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Tuesday, February 26, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Cong blames it on bogus votes
INLD victory hailed Gear up for procurement, Chautala tells DCs Haryana plans cess on building firms Sealing of all roads to Riond Kalan sought Bhajan’s plea on NSG security cover admitted |
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Union leaders sent to judicial custody Parents kill daughters Health officials step-up
measures AMBALA DIARY
Over 3880 nabbed in Operation Alert Leadership development
programmes
Governor lays foundation stone Seminar on exam system from Feb 27
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Cong blames it on bogus votes Rohtak, February 25 Addressing newspersons here, Mr Hooda said of the 1.16 lakh voters, who cast their votes, over 80,000 had voted against the INLD candidate. If the Chief Minister has described the byelection as a referendum on the functioning of the INLD government, the voters have rejected it, he said. Mr Hooda said the result of the byelection had not surprised him. Each Haryana minister, ruling party MLA and MP had cast bogus votes in the election, he alleged. The PCC chief further alleged that the names of nearly 35,000 voters were deleted from the electoral rolls in Yamunanagar and 55,000 new names were added by the administration. The congress had complained to the Chief Election Commissioner, but in vain. The Pradesh Congress leader charged the Chief Minister with spending heavily in Uttar Pardesh during the past one year. This money, he said, could have been utilised in the repair of roads or enhancing the old-age pension or other development activities. He also charged the INLD with misusing the state government machinery in the Uttar Pardesh elections. Mr Hooda said the Congress would move no-confidence motion against the Vidhan Sabha Speaker in the coming budget session. The party, he said, had already served the notice as required under the rules. |
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INLD victory hailed Ambala, February 25 He said the election had exposed the claims of the BJP and the Congress who were criticising the Chief Minister to gain cheap popularity of voters. He said the people had rejected the BJP, the HVP and the Congress in byelection. The BJP candidate had even lost its security, he added. Criticising former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Mr Singh said that the defeat of the Congress candidate had proved that the Congress had lost faith in the public. He said Mr Bhajan Lal should leave politics, as people of Haryana had reposed little confidence in his party in the byelection. Earlier the Finance Minister presided over the monthly meeting of the Grievances Committee in Ambala City where a large number of people met him and expressed their grievances. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr
D.D. Gautam, and Superintendent of Police, Sandeep Khirwar were also present at the meeting. |
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Gear up for procurement, Chautala tells DCs Chandigarh, February 25 Mr Chautala, presiding over a meeting of the DCs and SPs here, directed them to explore the possibility of getting maximum funds under Centrally sponsored schemes and ensure their judicious use while ensuring sure that the funds did not lapse. Announcing the doubling of the small savings target from Rs 1111 crore this year, he urged the DCs to achieve the raised target by March 31. Faridabad and Panchkula districts had already achieved 86.77 per cent and 81.77 per cent of the target. Those DCs who would exceed the target would be rewarded. It was stated at the meeting that 5394 works were in progress under the Sampoorana Grameen Rozgar Yojana under which seven kg of wheat and Rs 38 per day were being paid as wages to the workers. It was also informed that 71,000 tonnes of foodgrains would be given to the labourers as wages and the state might seek an additional 10,000 tonnes of foodgrains to undertake development works by March 31. Mr Chautala directed to the Commissioner and Secretary for Rural Development, Mr B.D. Dhalia, to ensure that the foodgrains are not diverted to the market. The foodgrains should be lifted quickly as these would help in creating space for the wheat, whose procurement would commence soon. It was stated at the meeting that the Haryana Rural Development Fund Administration Board had released Rs 157.70 crore to Gram Vikas Samitis up to January 31 last. Mr Chautala said the government had now decided that in case the samitis spend less than the estimated expenditure of a project, it would be their discretion to utilise the remaining funds on any other developmental work in their area. He also asked the DCs to ensure speedy completion of projects announced under the Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme. The Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr M.K. Miglani, said he would now review the implementation of the programme through video conferencing with the DCs. The Chief Secretary, Mr L.M. Goyal, urged the DCs to be easily accessible to the people as redressal of their grievances was the top priority of the government. He asked them to maintain transparency and clean administration. Mr Chautala directed the DCs to ensure construction of toilets and provision of drinking water in all schools by March 31. He also directed them to speedily implement the schemes of solid waste management and repair of roads in 16 towns as well as that of shifting of milk dairies outside Rohtak, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Panipat, Bahadurgarh and Rewari. The estimated cost of solid waste management and repair of roads is Rs 56.56 crore and that of shifting dairies Rs 13.07 crore. He directed the DCs to recover all dues from civic bodies by next month. They should give due respect to the elected representatives, irrespective of their party affiliation. Only genuine beneficiaries should get old age pension. The menace of copying should be checked with a firm hand. The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, (Health), Mr Bhagwati Prasad, said the state health department was fully alert and taking all precautions after a case of plague that was detected at Ratia in Fatehabad district. Expressing concern over the growing menace of congress grass, Mr Chautala said a massive campaign should be launched during June and July, 2002, to root out the weed mechanically. The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, (Agriculture), Mr Naseem Ahmad, said while the farmers themselves uprooted congress grass from their fields, its growth along railway tracks, road and other vacant land was unchecked. The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, (Power), Mrs Meenaxi Anand Chaudhary, said the power utilities had provided a record number of 16,000 connections to the agriculture sector during the past two and a half years, thereby clearing all the applications in respect of which test reports were received up to 1997.
