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Thursday,
March 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Haryana Sikhs for separate SGPC
CBI starts probe into excavations Rathore files plea in Ruchika case
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No ‘purchee’ fee on
post-mortem Chandigarh, March 20 The Haryana Government has decided to exempt ‘‘purchee’’ (outdoor patient ticket) fee on the post-mortem examination being conducted in the state health institutions.
3 crop varieties released Steps for smooth wheat procurement Farmers seek MSP for wheat Make afforestation ‘a mass movement’ No buyer for turmeric crop Lok Adalats for labour cases Kavi Sammelan 
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Haryana Sikhs for separate SGPC Kurukshetra, March 20 The 14th meeting of Sikh leaders held in Dera Baba Charan Singh Gurdwara here today demanded a separate SGPC for Haryana to manage 51 gurdwaras in the state on the pattern of Takht Patna Sahib Gurdwara and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The SGPC-controlled Chevin Patshahi Gurdwara Management today did not allow the Haryana Sikh leaders to hold their meeting there, forcing them to change the venue to Dera Baba Charan Singh Gurdwara at the last minute. The participants later informed Coordinator Pratap Singh Randhawa of the decision. Mr Randhawa told mediapersons that the Amritsar-based SGPC had miserably failed to deliver the goods and gurdwaras in Haryana, including the historic ones, were in a dilapidated condition. He said 13 meetings had already been held at different places in Haryana to mobilise the Sikhs for a separate SGPC. He said a memorandum containing proceedings of today’s meeting was being sent to Haryana and Punjab chief Ministers for the creation of an independent SGPC for Haryana on the pattern of the DSGMC. A similar request was being made to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, he added. Mr Randhawa said if their demand for a separate SGPC for Haryana was not accepted, the Sikhs would organise a demonstration in front of Parliament. Mr Randhawa warned that if the SGPC tried to take away the income from Haryana gurdwaras to Amritsar, they would resist it. Mr Randhawa said Miri-Piri Medical College-Hospital, founded 10 years ago at Shahabad, had not been constructed as yet despite repeated assurances by the SGPC. Not a single Sikh missionary college or vocational institution had been set up in Haryana by the SGPC, he alleged. He accused the SGPC of gross under-representation to Haryana Sikhs in the supreme Sikh religious body. He said while a representative to the SGPC was elected for every 30,000 voters in Punjab, the ratio in Haryana was one to over 70,000 voters. Haryana Sikhs have just 11 representatives in the SGPC, whereas they should have at least 30 nominees. “The Haryana Sikhs are not going to pocket this step-motherly treatment from the SGPC any more,” he warned.
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Budget
session fruitful for MLAs Chandigarh,
March 20 If yesterday the MLAs got laptop computers along with printers free of cost from the public exchequer, today they enriched themselves to the extent of more than Rs 1.50 crore per annum. According to the Haryana Legislative Assembly(Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2002, adopted by the House today, now the constituency allowance of each MLA has been raised from Rs 6,000 per month to Rs 8,000 per month. The telephone allowance of each MLA has gone up from Rs 5000 per month to Rs 10,000 per month(when the STD rates have come down by about 60 per cent). The daily allowance of the MLAs has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 500 “keeping in view the rise in the cost of living”. Besides now each MLA or his family will now be entitled to free travel worth Rs 1.25 lakh per annum. Earlier he could avail himself of this facility to the extent of Rs 70,000 per month. The Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, who did not allow Mr Karan Singh Dalal(RPI) to speak on the Haryana Civil Service(Executive Branch) and Allied Services and Other Services Common/Combined Examination Bill, apprehending the member would say something unpleasant to the Government on the examination of the HCS, held recently called Mr Dalal (RPI) to speak on the MLAs’ Bill. Mr Dalal wanted allowance for the MLAs to hiring the services of personal assistant. He also wanted some grant to be kept at the discretion of the MLAs hire relief to the martyrs. Mr Rambir (INLD) said the MLAs should be allowed to travel AC IInd class in trains. Mr Jai Prakash Barwala(Cong) demanded that the travelling allowance of the MLAs should be increased from Rs 5 per km to Rs 10 per km following increase in the price of diesel from April 1. Before adjourning sine die, the House also adopted the Haryana Apartment Ownership (Amendment) Bill, 2002, and two Appropriation Bills. |
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CBI starts probe into excavations Hisar, March 20 The officials yesterday reached the village and visited the site. They also met some villagers to gather information. It may be recalled that some years ago the local ASI officials had found remains of a Harappan age settlement under two mounds in the village. The ASI later sent a project to the Centre for further excavations for which the Centre sanctioned Rs 90 lakh. The ASI started work three years ago. It continued from 1997 to 2000 and labourers from Rakhi Garhi and adjoining villages were hired on daily-wages basis under the project. After excavation, the officials deputed a guard on that land after covering it with tarpaulin. The ASI officials purchased materials from Hisar, Hansi and Jind towns for the project. The CBI after receiving some complaints found some irregularities in its preliminary investigation. Now it has started a thorough investigation into the matter. According to sources, the officials yesterday recorded statements of some labourers and examined the muster roll. According to sources, the CBI officials would also meet some traders who had supplied materials for the project. |
