 |
| Tuesday,
July 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
|
Delhi meeting: CM to stress on VDCs
Pinjore, Kalka go without power for 10
hrs
Angry villagers block traffic Protest against replacement of meters Traders to observe strike from July 11 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
750 houses to be built for cops
Paper not
from syllabus, say MDU students 250 down with water-borne disease No amendments in labour laws: CITU Chautala opens Garbh Kalyanak Mahotsava PM urged to include shrine issue in talks Power nigam
launches VDS Increase in BDS seats approved
|
|
Delhi meeting: CM to stress on VDCs Chandigarh, July 9 A three-member team, comprising Mr Chautala, Mr B D Dhalia, Financial Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat, and Mr Hardeep Kumar, Special Secretary, Development and Panchayat, will represent Haryana in the meeting convened by the Union Ministry for Rural Development. The issue of the constitution of VDCs by Haryana and similar outfits by other states has figured in the agenda of the meeting. According to official sources here, such committees exist in Andhra Pradesh as well as in Madhya Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh, these committees reportedly have been assigned much more powers than their counterparts in Haryana. The sources say the Haryana Government will also argue that the VDCs are not spending funds earmarked for the panchayats. Funds allocated under the Swaran Jayanti Rozgar Yojna and other such schemes and the revenue generated by the panchyats will be continued to be used by the panchayats. The VDCs will carry out their work of implementing the announcements made by the Chief Minister under the “Swarkar Aapke Dwar” programme primarily with the money available in the Haryana Rural Development Fund (HRDF). Earlier, the HRDF was utilised through the engineering wing of the panchyati raj institutions and block development officers and panchyat officers. The Haryana team will also argue that four out of the seven members of the VDCs were elected members of the panchayats. One of the them is a sarpanch, one is a lady panch and one panch each from the SC and BC communities. The three non-elected members include one ex-serviceman and two others chosen by village committees (gram sabhas). However, the Union Government can still nail the state government as there is no statutory provision for VDCs in the constitution. It can also accuse the state government of weakening panchayati raj
institutions and making panchayats and zila parishads redundant. Also, the Union Government can question the state government on the propriety of entrusting public money to a committe which had no constitutional standing. The state government apparently is counting on the presence of majority of elected members of panchayats in the VDCs to wriggle out of such contentious issues. Importantly, while the state government has already started releasing money for the VDCs, it is yet to allow the VDCs to recruit gram sewaks who, it was announced by the state government earlier, will get a salary of Rs 2500 per month. “ The recruitment of the gram sewaks is still under consideration”, an official said. |
|
Cops parade, beat up murder suspect Rohtak, July 9 Jit
Ram allegedly murdered his wife, son, daughter and father-in-law here
two days ago. He was arrested from Raj village, near Gohana,
yesterday. The police also recovered the knife used in the crime. |
|
Pinjore, Kalka go without power for 10
hrs Kalka, July 9 The problem started yesterday afternoon when a high-tension line developed a technical snag near the Surajpur feeder. Sources in the Electricity Department said the bushes in the transformer had developed a layer of carbon which led to power failure. “We reached the site within a few minutes of the breakdown and work to restore power supply was initiated immediately. However, due to some reasons, repairs could not be completed yesterday and electricity supply could finally be restored only after 2 p.m. today,” an official said. Residents, however, claimed that they were reportedly assured by the sub-station attendant that electricity would be restored soon. Unable to complete repair work, the department tapped alternative sources of power only after 8 p.m. last night. The department added that while some electricity was diverted from Surajpur, pockets in the two areas were supplied electricity from the 7.5 kv transformer in Pinjore. Adding to the inconvenience of frequent tripping despite arrangement of electricity from alternative sources was the hot, humid weather condition which gave the residents a harrowing time. “When the department knew the repair of the transformer would take time, they should have supplied electricity to the affected areas earlier instead of waiting for over six hours to restore supply,” Ms Swaroop Rani, a resident of Rail Vihar, said. Airing similar views, Mr S.P. Sobti, a resident of the Housing Board Colony, said though there was a system failure since yesterday, the trippings had been frequent ever since the month began. |