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Haryana plans cess on building firms Chandigarh, February 25 The cess will be worked out on the basis of the cost of construction incurred by the employers (building firms) on building or any other construction work. “Every establishment which employs or had employed on any day in the preceding 12 months 50 or more workers in a construction work will be eligible to pay the cess”, official sources said here. According to them, the move has been initiated by the state government following a written request by the Union Labour Ministry for implementation of a Central Act. “Construction-wise Haryana is an important state as big firms such as the
DLF, the Unitech, the Ansals and others are operating here”, the sources said and added that the number of labourers engaged in construction works in the state would be in lakhs. “The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has recently written to Union Labour Minister Sharad Yadav assuring him that Haryana would soon complete formalities for complying with the Act”, officials said here. They said the state government had earlier constituted an expert committee headed by the Labour Commissioner of Haryana for framing of rules by the state government. The Haryana Government will shortly form a state advisory committee to advise the government on matters relating to implementation of provisions of the Act. Other steps for implementation of the Act include appointment of registering officers and registration of establishments employing construction workers. Secondly, registration of building workers as beneficiaries and provision for their identity cards. The state government will also constitute a state welfare board for building and construction workers. The board will have a secretary as well as other officers. The government will also set up a fund for the welfare of workers, called the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund. It will also constitute a safety committee and appoint safety officers for making adequate provision for safety and health measures of construction workers and for compulsory notification of accidents. The state government will appoint a Chief Inspector of Building and Construction to frame rules for safety and health of workers. He will have several inspectors working under him for fixing responsibility of employers to ensure compliance with safety provisions regarding prevention of accidents, timely payment of wages, etc. |
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Sealing of all roads to Riond Kalan sought Fatehabad, February 25 A resident of the village had died of suspected pneumonic plague while his wife and daughter were battling for life at the PGI, Chandigarh. The Civil Surgeon, Dr V. K. Dogra, informed this correspondent that the Director, Health, Haryana, Dr A. C. Bhutani, toured Rattia town and surrounding villages yesterday. The Civil Surgeon and the district malaria officer, Dr M. C. Jyani, visited the villages bordering Riond Kalan today. Dr Dogra said though no case of suspected pneumonic plague had been detected in the district yet a strict vigil was needed in view of the detection of a few cases in the neighbouring village. He said the health authorities had requested the district administration to seal all roads leading to the affected village in Punjab and ensure that no one visited the village from the district nor was any one allowed to come here from that village. Meanwhile, the authorities have asked a villager from Nangal in the district to postpone the marriage of his daughter for a few days. The bridegroom was to come from Riond Khurd village on March 3. The authorities fear that any plague- affected person accompanying marriage party can pose a serious health hazard. The Civil Surgeon has appealed to the people to come forward and cooperate with the health authorities in dealing with the situation. He appealed to educated youths and social organisations to offer their services in educating the people on how to deal with the situation. He said if any one was found with high fever, cough and knots in the body, the person should be immediately taken to a hospital and his blood samples taken immediately and sent to the NICD. The Bhakra dam oustees living in the Rattia area have been warned against meeting the truck drivers coming from Himachal Pradesh and have been told that if any of their relatives from Himachal Pradesh came with symptoms of fever he must immediately be brought to the general hospital. |
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Bhajan’s plea on NSG security cover admitted Chandigarh, February 25 Claiming to be on the hit list of terrorists, Mr Bhajan Lal, in his petition taken up by Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sud, had earlier stated that his life was in danger as he had taken steps to contain militancy when Punjab was facing threat. Giving details, the petitioner had added that he was attacked by militants in America following which five accused were nabbed by the police and sentenced to five years imprisonment for hatching a conspiracy to eliminate him. Seeking directions to the Union of India, the Director General of National Security Guards, besides the state of Haryana, to provide him with “necessary security cover by a central agency”, the petitioner had also claimed that the state of Haryana was informed by the Central Government regarding the decision to replace the NSG security cover with the local police. His counsel had added that the state was also asked to inform Mr Bhajan Lal regarding the move to change the security arrangement following which he had forwarded representations to the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister but had not received any reply. Highlighting the urgency behind filing the petition, counsel had asserted that the NSG security cover could be withdrawn at any moment. He had added that “Z+” security had been provided not only at his residence, but also while the former CM was on the move. The High Court, it may be recalled, has already ordered the continuation of “present security provided to the petitioner”.
