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Saturday,
September 29, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Water crisis forces migration Haryana’s plea for stay fails Third Shatabdi being closely
monitored 20% ST on imported vanaspati Bodies gearing up against house
tax Panel on power bills set up |
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VDS for power consumers from October 1 Pharmacy seats to be
filled again Board
seals polluting units Ornaments worth over 3 lakh stolen Traders seek arms licences Haryana press gets new machines
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Water crisis forces migration Narnaul (Mahendergarh), September 28 A visit to a cluster of villages in Narnaul Subdivison of
Mahendergarh district, falling under the rubric “Chhabisi Panchayat” (a cluster of 26 villages), revealed that the people have changed lifestyle on account of shortage of water. Successive governments have not done anything to migrate sufferings of the people. The people of the area, especially the farmers, pinned hopes on the INLD government as it claimed to be pro-farmer and pro-peasant. Their miseries have increased in the past few months. Hamidpur, Godbalawa, Dochana, Jadupur, Badopur, Dohr, Gaili, Rahunathpura, Jailabh, Dabroli, Kala Kuld, Nangla Kathon are some of the villages falling in Chhabisi Panchayat where underground water level has fallen from 600 feet to more than 1000 feet. Incidentally these villages are along the Haryana border with Rajasthan. Joining others, Mr Jai Narayan (Nambardar), the eldest member(90) of village Hamidpur told this correspondent that a number of families has followed the birds and migrated from the place. A several families were contemplating following them. The villagers said that there was shortage of drinking water as the supply from the Public Health Department was not enough. Also, acute shortage of power has affected the supply of water by the Public Health Department. There is no canal based water for irrigation. Consequently farming depends only on rains. As rains in the past three years have been scanty farming, the main occupation of the area, has is in disarray. The administration and INLD leaders pay only lip service to their cause. Once land owners in the villages, many persons from the area are feel constrained to take up menial jobs in cities for livelihood. The villagers of Hamidpur took me to a dam built several years ago by the government with the purpose of storing water flowing from the seasonal Dohan river coming from Rajasthan. A large chunk of panchayat land of Hamidpur and the nearby villages was taken for this purpose. Only twice has the river water flown this side. Now the Rajasthan government has constructed a dam to stop the water from flowing into the parts falling in Haryana. The river bed now has become bald patch of flat land. The government, a few years ago, dug up canal nearby to draw water from JLN canal passing near Narnaul to the dam to recharge the water level of the surrounding villages. But the plan is not being executed. Incidentally, residents of these 26 villages had boycotted the last Assembly election in the state to protest against the governments and the political parties for apathy to water problem. A visit to Bhugarka, Mandi, Nangal Kala, Bhondawas, Chapra in Nangal Choudry Block, Rattan Kalan, Bohali, Tehri, Kunjpura, Sobhapur, Ghusan in Ateli Block, Navtana, Pakrala, Bhojawas, Sundali and Dewali in Kanina Block and Satnali, Akoda, Paiga, Dewas, Surjanwas, Kheda and Bhuchawas in Mahendergarh Block revealed the plight of the people due to scarcity of water. As the water level has fallen below more than 1000 feet in many areas, it has become difficult to have tubewell facility. Tubewell boring is got done at about three to four lakhs of rupees. The problem is that the water level is further dipping, constantly shifting the yardstick of installing tubewells. At some places there are rocky areas at about 600 feet-1000 ft blow the surface soil, making the costly exercise of installing tubewells ultimately
futile. It is a common sight of people, especially women and children, walking
several kilometres to fill pitchers with water. Almost all ponds in the villages have dried up. So have the taps laid down by the authorities for the supply of water. Along with human beings the cattle were also facing the brunt. The only difference is that the cattle can drink the meagre brackish water available during the present contingency. A number of milch cattle are reported to have either died or disposed of by owners. The areas of Mahendergarh district have witnessed violent agitations in the past on water and power issue. A few days ago the Haryana Yuva Kisan Sangarsh Samiti led an agitation in Narnaul in which vehicles of Punjab passing through Narnaul were stopped. The agitators even violated Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code to protest against the Punjab governments attitude towards the completion of Sutlej Yamuna Link(SYL) canal project in that state. The SYL was to bring water from Ravi-Beas rivers to South Haryana. In the Bansi Lal regime the Ahirwal belt witnessed a month-long violent struggle in which three persons were killed and several injured in police firing in the areas of Mahendergarh Sub Division. The people have become restive again and are awaiting quick redressal of problems from the government. |