|
Angry villagers block traffic Ambala, July 9 The incident occurred in Kaleran village near the Jansui head, 35 km from here at about 4 am. A dera is located in the village. While villagers had cordial ties with the earlier sadhu of the dera, the new incumbent failed to develop a rapport with the locals. A villager said two days back the Sadhu, Shivanand, complained regarding the use of the public address system at the gurdwara. He reportedly had alcohol with two others till late last night. Early next morning, he entered the gurdwara and allegedly assaulted the granthi. He then threw the holy book out of the gurdwara. On learning about the incident when a few local Sikh elders went to the village, two villagers — Hansraj and Satpal — allegedly challenged the group. An attempt by the group to reason out with the duo did not yield any result. As news of the incident spread in the area, a large number of Sikhs from as far as Ismailabad and adjoining areas reached the spot. They blocked the Ambala-Hisar state highway at the Jansui head, demanding the culprits were brought to book. The police swung into action and arrested sadhu Shivanand, Satpal and Hansraj. While the sadhu was arrested in the morning, the other two were arrested later. An FIR was lodged at the Naggal police station. The protesters, including local Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, demanded that the culprits be handed over to them so that “justice could be dispensed.” The protesters relented only after an assurance was given by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, the SP, Ambala, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, and the SP, Kaithal, Mr A.S. Chawla, that appropriate action had been initiated. A tractor-trailer was used to block the road. Bricks and tree trunks were also used. The traffic was thrown out of gear. The protesters were in an agitated mood and it took a lot of persuasion from the authorities to defuse the situation. The road block was lifted at 1.45 pm. Deputy Commissioner D.D. Gautam, said: “A thorough investigation will be carried out and the guilty persons will not be spared.” Shiromani Akali Dal leader Ranbir Singh Fauji said path would be held at the Kaleran village gurdwara on Saturday. Condemning the incident, he said timely intervention by the district administration and efforts of the Sikh elders had helped bring the situation under control. |
|
Traders to observe strike from July 11 Rohtak, July 9 He alleged Rs 3.69 lakh was looted at gun point by two unidentified persons recently from the cashier of a trader at the local grain market. He said the community had withdrawn its decision of indefinite bandh in the town in view of the assurance of action by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Resham Singh. However, he said, the traders would resort to an agitation if the police failed to recover the looted amount by July 9. A seven-member committee had been constituted to chalk out agitation plan. No political party would be allowed to use their banner for mileage in future, he added. |
|
Protest against replacement of meters Faridabad, July 9 The protest was supported by activists and leaders of the Congress. Raising anti-government slogans, the protesters burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. Stating they would not allow the authorities to change the old meters, they claimed that the new meters were very fast and it was not possible for them to pay hefty power bills. They said the meters in working condition were also changed without any reason. Alleging high-handedness of HVPN officials, they said the authorities had been imposing heavy penalities on flimsy grounds. They said a large number of meters were broken by nigam officials. Several residents said in Haryana, the rate of power was already the highest and high speed (electronic) meters were not justified. The blockade was lifted following the intervention of senior officials. It may be recalled that a team of officials who had gone to replace old meters in a colony were recently chased away by the residents, especially women. They alleged that the officials had been imposing heavy penalties despite the fact that the meters were working properly. Jind: Various markets of Jind city wore a deserted look as the shopkeepers observed a bandh today to protest against the replacement of electricity meters and registration of cases against the agitators who had protested against the forced installation of meters in their houses and shops. According to the reports about 80 per cent shops in Palika Bazaar, Main Bazaar, Punjabi Bazaar, Shashtri