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Union leaders sent to judicial custody Bhiwani, February 25 Earlier, the union leaders had been produced before the court amid tight security. Meanwhile, the agitators, who have been sitting on an indefinite dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, raised anti-government and anti-administration slogans. Several political leaders, including Ram Kishan Fauji, an HVP MLA, Bimla Ghanghas of the Janwadi Mahila Samiti joined the demonstration. All speakers flayed the state government for allegedly adopting anti-mazdoor attitude in solving the Khanak episode. They alleged that the administration has deceived the leaders by getting them arrested on the pretext of meeting them. The mazdoor leaders reiterated that the agitation will continue till the settlement of the issue. In the meanwhile, an emergent meeting of the Pahad Khan Mazdoor Union has been held at an anonymous place. The meeting criticised the state government and the district administration for allegedly trying to sabotage the agitation and not yielding proper solution to the Khanak stalemate. The meeting called upon the labourers to participate in toto in a rally which has been slated for February 27 at Hisar. |
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Parents kill daughters Fatehabad, February 25 According to reports here, Veerpaul Kaur (18) and Manjit Kaur (16), sisters, allegedly eloped with two boys of the same village on February 22. Their parents traced the girls the next day from a farm, along with the lover of one of the sisters. Thereafter, the parents lodged a complaint of abduction and rape against the boys Ramnik and Hem Raj. The police, after conducting medical examination of the girls, booked the boys yesterday under Sections 363, 366, 376 and 34 of the IPC. While the police has managed to arrest Ramnik, Hem Raj is still at large. The parents of the girls today, according to sources, took the girls to the place where animals were kept and killed them with a sharp-edged weapon. Later, the father Joginder Singh and the mother Sarabjit Kaur, reportedly admitted to the crime. |
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Health officials step-up
measures Ambala, February 25 Karamjit Kaur, wife of Krishan Singh who died in Chandigarh of plague a few days ago was being shifted from the General Hospital, Hisar to the PGI Chandigarh for treatment. Karamjit Kaur hails from Riyondh Khurd vllage of Punjab which is located near the Haryana border. She had developed plage-like symptoms after the cremation of her husband. While on the way to PGI Chandigarh from Hisar, they had stopped over for a cup of tea at a dhaba near the Punjab-Haryana border. Since the exact dhaba visited was not known, all the dhabas near the border were visited by health officials and medicines distributed to dhaba workers. A missive regarding plague precautions was reportedly received by the health authorities here from the Director General Health Services. Following that letter, a team of doctors was formed to follow up on the different patients who were admitted to the PGI Chandigarh when plague patients were coming in. Incidentally, a meeting regarding plague precautions had been presided over by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam on February 19. At that time, he had assured that there was no cause for concern in Ambala. Also, adequate medical supplies were available for any eventuality. The health officials here are on their toes since Ambala borders Himachal Pradesh from where the first plague cases were reported.
