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| Sunday, July 22, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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142 cr project for urban development PGIMS functioning marred POWER METERS Preparations afoot for INLD show Villagers face
floods threat |
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62 acres earmarked for police complex
Installation ceremony of Rotary Club held All districts to have polytechnic HPCC to intensify agitation 22 BSP men
join Lok
Jan Shakti Rs 1 cr sanctioned for tailoring training Ambala-Hisar road widening begins Bag
containing cash snatched Thief beaten to death
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142 cr project for urban development Panipat, July 21 Mr Goyal, while presiding over a seminar on new house tax policy and development projects organised by the local municipal council in Skylark Tourist Complex here today, said the state government had earmarked a sum of Rs 60 crore for the construction of roads and repair of old ones in different municipalities of the state. The Director of Urban Development Department, Mr Sanjay Kaushal, said the state government had planned to equip all 68 municipalities in the state with fire services. During the current financial year, 40 out of 68 municipalities would be provided with all necessary fire fighting equipments. A financial assistance of Rs 7 crore had been received from the NCR Board for strengthening fire services in 16 municipalities. Under the solid waste management programme, he said 16 municipalities, including Panipat, had been selected for the implementation of the programme. A loan of Rs 102 crore had been received for the same by the Haryana Slum Clearance Board, he said. It had also been planned to set up bi-composite plants in 15 municipalities and each plant would dispose the waste of two adjacent municipalities, he said adding that Panipat and Samalkha municipalities had been provided financial assistance of Rs 7.70 crore this year. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand, said in order to make the town pollution free, all dyeing and colouring units located in the town which were reportedly polluting ground water were being shifted to a new site. |
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PGIMS functioning marred Rohtak, July 21 The cancellation of the selections to the posts of lecturer, floating professor, professor and Dean for the PGIMS have further over shadowed the performance of this premier medical institute of the state. Within a month of the Chautala government taking over in July 1999, the services of then Director of the PGIMS, Dr D.S. Dubey, were dispensed with on August 12. Dr S.B. Siwach, who was then working as Professor and Head of the Medicine Department and Dean of the institute, was handed over the charge of the Director. The post was advertised and Dr Siwach was selected a regular Director on January 19, 2000. But he, too, did not find favour with the government for long and his services were dispensed without assigning any reasons on May 10, 2001. After the removal of Dr Siwach, the government modified the selection procedure and constituted a ‘search committee’ to select the new Director. The Haryana State Medical Teachers Association, has described the constitution of the search committee as illegal and against the provisions of HMES Rules. The ‘search committee’ headed by the Chief Secretary of the state, met on June 29 and reportedly recommended the name of Dr S.P. Kaushik, a retired Professor of Surgical Gastroenterology from the PGI, Chandigarh, for appointment as Director of this prestigious institute. It seems that Dr Kaushik is not acceptable to the ruling clique as his appointment orders have not been issued till date. Thus, over a period of less than two years, three successive Directors have been changed in the PGIMS. The repeated cancellation of selection made by top experts and seniormost officers of the state is causing resentment among them. Interestingly, the government wants to appoint a retired Professor from Bikaner Medical College to the post of Director but his candidature was not favoured by the ‘search committee’. As such the then Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Medical Education, was given marching orders for her failing to manage the selection of the favoured candidate. The Bansi Lal government, had in June 1996 decided to establish a 200-bedded trauma centre at the PGIMS and the foundation stone of the building was laid by the then Chief Minister on February 2, 1997. Suddenly, the present government decided against establishing the trauma centre at Rohtak and announced setting up of such centres at Karnal and Sirsa. It was rumoured that the government wanted to convert the trauma centre building into a cancer centre and hand over its charge as Director to a member of the ruling clique who was selected Professor only on January 2000 after relaxing essential experience and by ignoring five other senior members of that department. The government decision invited criticism from the public and all political parties (the Congress, the HVP and the CPM) and social organisations. Sensing the public mood, the government later decided to convert this trauma centre building into a mother and child hospital on February 2, 2000. This, however, was not considered feasible by the departments concerned. Now, the committee of experts, that visited the PGIMS on June 28 has recommended that this building be converted into a cardio-neuro centre. But the fact remains that the building constructed at a cost of over Rs 3 crore was lying vacant and for what purpose it would be used finally, only the future will tell. The selection to the posts of lecturer, professor, floating professor