Market, Gohana Road Market, Indira Bazaar, Janta Bazaar remained closed. The local vegetable market and the majority of the shops in the outer areas of the city were opened. The call for the bandh was given by the district units of the Haryana Pradesh Vyapar Mandal and the district unit of the BJP. The CPM and the Congress leaders of the city supported the bandh. It may be recalled that on June 28, residents of the local Sham Nagar Colony, including several women, staged a dharna near the local Hansi branch canal bridge and blocked the traffic on the railway road to protest against the replacement of the old electricity meters with new ones. The agitators alleged the new meters ran very fast and they would have to pay inflated electricity bills if these meters were installed on their power connections. They further said the old metres were working properly and were giving correct reading and therefore there was no need of replacing these meters. The agitators were urged to lift the blockade but they had refused to do so. When the police tried to lift the blockade, a clash took place between the police and agitators in which eight persons, including two policemen and three women, were injured. The police registered a case against 10 agitators and arrested them. The BJP workers today took out a procession in the city to protest against the replacement of meters. They demanded withdrawal of cases registered against the 10 persons in connection with the agitation launched by them. Talking to newspapers here today, Mr Bajrang Das
Garg, president of the Haryana Pradesh Vyapar Mandal, claimed that bandh was a complete success. He said the bandh was observed to protest against the anti-people policies being pursued by the Haryana Government. He said if the government continued with its anti-people policies and did not stop committing excesses on the people, the mandal would launch an agitation and a call for a statewide bandh would be given. He said the traders were not against the government and they had played an important role in bringing Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala in power. He urged the government to drop the scheme or replacing the meters. He also
demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against the agitators of the local Sham Nagar Colony. |
|
750 houses to be built for cops Chandigarh, July 9 Mr C.P. Bansal, IG, Modernisation and Welfare, said here that Rs 24.38 crore would be spent on the construction of 750 houses for police non-gazetted officers and other ranks. As many as 300 houses would be constructed each at Panchkula and Bhondsi and 30 each at Karnal, Sirsa, Sonepat, Rohtak and Kurukshetra, he added. Mr Bansal said Rs 2.64 crore would be spent on the construction of 22 police station buildings in the state. He said the government had given administrative approval for the construction of police station buildings at Hodel and Hathin in Fariadbad district, Dabwali and Rori in Sirsa district and the CIA, Faridabad, Mr Bansal added. |
|
Fashion state of mind: Maheshwari Yamunanagar Talking to newspersons at the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), here today, Maheshwari said in India there were more occasions and more participation because of which there was more scope for fashion
designing. Asked about the new trends in fashion, she elaborated that if “anybody is comfortable in a particular type of outfit no one should mind it.” She said in other countries no one cared for fashion. They wore the clothes to make their presence felt. She said “Fashion is a state of the mind. It reflects the person’s personality. Fashion is changing day by day.” Maheshwari was of the opinion that the fashion channel should not be banned. She was offered roles in many Tamil films but she refused because her aim is to start an advertising agency. Daughter of Mr Thiagrajan, Deputy Manager in Ashok Leyland, Chennai, Maheshwari said her parents were never interested in her joining this profession. The Femina Miss India informed that she was going to Manila for the Miss Asia Pacific contest in September 2001, where more than two dozen candidates would participate. On politics, the 21-year-old model said she was a fan of Atal Behari Vajpayee. She was aware of the latest political situation in the country. She said she definitely read newspapers every day and she was fond of travelling, reading, eating and meeting people. In the recent past she had attended charity shows as an ambassador of the Femina group. Mrs Seema Kathuria, head of the Yamunanagar centre of NIFD, said Maheshwari today inaugurated the exhibition of creations by students of fashion, textile and interior design of NIFD. She said there were 112 centres in India. She said NIFD was started in 1995 by Ritu Beri, a designer of international repute. In 1998 the Yamunanagar centre was started with only three courses — fashion design, textile and interior design. |
