H A R Y A N A

Fulfil pre-poll promises: HVP
Rohtak, July 17
The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has urged the Governor to direct the INLD government to fulfil its pre-election promises and ensure security of life and property of people.

Flood water enters villages
Ambala, July 17
Flood water entered a few villages today even as Ambala cantonment and Ambala city limped back to normalcy despite several phone lines remaining out of order.

Flood water from the Begna river inundates Gola village in Ambala on Tuesday.  — Photo by N. Chopra

24 kids fall ill after eating  ice-cream
Kaithal, July 17
About 24 children were taken ill and admitted to Government Civil Hospital and Kirti Nursing Home here this late evening. According to information, the children of the Deha Basti on the Karnal road here were given ice-cream by a lady, who reportedly brought it on Sunday from Cheeka and kept it in her refrigerator.

JBT admissions messed up: Dalal
Chandigarh, July 17
The RPI member of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, today alleged large-scale irregularities in the admission to the JBT course for teachers in the state.

Registrar’s caution on admission
Rohtak, July 17
Maharshi Dayanand University has said the DAV College of Engineering and Technology, Kanina (Mahendragarh), is not affiliated with it.

Row over admit cards in medical entrance exam
Ambala, July 17
Ambiguity over returning or retaining the admit cards to candidates appearing for the state medical entrance examination led to a controversy at an examination centre in a local college today. 

Fulfil pre-poll promises: HVP
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, July 17
The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has urged the Governor to direct the INLD government to fulfil its pre-election promises and ensure security of life and property of people.

The HVP, in a memorandum submitted to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner here today, alleged that because of the worsening of the law and order situation, a virtual “jungle raj” prevailed in Haryana. Murders, kidnappings, broad-daylight robberies, snatching of vehicles and extortions had become the order of the day.

The party said before the Vidhan Sabha elections, the INLD had promised to provide power and canal water free of cost to the farming sector but after coming to power, it hiked the power tariff and withdrew the flat-rate system of tariff. The INLD government installed meters on tubewells, enhanced the registration fee of a tractor from Rs 250 to Rs 1,500 and was discriminating in the supply of canal water.

The HVP took out a procession before submitting the memorandum.

The HVP said traders had also not been spared. The party which had assured numerous concessions to the traders has burdened them with a heavy dose of taxes, besides the introduction of form 38

The local area development tax at the rate of 4 per cent had been imposed on the industry and a tax of Rs 9,000 per annum per “bhatti” had been imposed on halwais, the HVP said.

Consumers in the urban areas were being burdened with a development tax of four paise per unit of power consumed, besides levying heavy development charges on persons living in undeveloped colonies.

Professional tax ranging between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,5000 per year had been imposed on traders and professionals, the HVP said.

The party alleged that merit had been given the go-by in admissions to JBT, B.Ed., engineering and medical courses. It demanded the cancellation of admissions to these courses and urged the Governor to order an inquiry into the admissions.

The HVP said development projects started during the Bansi Lal regime had been dropped and government land in Delhi was being sold at throwaway prices to “favourites.”

Flood water enters villages
Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 17
Flood water entered a few villages today even as Ambala cantonment and Ambala city limped back to normalcy despite several phone lines remaining out of order.

The Begna, a seasonal river, began to rise this morning and its water entered Gola village. The flood water inundated large parts of the village. Fields were submerged in the flood water. However, the river water had begun to recede by the afternoon.

The Markanda river, which began to rise, is reported to have already flooded two villages. Reports say that the river is likely to rise further and more villages adjoining its banks may be affected during the night.

Several villages are reeling under an acute water accumulation. Water accumulation has taken place in Tandwal, Patherheri, Panjeto and adjoining villages.

By the evening, water had again begun to enter the Mahesh Nagar area in Ambala cantonment. A Mahesh Nagar resident said that although there had not been any rainfall, water had begun to enter the area.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, said that a constant watch was being kept on the water levels of the different rivers. “We are keeping watch on the Markanda river whose level is rising. The level of the Begna river has begun to go down,” he said.