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Haryana’s plea for stay fails Faridabad, September 28 The Bench comprising Mr Justice J.B. Patnaik in a decision today dismissed the appeal of the state government which had represented that since the state government was ready to probe the complaints of illegal mining again the apex court should stay the high court’s order of a CBI enquiry into the matter. The appeal was filed in the Supreme Court about two months ago. The apex court directed the CBI to start its probe immediately and did not approve of the grounds presented by the state government for halting the probe. It may be recalled that the high court had asked the CBI to conduct the probe about five months ago, but the enquiry is yet to be started. The high court’s order in this regard had come in response to a special leave petition filed by Subhash Sharma, a local journalist. In the petition he had alleged that large-scale illegal mining had been going on in the Ishaq Mandi area of Anangpur village here with the active involvement of a Haryana Minister and some of his relatives. The petition was filed on October 19, 2000. While the high court had got an enquiry done by its Commissioner there but a probe by the state government and its report was found to be unsatisfactory by the high court. The court after hearing both sides had ordered the CBI to conduct a probe in April. The court had asked the investigating agency to keep the area of investigation wide enough to enquire the role of officials, all lease holders and the whole district, rather than a particular area. The petitioner has welcomed the development and has expressed hope that the CBI probe will expose the wrong doings. |
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Third Shatabdi being closely
monitored Ambala, September 28 While the occupancy rate of the Shatabdi running in the evening from Chandigarh to Delhi is healthy, the same cannot be said for the Shatabdi which arrives at Chandigarh in the afternoon from Delhi. The Railway officials here are closely
monitoring the occupancy rate of the new Shatabdi. Detailed reports are believed to be forwarded
regularly to the authorities concerned at Delhi. As the new Shatabdi is temporary in nature, the final decision on whether to continue or discontinue with the new Shatabdi train will be taken by senior Railway officials in Delhi. Since the time it has been introduced, the occupancy rate in the new Shatabdi from Chandigarh to Delhi has been in the region of 60 to 80 per cent. This healthy percentage of occupied seats is, however, dampened by the occupancy rate of its counterpart Shatabdi which reaches Chandigarh in the afternoon from Delhi. The figure for the afternoon Shatabdi reaching Chandigarh reportedly ranges between 20 to 40 per cent. As the new Shatabdi is temporary, it has got the number 469 for the up train from Delhi to Chandigarh and the number 470 for the down train from Chandigarh to Delhi. The evening Shatabdi is particularly popular with businessmen and others who want to reach Delhi after finishing their day’s work in the City Beautiful. The timings of the new Shatabdi from Chandigarh to Delhi are being found suitable by those who visit Ambala. In the evening, the new evening Shatabdi reaches Ambala at about 6 p.m. and it ultimately reaches Delhi by 8.20 p.m. A businessman from Delhi, Mr Satyaveer Saini, who had come to Ambala for purchasing scientific instruments, said that the new Shatabdi in the evening is a welcome decision. “I have already travelled by the new Shatabdi twice. I catch the morning Shatabdi from Delhi and I am able to return home comfortably by catching the evening Shatabdi from Ambala,” he said. The new afternoon Shatabdi which passes through Ambala at 2 p.m. and reaches Chandigarh at 2.40 p.m. is not proving to be a popular train. A probable reason, railway officials feel, could be the timing which is not attractive for the regular Shatabdi travellers like the businessmen. Since, the day is nearly over by the time a person reaches Ambala or Chandigarh in the afternoon, the new afternoon Shatabdi is yet to gain popularity. |