|
Paper
not from syllabus, say MDU students Chandigarh July 9 These students who are doing the course through Infotech as their study centre appeared in third paper in MS office 2000, windows and object oriented programming using C++, at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here today. They say that out of 75 marks, two questions of 15 marks each were out of syllabus. They also state that the questions fall in the syllabus of the second and third semester’s syllabus. Tomorrow is their last and fourth paper .The diploma was introduced by the university six months ago and this is the first batch. |
|
250 down with water-borne disease Ambala, July 9 The press note said the samples taken from the water supplied by the public health department were sent for testing and stomach ailment was not detected in any of the samples. The officials who visited the villages found that people who were suffering from the stomach ailment were drinking water supplied from handpumps and not from government pipelines. When the officials asked the reason for using handpump water, the villagers said they preferred the taste of handpump water. They observed that besides unhygienic conditions, contaminated water could lead to stomach ailment. |
|
No amendments in labour laws: CITU Panipat, July 9 The eight-point resolution included a ban on amendments in labour laws, non-privatisation of defence establishments and profit-earning public sector undertakings, re-introduction of quantitative bans on imports of agriculture and industrial products, withdrawal of policies leading to increase in unemployment, minimum monthly wages of Rs 3500, writing the names of industrial workers in attendance register, workers to be allowed to sign the attendance register and abolition of contract system. |
|
PM urged to include shrine issue in talks Kurukshetra, July 9 Stating this here today, the sabha president and leader of the last pilgrims, group to Shri Kattas Raj, Mr Shiv Partap Bajaj, said the 14-point memorandum had been sent through the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh. Mr Bajaj said the shrine was a part of the religious heritage of Hindus and dated back to Mahabharata times. It was the place where Yudhishtra had made his four brothers wake up from eternal slumber. Besides, according to the protocol agreement in 1974, the sanction of pilgrimage to the shrine was accorded, Mr Bajaj said. The sabha also demanded that the development of the shrine be under- taken at the earliest and the Pakistan Waqaf Board be directed to arrange repairs and upkeep of the temples, including that of Amarkund sarovar. It urged the Pakistan Government to construct bathing ghats and constitute a committee to
accomplish the task. The memorandum also contained demands like opening Sitla Mandir, Lahore and other places of religious importance for Hindus in Pakistan. It should be made obligatory for both sides abide by dates and schedule. Pilgrimage should be allowed at least twice a year on the occasion of Baisakhi Purnima or Kartik Purnima and on Shivaratri, the sabha added. |
|
Chautala opens Garbh Kalyanak Mahotsava Sonepat, July 9 The Chief Minister said in order to conduct the celebrations in a befitting manner the committee member would popularise the teachings of Lord Mahavira. He announced that all decisions taken by the committee would be implemented in letter and spirits. Referring to the demand made by Shree Digamber Jain Samiti for the opening of girls’ engineering college, Mr Chautala said his government would issue NOC and provide all assistance for the setting up of the college. He said the college would start functioning very soon with the help of the people belonging to the Jain community and others. Earlier, Mr Chautala hoisted a flag and lit the traditional lamp besides unveiling the portrait of Lord Mahavira. The leaders of the Jain community presented mementos to the Chief Minister and Jagadacharya Chandra Swami. Shree 1008 Upadhayaya Kam Kumar Nandi and Jagadacharya Chandra Swami also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the teachings of Lord
Mahavira. |
|
Power nigam
launches VDS Chandigarh, July 9 The scheme, relating to the voluntary disclosure of tampered and faulty meters, is meant for the domestic and non-domestic categories of consumers and will remain in operation up to July 31. |
|
Increase in BDS seats approved Chandigarh, July 9 The DCI has also given approval to start MDS courses in orthodontics, prosthodontics and pedodontics, a Haryana Government press release said here. Also, inspectors had been appointed to start MDS courses in operative dentistry, pedodontics and oral surgery, it added. |
|
Pensions: last date extended Chandigarh, July 9 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