He said that assessment would by done of the temporary structures which collapsed yesterday. “We will be giving the affected families suitable help,” he said.

According to officials, the unprecedented water accumulation in Ambala cantonment and Ambala city had taken place yesterday due to 207 mm of rainfall in six hours. The heavy rainfall broke 30-year-old record. The water accumulation took place since the drains were unable to cope with the excess water, the officials said.

The communication system was affected since the phone lines in several areas remained disrupted for the second day today. A telecom official said that work was in progress and the phone lines would be in order soon.

Chautala opens women’s college
K. G. Dutt

Lohar Majra (Kurukshetra), July 17
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said here today that the state government was committed to promoting education up to the middle level in each village.

Inaugurating the Navrang Lohia College for Women in this remote village, about 9 km from Kurukshetra, he said each child in the village should get an opportunity to receive education up to the middle level.

The Chief Minister said the state government had allocated about Rs 232 crore for education in its budgetary provisions during the current year.

Mr Chautala said job-oriented education had been introduced at the school and college level. Eleven engineering colleges were being opened in the state. Besides, MBA courses had been sanctioned in eight colleges and MCA courses in 17 colleges, he said. A national law institute on the pattern of the National Institute of Law at Bangalore had been started in Gurgaon,

He also announced that while the state government had decided to upgrade engineering colleges and polytechnics in Haryana, it would soon open colleges in Sampla and Badli in Rohtak district.

Mr Chautala defended his government’s decision to form a gram samiti in each village. He clarified that contrary to the propaganda being carried out by the Opposition that these samities would act as parallel bodies in villages, the idea was to promote development and end politics in rural areas.

The Navrang Lohia College for Women built at a cost of Rs 2 crore, is the first of its kind in this part of Haryana. The management also plans to construct a hospital and a model school in the village.

Mr Devender Swaroop of Jai Ram Vidyapeeth stated that the women’s college, which was originally planned to be opened in Rishikesh, was set up in this remote village in view of the demand of the residents who had donated 16 acres for the purpose.

Mr Mohan Lal Lohia presented shawls to the Chief Minister and other important invitees present on the occasion. Mrs Kailasho Saini, MP, sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for the college from the MP Development Fund. Mr Mangat Ram, Speaker of Delhi Vidhan Sabha, was also present.

7 of family die in roof collapse
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, July 17
Seven persons of a family, including five women and two children, died as the roof of their house collapsed late last night here. According to information received here today, about 12 persons were sitting in a room and watching television around 10 p.m. yesterday at Atma Nagar here. It had been raining continuously for 18 hours.

Just before the incident, two persons left the room for some work when the roof collapsed suddenly. The news spread like wild fire and several neighbours reached the spot and started rescue work.

No male members of the family were present at the time of the incident as they were out on their jobs. The persons who died in the incident included Ratnee Devi (60), Sahajahan, Saira Bano, Sumela, Faijla and Samsha. Six persons died on the spot whereas one woman succumbed to her injuries at the local Civil Hospital.

It is learnt that during the rescue operation, Pappu, a resident of the same area, was also injured as he received an electric shock. The injured have been shifted to a hospital where they are reported to be out of danger.

Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Mahinder Singh Ahlawat, Superintendent of Police, immediately reached the spot. The police assisted the locals in the rescue operation. Mr Sharma said Rs 10,000 each would be given to the families of the deceased and the injured would be treated by the local Red Cross Society.

Panel members shirking duty?
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

Dharuhera (Rewari), July 17
A visit by the parliamentary sub-committee on the Industrial Promotion Policy to this place and other parts of south Haryana today gave the impression that most members of the sub-committee were shirking their duty.