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Rathore files plea in Ruchika case Ambala, March 20 The complaint was filed through counsel Ajay Jain in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ms Sarita Gupta. The complaint was filed under Sections 379 and 120-B IPC. The said file titled as Kuldip Singh vs Munish Arora and others has deliberately been stolen and has been destroyed by the accused in collusion with officials who are the custodian of the judicial record, after the registration of case dated December 29, 1999, under Sections 354 and 509 of the IPC at Panchkula against the complainant, so as to deny him right of effective defence in the false case,” the application alleged. The complaint states. “The theft of the said file has been committed by accused in conspiracy with the officials with a view to save themselves from the criminal action that may be perused against them and further with a view that the complainant may not use the said document for his proper defence in the false case present pending against him.” “It is prayed that the necessary action may kindly be taken against the accused and the complaint may kindly be forwarded to the Ambala City police station under Section 156 (3) of the Cr PC for the registration and proper investigation of the case in the interest of justice,” the application adds. Meanwhile, the Special Magistrate for CBI cases in Haryana, Mr J.S. Dhanjal, today adjourned the Ruchika molestation case till April 30. |
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No ‘purchee’ fee on
post-mortem Chandigarh, March 20 Stating this here today, Dr M.L. Ranga, Minister of State for Health, said the government had also decided not to charge any ‘‘purchee’’ fee for treatment in sub-centres, primary health centres and community health centres. It had also been decided that no fee would be charged for consultation with doctors, health officers and for conducting tests under the national health programmes. However, ‘‘purchee’’ fee of Rs 5 would be charged for treatment at referral, sub-divisional and district level hospital and Rs 10 would be charged for treatment at the PGIMS, Rohtak. ‘‘Purchee’’ once made would be valid upto the completion of the treatment of diseases for which ‘‘purchee’’ was made in case of chronic diseases, it would be valid for the
calendar year. Mr Ranga said that about 70 lakh to 80 lakh patients
were treated at various health institutions of the state every year. The per capita expenditure on health had increased from Rs 1.92 at the time of inception of the state to Rs 185 (estimated) during 2000-2001. Mr Karan Singh Dalal, an MLA, had demanded during the Budget session of the Assembly that the ‘‘purchee’’ fee should be charged. |
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SD College (Lahore) annual function Ambala, March 20 Dr Surendra Kumar Sharma, Director, PGI, Chandigarh, and the Principal, Dr Deshbandhu spoke about excellence in academics and sports. In academics at least 10 students of the college are rank holders in the university while 26 more students have their names in the achievers roll. The college students have done well in swimming, cross-country race, cricket (men and women), gymnastics, table tennis judo, women’s handball, relay race and football. A total of 366 prizes were given to the students which included 139 prizes for boys and 227 prizes for girls. In academic out of a total of 168 prizes, boys got 26 prizes while girls got 142 prizes for cultural activities out of a total of 77 prizes, girls got 46 prizes while boys got 31 prizes. In NCC, 12 prizes were given while in NSS, 19 prizes were given which included 9 prizes for boys and 10 prizes for girls. In sports, out of 90 prizes, boys got 60 prizes while girls got 30 prizes. |
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3 crop varieties released Hisar, March 20 University Vice-Chancellor Vinay Kumar said yesterday the new varieties would fetch the farmers better returns because of their higher yield potential and their compatibility with rotation and mixed farming. He said new pearl millet hybrid HHB-117 surpassed the existing hybrids in average grain yield as well as green fodder as the plants remained green till maturity. It can be grown in both rain-fed and irrigated areas and its medium maturity period (70-73 days) makes it fit in any crop rotation, he added. Regarding the sunflower hybrid (HSFH-848), he said its seed and oil yields are 10 and 11 per cent respectively, more than the popular hybrid “Jwalamukhi’’. Due to its medium height the variety is resistant to lodging and is also suitable for salt-affected soils it can also be cultivated during late sown irrigated conditions, he added. Variety HT-10 of tinda is also high yielding as its average yield is 84 quintals per hectare against 68 and 62 quintals per hectare of Hisar Selection and Arka Tinda, at present being grown in the state. It is suitable for sowing in both summer and rainy seasons, he said. Research Director B.S. Dahiya said six more crop varieties are also in the pipeline. These varieties have been identified for farmers’ field testing by the Variety Release Committee (VRC) of the university, he added. Dr Dahiya, who is also Chairman of the VRC, said new varieties, Basmati rice variety Haryana Sugandha-2, a rice hybrid HKRH-1008, desi cotton variety HD-324, an American cotton hybrid HHH-287, maize hybrid HM-4 and variety of the radish Hisar Selection-1 have outyielded in the research experiments. Plant breeding department head and VRC secretary M.L. Saini said the new basmati rice variety (Haryana Sugandha-2) and cotton hybrid (HHH-287) gave 30 and 26 per cent more yield than their best available counterparts respectively during experiments. Likewise, the rice and maize hybrids also yielded 15 per cent more, he added. He, however, clarified seed of these six new varieties would be made available to the farmers only after success of the farmers’ field trials.