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AMBALA DIARY Ambala, February 25 Mr G.C. Aggarwal president, Science Apparatus Manufacturers Association, Dr Anil Jain, president, Ambala Scientific Instruments Manufacturers Association, Dr N.C. Jain, state senior vice-president Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mr R.P. Gupta, general secretary of the Ambala Cantonment Traders Federation, have expressed concern over the frequent change of telephone numbers in Ambala Sadar and Ambala city. They said that trading community was facing problems since they had to frequently change their stationery. “Recently, the Telephone Department has published the telephone directory which is now obsolete. This is a heavy loss of public money,” they said. Sports championship A sports championship for Central Government employees was held at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Ambala Cantonment. Government employees from different departments participated in the sports championship which was hosted by the school for the second time. About 158 government employees participated in the championship. Sportspersons from Survey of India dominated the championship. Mr V.K. Gupta coordinated the championship. Table tennis contests were coordinated by Mr Zorawar Singh and badminton and volleyball contests by Mr Pradip, carrom by Mr Labh Singh and chess by Mr Hariprasad Dharkar. About 40 prizes were given away. School annual day A scintillating performance was given by the students of Bell Toll Public High School, Ambala city. A number of people witnessed the 24th annual day and prize distribution function, School Principal J. Partal said that the students of the school presented a variety of cultural programmes, including Haryanvi dance, Dogri dance, Bhangra and skits. Absenteeism Despite Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahinder Kumar, having twice undertaken surprise inspection at the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar office to check absenteeism, some employees were again found absent on a recent visit. Mr Mahinder Kumar said that strict action will be initiated against the persons found absent. He said that during March, such inspections will be carried out in rural areas also. A pleasant surprise Normally, the organisers of sports tournaments take a lot of time to compile the day’s results and it is by late evening the final tally is out. However, it was a pleasant surprise when the organisers of the fifth annual sports championship at Government PG College, Ambala Cantonment, had prepared the day’s results by late afternoon. A college teacher remarked that government employees are not inefficient and they only need an opportunity to prove it. |
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Over 3880 nabbed in
Operation Alert Chandigarh, February 25 Claiming that the operation had paid rich dividends, the Director-General of the Haryana Police, Mr M.S. Malik, said here today that 764 long pending cases were solved, of which 44 cases had been pending for over a year, 198 cases for over six months and 522 cases over three months. He said the police also arrested 17 dacoits, 34 robbers, 102 burglars, 192 thieves and 264 other criminals during the operation. Stolen property worth Rs 2.55 crore was recovered. The police also succeeded in detecting nine working stills, 66 pistols, six guns and 49 knives besides over 3 kg of
charas, 6.7 kg of ganja and 16.5 kg of opium during the operation.
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Leadership development
programmes Panipat, February 25 Talking to reporters here, the executive vice-president of the chamber, Mr Naseer Ahammad, said there was need for such programmes as educated persons were found behind terrorist incidents all over the world recently. He stated that international business conference would be held in Kerala in March next year in which over 1500 delegates would take part. |
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2 killed in house collapse Ambala, February 25 According to information the incident occurred when members of the family were sleeping in their house. All of a sudden the roof of the house collapsed. The wife of Jagdish, Kamala, and one of his daughters, Teena, were killed on the spot, while two of his family members sustained injuries. One of the injured was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. The house, which collapsed, was an old one. The neighbours reached there as soon as they heard the sound of the house collapse. They immediately took out the injured from the debris. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.
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Governor lays foundation stone Yamunanagar, February 25 Speaking on the occasion, Babu Parmanand described Dr Ambedkar as a ‘messiah’ of Dalits and the downtrodden. Later, paying tributes to Guru Ravidas on his 625th birth anniversary, the Governor said that he was a great social reformer who strived for eradication of evils of caste, communalism and untouchability from the society. He said Guru Ravidas devoted his life in the service of humanity and uplift of the downtrodden. The Governor’s wife, Ms Sudesh Kumari, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MP, Ambala, Mr Bishan Lal Saini, MLA, Jagadhri, Ms Renu Phulia, SDM and Mr Ram Lal, president of the Guru Ravidas Sabha, Saran, were also present on the occasion. |
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Seminar on exam system from Feb 27 Kurukshetra, February 25 The keynote paper at the seminar will be presented by former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, Prof R.P. Bambah. Important themes for discussion in the seminar include innovations and reforms in the examination, continuous evaluation at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, organisational problems in examinations for Indian Universities and use of new technologies in conducting the examinations. The working paper for discussion in the seminar raises several issues for discussion. The paper points out that a plan of action for reforms in education prepared by the UGC in 1973 had not taken off. Similarly measures like introducing objective type examinations and spot evaluations have also raised a number of issues which merit a thorough discussion at a national forum of educationists. The seminar will provide a national forum for arriving at a consensus on most of these issues. The working paper also takes note of the internal assessment system introduced for continuous evaluation of the students and underlines the benefits of the re-evaluation system which ensures a measure of transparency in the evaluation system. The online examination launched by high-tech universities like IGNOU also need to be studied in detail. Prominent among those attending the seminar are Mr B.K. Chaturvedi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. Dr K.B. Powar, Secretary-General, Association of Indian Universities, and Dr K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Registrars and Controllers from different universities and experts on the examination system.
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Ambala, February 25 Naik Gurdeep Singh is survived by his wife, a daughter and a three-month-old son. Floral tributes were paid to Naik Gurdeep Singh. Among others, Haryana minister Risal Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner Mahinder Kumar were present. Naik Gurdeep Singh and soldier Jasbir Singh were going on some official work when the vehicle collided with a train engine at an unmanned level crossing. He had come home to meet his children last Sunday and returned on Wednesday. He had been commissioned in 62 Field Regiment.
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