Of the eight members of the sub-committee, which in essence is attached to the Standing Committee of Parliament on Commerce, only two, including its convener, Mrs Noor Bano, turned up here along with a couple of officers led by an Under Secretary from the Centre. The other member, Dr Jagan Nath, arrived much later.

Significantly, the sub-committee’s brief is to study the issues relating to the crucial foreign direct investment and the industrial growth centres in the country, especially in the context of the trend of globalisation. The sub-committee will compile its report and send it to the parliamentary standing committee. The committee will submit its report to Parliament, making recommendations as inputs on policy-framing for the Government of India on the subject concerned.

The sub-committee started its visit of south Haryana from the Industrial Model Township (IMT) in Manesar in Gurgaon district. The situation at Manesar was much more embarrassing. Only Mrs Noor Bano was present on the scene.

While talking to newspersons at Manesar, she explained the absence of her other parliamentary colleagues, saying that they had engagements in their respective constituencies and states.

Officers of Rewari district, led by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Veneet Garg, and the district police chief, Mr Manjit Singh Ahlawat, along with some other officers had arrived at Dharuhera to receive the parliamentary delegation.

A section of the officers were surprised to see only one MP in the official entourage.

Mrs Bano’s first engagement here was a visit to M/s Sony India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of Japan. Like officials of the Haryana government, personnel of the firm were also taken aback at seeing only one member of the sub-committee. Dr Jangan Nath somewhat attenuated the farcical situation by his late arrival.

The apparent despondency among the firm’s personnel was understandable. The firm had made elaborate arrangements, including a sumptuous lunch, for members of the sub-committee.

The two members left to visit the factory premises of M/s Beckton and Dickinson Pvt Ltd at Bawal in Rewari district. Then they visited the unit of M/s Asahi India Safety Glass Ltd in Jaliawas village.

24 kids fall ill after eating ice-cream
Our Correspondent

Kaithal, July 17
About 24 children were taken ill and admitted to Government Civil Hospital and Kirti Nursing Home here this late evening. According to information, the children of the Deha Basti on the Karnal road here were given ice-cream by a lady, who reportedly brought it on Sunday from Cheeka and kept it in her refrigerator.

The kids started vomiting and some of them fell unconscious.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Phateh Singh Dagar, the SP, Mr A.S. Chawla, and the DSP, Mr Gurbachan Singh Saini, visited the children. The Deputy Commissioner directed the hospital authorities to provide medical aid to the children free of cost.

JBT admissions messed up: Dalal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The RPI member of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, today alleged large-scale irregularities in the admission to the JBT course for teachers in the state.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Dalal alleged that about 60 per cent of the 3,500 students admitted to the course belonged to the Narwana constituency represented by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala; the Rori constituency in Sirsa district represented by the Chief Minister’s younger son, Mr Abhey Singh; and the Bhiwani Lok Sabha constituency represented by the Chief Minister’s elder son, Mr Ajay Singh.

Mr Dalal alleged that while these three constituencies had the lion’s share in JBT admissions, there were many districts which had negligible representation. He alleged that even the remaining about 1,500 students were relatives or enjoyed patronage of INLD activists. Merit had taken a back seat.

Mr Dalal claimed that the pattern adopted in JBT admissions was an extension of the similar methodology adopted by the INLD leadership in other professional courses like MBBS.

The selections, solely based on political considerations, had demoralised meritorious students of the state.

He said the government was now trying to interfere even in the selection to the Haryana Civil Service. This was the reason, he alleged, that the State Public Service Commission had not been able to declare the result of the HCS examination.

Mr Dalal stated that the Governor should ensure that admissions to all courses and selections to various jobs should be merit-based. He alleged that by playing with the lives of meritorious students, Mr Chautala had violated the oath of office he took on becoming Chief Minister.

Accusing the Chief Minister of indulging in political vendetta, Mr Dalal said a memorandum would be submitted to the Governor on July 24 highlighting how the Chautala administration had victimised the political adversaries of the INLD.