and Dean for the PGIMS were held on December 1 and 2, 2000, but the government did not approve the names recommended by the high-powered selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary and cancelled all selections on January 9. The then Director, Dr S.B. Siwach, was blamed for not apprising the selection committee about the selection criterion that was prescribed by the government in 1992. However, the usually informed members of the faculty here feel the real reasons behind the cancellation seemed to be non-selection of some candidates close to the ruling clique and selection of some candidates whom the government did not want. The credence to these views was given by the fact that no such criteria was ever prescribed by the government for the posts of Dean and floating professor but these selections were also cancelled. Out of the posts cancelled, interviews for lecturer, only were held again in June and the person for whom the selections were cancelled was selected (though his eligibility has been reported doubtful). It is a different matter than an extra expert, who was also candidate for the post of Director, was called in that subject because they did not want to repeat the old story. The government has decided to privatise the services in the PGIMS. Tenders for setting up MR scan by private parties have been floated and negotiations with different hospitals of Delhi for setting up Cath Laboratory were held by the Financial Commissioner and the Secretary, Health and Medical Education, last month. The Financial Commissioner and the Secretary, Health and Medical Education, also visited the PGIMS along with a battery of outside experts who in addition have suggested levy of user charges on hospital services. The government has reserved 17 seats in MBBS course for the NRIs (known as reservation for rich). This step has evoked sharp criticism from political parties and citizens in general. Looking into the entire sequence of events in the past two years, the government does not appear to have gained anything. The government has invited avoidable criticism from the political parties as well as society. If at all he has lost something, Dr S.B. Siwach, the former Director, has lost his job and the government house. However, he has gained in his reputation in many ways. The entire faculty of the PGIMS and the members of the Haryana State Medical Teachers Association are feeling suffocated and helpless. The post of the Director, when it fell vacant on May 10, was assigned to a bureaucrat and when she went to leave for two weeks, the Director-General, Health Services, was given the charge and not a member of the PGIMS faculty. |
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POWER METERS Kurukshetra, July 21 It is reported that more than 2000 women from various localities of the historic Thanesar town today assembled in a hall near the old Bus Stand and decided to start a prolonged struggle against the Government on the issue. Senior leaders of the Haryana Congress are reported to have cashed in on the pent-up feelings of the women and castigated the Chautala Government for saddling the consumers with unnecessary burden. Speakers alleged that deal of installation of new electric meters by the HVPN smacked of underhand dealings. Already, opposition leaders like the Republican Party of India MLA Mr Karan Singh Dalal, had gone on record that “commission was taken in the purchase of these meters”. The consumers are asking why old meters are being replaced when the Government and the HVPN are repeatedly asserting the electric meters do not “show fast reading”. The insisting by HVPN staff has raised numerous doubts in the minds of the consumers. In Thanesar town the agitation against the installations is being led by a woman i.e. Mrs Sona Devi popularly known as Nambardarni. Today was not the first time when the women here assembled to protest against the move by the HVPN. On two earlier occasions the women of the twin Thanesar and Kurukshetra cities had sat on dharna and even gheraoed the HVPN offices here. On one occasion the protesting women sat on dharna in front of the University gate, which forced the authorities to change the route of the Chief Minister’s motorcade to enter the University. The Chief Minister was to inaugurate a seminar in memory of his late father. The women in Thanesar town complain that HVPN officials were entering their houses forcibly to install the new meters. In Khatrian Mohalla yesterday, a majority of women locked their houses and came out when a team VHPN officials went to their residence to install new meters. Pooja Sharma told this reporter that HVPN officials threatened her that if she did not allow the installation of new meter, her power connection would be disconnected. The team threatened another women Veeran Devi that the cost of the new meter would be added to her monthly power bill whether she agreed to get new electric meter or not. Such threatening postures have further alienated the HVPN staff from the consumers. Kurukshetra is not the only town where the consumers are agitating against the move. In Jind city, almost all political parties in the opposition as well as social organisations have joined hands to oppose the move. In Jind, however, the administration is reported to have adopted a cautious approach. It is learnt that to pacify ruffled feelings of the consumers, the district administration along with the HVPN has decided to organise an exhibition where the functioning of new electric meters and the old ones would be on display. The administration claims that it would be proved in the presence of consumers the “electric meter did not run faster” when equal power load was put on both the meters”. How far the government would succeed in its attempt is still to be seen but it is being taken as a good exercise in P.R. ship on the part of the HVPN. Another difference between the authorities at Kurukshetra and Jind is that while in Jind city, the authority has declared that no price would be charged from the consumers while replacing the meters which were running core correctly, charges would be charged only in case of the burnt meters. But in Thanesar and Kurukshetra cities, the HVPN teams are threatening to add the price in the bills and disconnection of domestic power connections. Official source disclosed that in Jind, the target is to install 17,000 electric meters. |