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Steps for smooth wheat procurement Chandigarh, March 20 It had been decided that the State Food and Supplies Department and the Food Corporation of India would procure 20 per cent each of the wheat which would arrive in the mandis. Similarly, Hafed would procure 33 per cent of the wheat and 9 per cent each would be procured by Haryana Warehousing Corporation, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation and Confed. In a communication addressed to all District Food and Supplies Controllers, the Director, Food and Supplies said that wheat would be procured in all those mandis which had functioned or opened during 2001-2002 and other new mandis which either had been opened or might be opened in the ensuing rabi season. They have also been directed that the payment to the farmers be made within 48 to 72 hours after auction of their stocks. In case of any default on the part of kachcha arhitas, penal action against them would be taken besides any other action that might be necessary. There is an adequate stock of gunny bags, tarpaulins, polythene covers and crates. The wheat would be procured by the procuring agencies in grade I only at a uniform rate announced by the Union Government. |
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Farmers seek MSP for wheat Fatehabad, March 20 Talking to mediapersons here today, the state general secretary of the sabha, Mr Krishan Swaroop said that ever since the Atal Behari Vajpayee government came to power, the plight of the farmers in the country had deteriorated. He said the latest example of the apathy of the government towards the farmers was the fact that mustard crop that sold at a rate of Rs.2000 per quintal two years ago was selling between Rs 800 and Rs1000 per quintal these days. The kisan sabha leader expressed surprise over the fact that the state Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who has been supporting the Vajpayee government had failed to raise the issue of MSP with the Prime Minister. Mr Swaroop demanded that the Central Government must roll back the recent hike in prices of fertilisers and kerosene as these hikes are hitting the poor and the farmers the most. He said the sabha would launch a statewide agitation if the government failed to take immediate steps in this direction. He said a meeting of the state committee of the sabha would be organised in Rohtak on March 27. Mr Nand Kishore Shukla, joint secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha will also participate in that meeting. |
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Make afforestation ‘a mass movement’ Chandigarh, March 20 Disclosing this here on the eve of World Forestry Day, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, appealed to the people to make afforestation a mass movement so as to further increase the area under tree cover which had already been increased to eight per cent of the total area of the state. He said that 4.5 crore seedlings would be planted in the state during the next financial year as against 2.5 crore planted during the current financial year. Seedlings were distributed free of cost to the people so as to seek their active cooperation in increasing the forest cover of the state. He said that Ch Devi Lal Herbal Nature Park has been set up at Yamunanagar to promote cultivation of medicinal plants. A research centre for conservation of endangered vultures had been set up at Pinjore in collaboration with the UK. This centre, he said, was first of its kind in the sub-continent. |
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No buyer for turmeric crop Yamunanagar, March 20 Mr Satpal Kaushik, a farmer, said in Yamunanagar district alone 1500 acres of turmeric crop was ready for harvesting but lack of buyers was posing a problem. He said the state Government should immediately instruct HAFED, Haryana Agro and CONFED to ensure the purchase of the crop. |
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Lok Adalats for labour cases Chandigarh, March 20 While giving this information here today, the Member-Secretary of the authority, Mr R.S. Virk, said the Executive Chairman of the authority and Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice V.K. Bali, would inaugurate this special Lok Adalat which had been fixed to deal with labour cases pending in the two labour courts in Faridabad. |
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Kavi Sammelan Chandigarh, March 20 While stating this here today, Major (retd) A.S. Shergill, Director, Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, said this function would be organised in collaboration with the Punjabi Sahitkar Mandal, Rohtak, and about 20 well known poets from Haryana, Punjab and Delhi would recite their poems or
ghazals. |
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Scribe bereaved Kurukshetra, March 20 Hemant Kumar is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His body was
cremated last evening. |
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Additional charge Chandigarh, March 20 |
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