Registrar’s caution on admission
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, July 17
Maharshi Dayanand University has said the DAV College of Engineering and Technology, Kanina (Mahendragarh), is not affiliated with it.

The university Registrar, Dr S.P.S. Dahiya, has cautioned students seeking admission to that institute saying that they would be doing so at their own risk.

He said the college was yet to get a no-objection certificate from the state Technical Education Board as well as approval from the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). Moreover, the institute did not fulfil various conditions laid down by the university, Dr Dahiya said.

Meanwhile, the Law Department of Maharshi Dayanand University will hold interviews for admission to LL.B (first year) of the integrated LL.B five-year course for the payment seats on July 19.

Row over admit cards in medical entrance exam
Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 17
Ambiguity over returning or retaining the admit cards to candidates appearing for the state medical entrance examination led to a controversy at an examination centre in a local college today. The medical entrance examination was conducted today in Ambala, Karnal and Kurukshetra. In Ambala, the three centres were GMN College, S.D. College and Government College. About 650 candidates appeared for the examination in GMN College.

The trouble started at about 12 p.m. at Gandhi Memorial National College, Ambala Cantt, when a student appearing for the same examination in a different centre reached the college and informed that his admit card has been returned to him. The crowd waiting outside the college grew restless on learning this since in GMN College, the instructions were to retain the admit card and not return it. After sometime, the people demanded that the admit cards must be returned to the candidates as these would be needed at the time of counselling. The parents and guardians of the candidates were not allowed to enter the college premises.

At about 1.15 pm, the college gate had to be opened to allow university officials to go out and then the crowd entered the college campus. They again demanded that the admit cards be returned to them. The candidates were, however, not allowed to leave their rooms till the time the controversy over the admit cards was resolved. The candidates were allowed to leave about half an hour after the scheduled time when they were returned the admit cards.

Parents and guardians of the candidates who appeared for the Haryana MBBS and BDS medical entrance examination at GMN College, alleged that mass copying had taken place at some centres. However, this was strongly denied by the college officials who said there was no question of mass copying taking place in the college.

The Principal of GMN College, Mr I.D. Shukla, said there was verbal instruction regarding retaining of the admit cards. “I spoke to the Controller of Examination before the admit cards were returned,” he said. “The candidates were permitted to leave the examination centre once the admit cards had been handed back to them,” he added. Mr Shukla stressed that the question of mass copying does not arise. “Firstly, there is cut-throat competition so no candidate will like to share information for fear of losing out in the merit. Secondly, there are different question paper sets. Thirdly, our teachers maintain a constant vigil throughout the exam. Finally, we are known for our strictness during examination so no copying has taken place,” he said.

Pisciculture fails to attract farmers
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 17
Despite the official campaign, pisciculture (fish farming) seems to have failed to attract the attention of farmers of south Haryana due to various factors.

An acute shortage of water is stated to be the main reason why the farmers desist from taking it up.

The problems faced by the farmers of the region were discussed at a recent tour of experts.

The Principal Adviser of the Central Planning Commission (Fisheries), Mr M.D. Asthana, met the farmers of Hathin subdivision yesterday.

While Mr Asthana and other officials accompanying him appealed to the farmers to take up fish and prawn culture the farmers asked them to solve the basic problems confronting them.

They claimed that there was an acute shortage of irrigation water and it was not possible to fill fish ponds at intervals.

They said even ponds meant for animals in several villages had run dry.

Residents of Ransika village highlighted the problem of water-logging. They said there was no guidance and training centre near the villages and no place where fish were available.

The MLA from Hathin, Mr Bhagwan Sahai Rawat, told the officials that irrigational facilities should be improved and ponds should be dug at places where land was barren.

Mr Asthana asked district officials to help the farmers to understand the concept of fish farming.

He said the production capacity of the centre at Faridabad would be improved.

The chief guest gave away cheques provided by the department to four farmers.