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Preparations afoot for INLD show Bhiwani, July 21 A special “media centre” has been set up at Neki Ram Sharma Library Hall adjacent to the rally site where four telephone lines have been provided. Besides six fax machines, six computers, modems, scanners and Internet connections would be made available at the media centre. Arrangements have been made for seating 200 journalists in the rally where a Joint Director-level officer from the Public Relations Department would remain for assistance to newsmen. The existing stage of the park has been resized. Three tent houses have been engaged to cover the park. Special tents are being erected to prevent rain. The state has been divided into 19 zones and will remain under the direct supervision of Duty Magistrates in the same number. All Duty Magistrates will interact to meet to any eventuality. It is learnt that a DIG-level police officer has been deputed to supervise law and order during the rally. The police has surveyed the outskirt areas of the city to provide parking site for vehicles. For the first time, five cranes have been deployed at the rally venue to meet any traffic disruption as the Chief Minister has desired that life should not be affected due to the rally. Special water tankers have been reserved for the service of the people. The boundary walls of the park are being repaired. It is learnt that the Chief Minister will give the mahurat shot of serial “Kargil ke shahid”.The serial will be directed by Sudarshan Naag. The producers are Ram Avtar Dhand and Rohtash Kumar. Mr Dhand said the serial was dedicated to the late Devi Lal and would be covered in 104 episodes. The title song by Sonu Nigam would also be played in the background. Artists Raza Murad, and Kiran Kumar would also be present. It is mentionable that most martyrs were from Bhiwani district. On the other hand, the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti constituted by farmers of Kanwari and 62 surrounding villages has decided to boycott the “Pragati Divas” to be held here to mark the two years of rule by the INLD government. The chairman of the samiti, Col Ram Pratap Malhan, and general secretary Attar Singh alleged that the government had not implemented the accepted demands and had decided to boycott the function. |
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Villagers face
floods threat Fatehabad, July 21 Residents of Lamba, Kanwalgarh and Kamana villagers, falling under Rattia subdivision of the district, fear that river waters may enter the low-lying areas of their villages in case the water level continues to rise. Residents say that water has started coming in the Rangoi drain near Ghasua village. The villagers fear that if the local administration does mot take immediate steps to strengthen the embankments of the drain, its water can cause devastation in Ghasua, Burja, Palsar and Gurusar villages and may reach Fatehabad town via Ahrawan. An almost similar situation prevails in Tohana subdivision of the district. |
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62 acres earmarked for police complex Panipat, July 21 He said the process of transfer of about 70 acres of Army land in Panipat to the district administration for construction of a mini secretariat was in the final stages. A notice of Section 9 in this regard had already been issued. He said in lieu of this land, the Army was being given land at the Ambala cantonment. The DC claimed that out of 5,420 acres of encroached land in villages, the encroachments on 1,434 acres had been removed and leased out to farmers supplementing the recurring annual income of village panchayats upto Rs 43 lakh. As many as 328 cases of encroachments were pending in the courts, he said. When questioned about the deteriorating condition of the roads in the town and the Sanoli road leading to the U.P. border, the DC said Rs 4 crore had been sanctioned by the Ministry of Surface Transport for widening and repair of the Sanoli road. Also a development grant of Rs 1.61 crore had been received for repair of about 50 local roads. About the long pending proposal of a flyover on the G.T. Road in the town, the DC said tenders for this project were likely to be invited soon. The flyover would be constructed on build on transfer basis, he added. |
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Woman faints in
court Ambala, July 21 According to prosecution, a dowry case was registered against Rajesh and his sister Sudesh when Tripta, wife of Rajesh, had
reportedly committed suicide around five years ago. Tripta was married to Rajesh on May 5, 1996, and she died by hanging herself after about six months of marriage. A case was registered on the complaint of Tripta’s father, Mr Ram Kishan, who had alleged that her in-laws had been harassing and torturing his daughter for bringing insufficient dowry. He had also alleged that they were compelling his daughter to bring items like television, refrigerator, cooler etc. The father of the deceased and other witnesses appeared in the court in this case. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the judge ordered the acquittal of Rajesh and his sister.
