15 crore sanctioned to it. |
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Computer seminar
for cops Fatehabad, March 29 The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, inaugurated the seminar. The SP, Mr Hanif Qureshi, the ADC, Mr Pushp Raj Singh, and other senior police officers were present on the occasion. Mr Yash Paul, a computer teacher of Guru Jhambeshwar University, Hisar, demonstrated the use of computers. Describing the plans of the district police in the field of computerisation, the SP said it would soon install computers at the police station level. These computers would be programmed with the Crime Criminal Information System (CCIS) he said. Mr Qureshi said, CCIS system had been developed by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). He said all information about the crimes and the criminals would be entered in the computers at the police stations. Reports from all police stations would then be collected at the district level at the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB) which in turn would be collected at the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB). All the 32 SCRB’s would be connected to the NCRB. Mr Qureshi said in the next few years, the computers in police stations all over India would be interconnected to ensure immediate flow of information. The CCIS would also keep records of the missing persons and unclaimed bodies. He said it was a users friendly system. Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, said it was quite ironical that the police in India had to depend on age-old manual methods. |
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Decline in female
ratio in Rohtak Rohtak, March 29 It has risen from 7,77,000 in 1991 to 9,40,036 as on March 1, according to official sources. Nearly 64.94 per cent of the population resides in the rural areas and 35.06 per cent in Rohtak, Kalanaur, Meham and the MD University campus. People in the district appear to have migrated from rural to urban areas during the past, the figures made available to The Tribune indicate. The population in the rural areas in 1991 was 67.37 per cent and in urban areas it was 32.63 per cent as against 64.94 per cent and 35.06 per cent, respectively, on March 1. The female ratio per 1000 males has declined to 847 in 2001 as compared to 849 in 1991. The female ratio in the state, as per the figures released by the Director General, Census of India, is 861 per 1000 males. The bias against the girl child continues unabated if the female ratio in the zero to six year age group is any indication. The female ratio in this age group is 795 per 1000 males. The overall literacy rate in the district, which boasts of vast educational institutions, has slightly increased from 63.68 per cent in 1991 to 63.89 per cent. Surprisingly, the literacy rate among the male and female has declined during the past decade. While the literacy rate among the male and female was 76.72 and 48.25 per cent in 1991, it has come down to 60.90 and 39.09 per cent, respectively, in 2001. |
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1.5 lakh robbed
at gunpoint Kaithal, March 29 According to information, businessmen Om Parkash and Ravinder of M/s Ravindra Brothers were coming in a jeep at about 8.15 p.m. when they noticed a man lying on the Chhatrawas road. Om Parkash was carrying about Rs 50,000 and Ravinder Rs 1 lakh. Om Parkash stopped the vehicle on noticing the man. Two motorcycle borne youth armed with a pistol, who were hiding there, threatened them and snatched the money from the two. The three youth then escaped. The police has registered a case under the Arms Act. |
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HAU students observe strike Hisar, March 29 The student leaders said though the high-powered committee on education had suggested introduction of agriculture as a subject at the plus two level but this had not been done yet. They said the Chief Minister himself and his son, Mr Ajay
Chautala, MP, had given similar assurances. They alleged that both were misleading the students. The leaders alleged that hundreds of posts of Agriculture Development Officers
(ADOs) had been lying vacant for the past many years. They demanded immediate filling up of all these posts.
Immolation bid by student Hisar, March 29 He was one of the hundred odd students detained by the college authorities for having failed to fulfil the conditions laid down by the university for appearing in its annual examinations. In a separate incident Shweta, a student of the local F.C. College for Women, committed suicide in the hostel yesterday.
Convocation held Narnaul, March 29 Speaking on the occasion Mr Aggarwal stressed the need to make adjustments in the society. He said only students could weed out the corruption. Mr Aggarwal gave away prizes to the 136 students and conferred degrees on the outgoing students. Haryana school holidays Chandigarh, March 29 An official spokesman said here today that the government had decided to change the earlier schedule of rabi holidays from April 5 to April 14 in government schools as it adversely affected admissions to these institutions. It had been decided that now these holidays would be clubbed with the summer and kharif vacations. |
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Surjewala made
party observer Panchkula, March 29 Speaking about the future course of action in this regard, Mr Surjewala said today that he would begin touring all districts of western Uttar Pradesh from April 2 and the first rally would be held in Lucknow on April 12. Congress workers would begin to court arrest from April 15 as per the schedule, he added. Ex-Haryana minister held Kaithal, March 29 Shorewala was arrested by a police party headed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarter), Mr Amir Singh, following a raid conducted at the former minister’s residence in Model Town here early today.
PTI
4 DSPs
shifted Chandigarh, March 29 Mr Inder Singh, DSP, Palwal, and Mr Om Prakash, DSP,
Jhajjar, will also swap their places of posting. |
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Man, son die in road mishap Yamunanagar, March 29 There were about 12 persons in maxi cab when the car collided head on. Both of them were seriously injured. They were shifted to the civil hospital at Jagadhari where they succumbed to their injuries. The Jagadhari sadar police has registered a case against the car driver. The bodies were handed over to their ralatives. |
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Stray dogs, cattle immunised Faridabad, March 29 According to volunteers of these bodies, several stray dogs were immunised against rabies in Sectors 14, 15, 16 and 17 here on Monday. They claimed that some dogs suffering from skin diseases were also treated. Ms Priya Nagarajan of care and Ms Neelakshi of the PFA said a drive to prevent the foot and mouth disease among milch cattle would also be taken up in Bhadshahpur village of Gurgaon district soon. NFL employees to strike work today Panipat, March 29 |
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