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20% ST on imported vanaspati Chandigarh, September 28 The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Prohibition, Excise and Taxation Department to amend the Haryana General Sales Tax Rules, 1995, for a review of the lumpsum rate prescribed in respect of brick-kilns. It was decided by the Cabinet that the revised rates for brick-kilns would be a par with those recently notified by the Punjab Government. Brick-kilns of 28 to 33 “ghory” capacity would fall in category A and the lumpsum rate payable in lieu of sales tax would be Rs 1.60 lakh. For brick-kilns of more than 33 “ghory” capacity, Rs 25,000 per “ghory” would have to be paid extra. Brick-kilns of 22 to 27 “ghory” capacity would fall in category B and they would pay Rs 1.25 lakh as lumpsum tax. Brick-kilns of 22 “ghory” capacity would fall in category C and would pay Rs 1 lakh as lumpsum tax. Brickkilns not fired during the year ending September 30 in which stocks in and outside the kiln do not exceed five lakh bricks would fall in category D and their lumpsum tax would be Rs 25,000. It was decided by the Cabinet that the lumpsum rates would be increased at the rate of 10 per cent each year. The Cabinet also approved the roll-back of the tax imposed on fertilisers and increase in the rate of sales tax on diesel and pesticides. The revised rates would come into effect from October 15. The Cabinet also cleared an amendment to the Punjab Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1964, for the introduction of the system of public auction for the grant of mining leases in respect of minor minerals . According to an official release, this decision was taken on the basis of the recommendations made by the taskforce constituted on June 29, 2001, under the chairmanship of the MD, Haryana Minerals Limited. It was decided to keep the duration of the lease for a period of seven years. It was felt that the open auction system would be more transparent than the existing system of inviting applications and holding interviews for mining. The new system would also check the leakage of revenue. The Cabinet also approved the sale of farmland of the District Jail, Karnal, measuring more than 22 acres. The Cabinet also reviewed the annual administrative reports (1999-2000) of the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Department and the Technical Education Department. |
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Bodies gearing up against house
tax Ambala, September 28 Block Congress (I) Committee has stated that it would hold a mass demonstration at the Sadar Bazar chowk on October 2 in protest against the new house tax policy. The Congress activists said preparations were on to use democratic means to protest against the house tax policy. Among others, Mr Narendra Pal Singh, Mr R.N. Samrat, Mr Jasbir Walia, Mr Suresh Trehan, Ms Sudershana Dua, Mr Virendra Gandhi and Mr Sudhir Jaiswal stated that the promises made by the state government during elections had not been kept. The Lok Sangharsh Manch has also criticised the new house tax policy and has begun preparations in protest against it. At a meeting of the manch, the speakers said the middle class has been adversely affected by the policy. They pointed out that in poor localities of Ambala Sadar where there was no house tax earlier, there too the house tax had been imposed. Sangharsh Vahini convener, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, said there were several discrepancies in the new policy and there was a lack of transparency in the house tax exercise. He pointed out that the house tax sub-committees that had been formed, violated the rules. A memorandum in this regard has already been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. |
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Panel on power bills set up Chandigarh, September 28 While presiding over a meeting of INLD, BJP and Independent MLAs here, Mr Chautala said the committee would hold “bijli darbars” at various circle headquarters. Mr Gopi Chand Gahlot, Deputy Speaker, five MLAs, Mr Krishan Pawar, Vaid Kapur Chand, Mr Rajinder Bisla, Mr Puran Singh Dabra and Mr Pawan Diwan, as well as officers of the Power Utilities would be the members of the committee, the Chief Minister said. Mr Chautala said at the meeting, which was also attended by MPs from Haryana, that the surcharge on the arrears of power bills of domestic and agricultural consumers would be waived if they cleared their dues by October 31. He also announced the decision of the state government to set up Transport Nagars outside the major towns to ease traffic congestion. Mr Chautala said that six more members would be added to a committee constituted for getting feedback from people regarding the shifting of a village from a block or subdivision or tehsil or police station or district to another area. The Chief Minister asked Mr Subhash Goyal, Urban Development Minister, to discuss the issue of house tax with the MLAs from the urban constituencies for rationalising the system. |
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VDS for power consumers from October 1 Rohtak, September 28 The scheme would start on October 1 and end on October 15. During this period the nigam would regularise such cases at reduced penalty rates. The nigam spokesman said the UHBVN would charge only one-third of the normal penalty while regularising the cases. The desirous consumers, however, would have to voluntarily declare tampering of the meter installed on their premises or power distribution system. He said the nigam would remove the tampered meter from the consumer premises and install new electronic meters within seven days of the receipt of applications. |