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Installation ceremony of Rotary Club held Ambala, July 21 Delivering the presidential address at the joint installation ceremony of Rotary, innerwheel and Rotaract Clubs at Rukmini Devi Hall last night, Dr Anil Jain said that the Rotary Mission statement for the year 2001-2002 is “Mankind is our business”. “The club intends to plant about 1000 saplings in one year, provide training for the manufacture of scientific instruments to mentally-challenged students of the Rotary School for the Deaf, establish water quality testing laboratory and organise training programmes on stress management, time management and communication skills for the members of Rotary Club,” he added. The club would host a trade fair of scientific instruments in cooperation with manufacturers of Ambala,” he said. Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director of Central Scientific
Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh, while delivering the key-note address, said that scientific developments constitute the economic health of a nation. He said that nano-electronics and bio-chips are soon going to take over the existing microprocessors. “Nano materials, nano lense and nano particles will provide effective cure for cancer tumour. Similarly, new electronic injectable systems will provide relief to diabetic patients. A pacemaker of 3 mm size will provide permanent support to cardiac patients,” he said. Meanwhile, other office-bearers of the Rotary Club are: secretary — Mr Ajay Mittal, innerwheel president — Ms Shashi Bajoria and secretary — Ms Hem Lata. Rotoract president is Mr Neeraj Bansal and secretary is Mr Sandeep Sharma. Among others, Prof M.K. Sharma, Mr Ashok Jain, Mr Laxmi Sagar, Mr N.C. Jain, Mr A.D. Gandhi and Mr Vijay Mittal were present on the occasion. |
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All districts to have polytechnic Chandigarh, July 21 While stating this here today, a spokesman of the Technical Education Department said that the intake capacity of all technical institutions had been increased from 11,666 to 21,324. The state government had also opened 11 new Engineering Colleges, four polytechnics, six MBA colleges, 17 MCA colleges, eight pharmacy colleges and 14 workstations of Hartron during the past two years. He said that No Objection Certificates had been issued during the current financial year to set up two MCA colleges in Yamunanagar district and one MCA college each in the districts of Jhajjar, Sirsa, Hisar, Sonepat, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Panipat and Karnal. Similarly, No Objection Certificates were also issued during the last financial year to open Pharmacy Degree College in Sirsa district and such certificates were issued during the current financial year to open pharmacy degree colleges in Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra districts. |
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HPCC to intensify agitation Kurukshetra, July 21 This was jointly stated by the former Agriculture Minister, Mr Ranjit Singh, who is also brother of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, and the former Home Minister, Mr Lachhman Dass Arora, at a press conference held at Parakeet Restaurant, five km from here today. They said to achieve their goal, they were activating and mobilising their workers by organising workers’ meetings. Such meetings had already been organised at Rohtak, Jind and Sonepat. They alleged that resentment prevailed among the people against the government due to the imposition of heavy taxes and covered area based house tax as well as professional tax, three times increase in power tariff, increase in crime rate, interrupted and short supply of electricity and drinking water. |
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22 BSP men
join Lok Jan Shakti Faridabad, July 21 According to Dr Lal Singh, Chairman parliamentary board of the Lok Jan Shakti and Mr Dinesh Malik, district unit chief, 22 active members of the BSP joined their party today. They claimed that a similar number of local leaders and workers of other parties, including that of the Congress and the BSP had joined the party a few days ago. Dr Lal Singh claimed that the Lok Jan Shakti’s base was growing and it was becoming stronger. Those who joined the party in a press statement said there was no ‘democracy’ and respect for individual in their party so they had decided to work under guidance of Mr Ram Bilas Paswan. Meanwhile Mr Prem Mehta has been nominated as secretary of the youth wing of state unit of the Lok Jan Shakti |
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Rs 1 cr sanctioned for tailoring training Chandigarh, July 21 Stating this here today the Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Risal Singh, said 108 Kalyan Kendras had been set up to provide training. Under this scheme Rs 100 per month as scholarship and Rs 50 per month as cost of raw material per trainee would also be given. He said 2160 trainees belonging to the Scheduled Castes would be provided sewing machines after the completion of one-year training course to start her own venture. |
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Ambala-Hisar road widening begins Chandigarh, July 21 While stating this here today, a spokesman of the department said Rs 14 crore would be spent on widening the road from Hisar to the Surewala chowk. Another Rs 8 crore had been earmarked for widening the road from the Surewala chowk to Narwana. He said the Jind-Rohtak track of National Highway No. 71 was also being widened to 10 metres at a cost of Rs 12 crore. |
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Bag
containing cash snatched Ambala, July 21 The incident
took plae in Ambala City at about 11 a.m. when the businessman was
taking a bag containing about Rs 30,000 to deposit it in the bank. The
bag was snatched by two motorcycle-borne youths. The youths reportedly
pushed aside the businessman before fleeing on their motorcycle. On
receiving information, the police set up barricades in Ambala City as
well as Ambala Cantonment. Patrolling was also intensified. |
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Thief beaten
to death Faridabad, July 21 According to information, the suspect, identified as Sujan Singh of Kusli village, was armed, entered the house of Tek Chand at Neemka village in the night and was caught, while trying to steal valuables and ornaments from the house. It is reported that he was wearing only kaccha and banian (underwear and vest). When the thief tried to escape from the hold of the family members, villagers heard the commotion and reached the spot. It is learnt that they beat him up badly. The suspect succumbed to his injuries later. |
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