Ms Asha Sharma, Financial Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Fisheries Haryana, said the average production of fish in Haryana had touched 4015 kg per hectare while the national average was only 2187 kg.

Faridabad district had 950 hectare of land which was under fish farming. Of this, 2,280 tonnes of fish were produced in 764 hectares. 

Traders divided over protest
Vipin Sharma

Rohtak, July 17
The politicisation of the agitation launched by local traders against the rising incidents of robbery in the town has divided the trading community.

The Rohtak Traders Association launched an agitation on July 3 in protest against the steep rise in armed robberies and demanded the arrest of the culprits who robbed a trader of the local grain market of Rs 3.69 lakh at gunpoint recently.

As part of the agitation, the traders started a hunger strike at the Agarsen chowk to build pressure on the authorities. The official machinery swung into action and Mr Resham Singh, IGP, Rohtak range, assured the protesters that the culprits would soon be nabbed.

Meanwhile, the executive committee of the association resolved that no political leader would be allowed to use traders’ association as a platform.

However, some leaders of the association invited a senior Congress leader, Mr Bhajan Lal, to ‘strengthen’ the agitation. Moreover, the dharna was withdrawn by those leaders of the association as desired by Mr Bhajan Lal, without consulting the other leaders of the association.

This enraged a majority of the traders and Mr Suresh Gupta, secretary of the association, tendered his resignation in protest against the withdrawal of the dharna without the acceptance of their demands.

He was followed by Mr Bharat Bhushan Goyal, senior vice-president, and Mr Mukut Bihari Goyal, treasurer of the Grain Market Traders Association, respectively, who also tendered their resignations over the same issue today.

Dangi shifted back to Ambala jail

Ambala, July 17
Mr Anand Singh Dangi, former Haryana minister and Congress leader, allegedly involved in a land allotment case, was again shifted to Ambala Central Jail last evening.

The case has been adjourned for further hearing on July 31. PTI

Redressal panel disposes of 8 cases
Our Correspondent

Sirsa, July 17
The monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee was held here at the local Panchayat Bhavan yesterday. At the meeting, which was presided over by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr D. Suresh, eight of the 10 cases were disposed of.

In a case relating to the complaint of Dhan Singh of Rori village against the patwari for demanding bribe, the Additional Deputy Commissioner listened to the report of the executive engineer of the Water Services Division deputed as inquiry officer in the matter. He disclosed that the patwari had sent Dhan Singh’s case almost three weeks before Dhan Singh filed the affidavit of complaint against the patwari. On the basis of statements of 15 to 20 villagers in favour of the patwari, the Additional Deputy Commissioner deputed the SDM, Sirsa, to look into the matter and lodge a case against the complainant in case the complaint was found fake.

Chowkidar sabha threatens to hold demonstration
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 17
The district unit of the Haryana Gramin Chowkidar Sabha today threatened to organised a massive demonstration on July 24 in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office if its longstanding demands were not accepted by the state government immediately.

In a press note issued today, it regretted that the state government was adopting an indifferent attitude” towards the demands of the gramin chowkidars by adopting delaying tactics on the issue.

The main demands of the sabha include status of government employees for all village chowkidars, immediate payment of the arrears of pay, increase in uniform allowance from Rs 500 per month to Rs 800 per month, payment of wages through the tehsildars instead of block development and panchayat officers and supply of essential commodities on subsidised rates.

Freehold sites’ auction
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) will auction freehold commercial sites at Faridabad on July 25.

An official release said the auction would be held at the HUDA Estate Office in Sector 12, Faridabad, at 11 a.m.

Speaker, MLA leave for Australia
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
On an invitation from Mr Peter R Nagle, Chairman of the New South Wales Parliament, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, Haryana Assembly Speaker and Mr Padam Singh Dahiya, MLA, have gone to Sydney to attend the international conference on regulations reform management and scrutiny of legislation, an official release said here today.