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UHBVN scheme
for consumers Chandigarh, September 28 A spokesman of the nigam said here today that cases of tampered or faulty meters would be regularised at reduced penalty rates. The nigam would charge only one-third of the normal penalty while regularising such cases. |
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Pharmacy seats to be
filled again Ambala, September 28 The Principal of Women Polytechnic, Ambala, Mr Rampal Keshvar, who is in charge of centralised admissions of diploma in pharmacy, said the last date for submitting fresh applications is October 3, while the counselling will be conducted on October 8. Out of 36 seats, 34 are free seats while the rest are paid. Two seats have already been vacated, he added. The students whose admissions were cancelled by the department following the detection of fake domicile certificates include Sandeep (Sirsa), Mahesh (Hanumangarh), Atul (Sriganganagar), Ram Chander (Sirsa), Tara Chand (Hanumangarh), Jai Kishan (Sriganganagar), Sanjay Batra (Sirsa), Pardeep (Sirsa), Mukesh (Sirsa), Prem Kumar (Hisar), Subhash (Sirsa), Shyam Lal (Sirsa), Arvind (Hanumangarh), Mahinder (Sirsa), Gaurav (Sirsa), Ashok (Sirsa), Rajpal (Sirsa), Begraj (Sirsa), Rajinder (Sirsa), Atma Ram (Sirsa). Others included in the cancellation list are Chabilla (Sirsa), Rajesh (Sirsa), Subhash (Sirsa), Rohitas (Sirsa), Amit (Sirsa), Pawan (Sirsa), Om Prakash (Sirsa), Veerender (Fathabad), Ravinder (Hisar), Kapil (Hisar), Amandeep (Kurukshetra), Mohmad Naseem (Mohindergarh), Anil (Mohindergarh), Ashwani (Mohindergarh) and Ramesh (Sriganganagar). Meanwhile, the department has directed the colleges concerned to confiscate the fees and dues paid by the students whose admissions were cancelled due to fake domicile certificate. |
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Board
seals polluting units Faridabad, September 28 According to Pollution Control Board officials, nearly 15 units in residential areas or the zone not permitted to operate “hazardous” type of chemical units were sealed recently. Some of these are located in old Faridabad and Ballabgarh areas. According to survey reports majority of the electroplating units nearly 350 operating in the district are located in ‘no-permit’ area. Such units are reportedly causing heavy pollution, by releasing waste directly into sewers or bored deep into the ground, causing severe water pollution. Demand to shift chemical and electroplating units out of the town have been made from time to time. But due to ‘slackness’ on part of officials concerned, various schemes to check pollution could not be enforced. Now the Pollution Control Board has proposed to create a special zone for such (Electroplating) units in Sector-58, here, which has been given green light by authorities concerned. While several units have applied for plots in the new zone, a large number of units are still operating in residential areas. The board served notices on nearly 30 such units recently. It has warned sealing of all units violating the basic norms. |
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Ornaments worth over 3 lakh stolen Rohtak, September 28 According to police sources, the incident occurred during the night when occupants of the house were sleeping on the roof. Ramesh said in a complaint that he came to know about the theft only when he got down from the roof in the morning. He said Rs 1 lakh in cash and ornaments worth about Rs 3.25 lakh which were kept in the house for the marriage of his daughter had been stolen. In a separate incident, thieves stole about Rs 50,000, some silver coins and other items from an LPG agency here last night. The owner of the agency said the incident was reported to him when his employees found the locks of the agency broken in the morning. Meanwhile, a motorcycle and a scooter were stolen in separate incidents in the past 24 hours. |
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Traders seek arms licences Bhiwani, September 28 He said that most of the taxes were given by the grain markets traders but proper facilities were not provided to them. Earlier, addressing a meeting of the Agarwal society the state president of the Haryana Agarwal Vikas Sangthan and Convener of the Agroha Dham fair Mr Bajrang Dass Garg said that corruption, dowry and bribery were on the rise and all sections of life would have to be united to combat these evils. |
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Haryana press gets new machines Chandigarh, September 28 The Chief Minister was taken around the premises by Mr A.S. Yadav, Controller, Printing and Stationery. Under the project, eight computers will also be installed to improve printing. A four-colour offset printing machine will be installed by the end of October at Government Press, Panchkula. |
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