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Wednesday,
July 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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UP-Haryana rift deepens HSIEC staff doubly hit Is HSMITC’s winding up illegal? New house tax norm to help MCs Cheaper plots for dyeing units |
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| Ror Bhavan sealed following clashes Karnal, July 2 Members of the two groups of the Ror community yesterday clashed over the question of its nomenclature and the chairmanship of the Ror Mahasabha. A number of persons, including policemen, were injured when the two groups of the community clashed inside the Ror Bhavan here yesterday. Pilgrims can now take part in ‘aarti’
IT Commissioner’s remand extended
Voucher scam: one more held
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UP-Haryana rift deepens Chandigarh, July 2 Mr Om Prakash Singh, Irrigation Minister of UP, reportedly talked to Mr Rampal Majra, Chief Parliamentary Secretary of Haryana, who looks after the state Irrigation Department, and asked him to refrain from erecting the bund. Mr O.P. Singh, a member of the newly formed Mayawati-led Cabinet, reportedly told Mr Majra that if the bund was erected, it could lead to flooding of more than 50 villages in Saharanpur district of UP during the rainy season. Mr Majra confirmed that Mr O.P. Singh had talked to him in this connection. Earlier, the SDM and the DSP of Behat (UP) along with a heavy police force, other officials and villagers allegedly arrived at the Mandewala site and stopped the work forcibly on May 30. Since then work on the bund has come to a standstill. On June 3, the DC of Yamunanagar and the SDM of Jagadhari had a meeting with the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Saharanpur. The UP authorities were convinced by Haryana officials that the bund was being constructed in state territory. UP, however, still opposed execution of the work of the bund, saying that the construction was not being carried out in keeping with the Central Water Commission (CWC) norms. Another meeting took place on June 4 between the Karnal-based Superintending Engineer (YWS Circle) of Haryana and to SE, Irrigation, Saharanpur (UP). The site was also jointly inspected by officers the same day. However, the UP officials remained adamant on not allowing execution of the work without clearance from the CWC. As per latest reports, the UP Government has deployed CRPF contingents on the site to prevent any attempt by Haryana Government to construct the bund. Mr Rampal Majra said during last year’s floods a creak of the Yamuna river defected towards the right side and submerged several villages situated along the right side of the river. The affected villages were, Ballewala, Kamawala, Belgarh, Bhilpura, Partap pur, Nawajpur, Dammupura, Haldhari, Mandoli Ghaggar, Mandewala and Nathanpur. The approaches to these villages were cut off and residents approached the district administration of Yamunanagar, the Local MLA of the area and the Irrigation Department for taking urgent protective measures. Subsequently, it was decided to construct a bund at the estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh which would consist of extension of the existing enbankment on the right side of the river in a length of 4000 ft with protective measures like pitching, etc. Mr Majra did not give any categorical answer when asked whether Haryana would try to complete the work of the bund despite UP’s opposition. There was no basis for UP’s fear of flow water submerging its villages if the bund was constructed. Morever UP had no right to stop any construction taking place in Haryana for the safety of its people, Mr Majra reasoned. There was also no compulsion on Haryana to get the scheme in question approved by the CWC. |
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HSIEC staff doubly hit Chandigarh, July 2 The cheques were drawn on Canara Bank, Sector 17, where the corporation has its account. Since most of the employees also have their accounts with the same branch, some of them deposited their cheques yesterday. The cheques were returned to them today with a memo, which gave the reason for refusal to make payment as “Funds insufficient”. The employees alleged that the bank authorities today violated the banking norms and rules when they refused to accept the cheques the employees wanted to deposit in their accounts. An employee said the bank authorities had no right to discriminate against one set of customers to favour a big customer. When contacted, the bank manager said the corporation had an understanding with the employees that they would deposit the cheques dated July 1, 2002 (yesterday) after a few days. The employees denied any such understanding. Even the Managing Director of the corporation, Mr S.C. Jain, did not talk about any such understanding with the employees when TNS contacted him. The bank manager could not explain under which rule his bank had refused to accept the cheque of a customer on the basis of a supposed undertaking when the cheques had yesterday’s date. He said the bank could play the role of a mediator between its customers. He said the corporation had arranged sufficient funds this evening and payments would be made to the employees tomorrow. Mr Jain expressed surprise over the bank’s refusal to make the payment on the plea that the funds in the corporation’s account were insufficient. He said the corporation had about Rs 78 lakh with the bank at the moment. However, he admitted that the funds were made available to the bank around 1 p.m. When told that the bank manager had claimed that the bank received requisite funds from the corporation this evening, Mr Jain said he would have to probe the matter. |
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Is HSMITC’s winding up illegal? Panipat, July 2 A perusal of the Act indicates that the answer may be in the affirmative. This would mean that the government may be on a sticky wicket as far as the legal aspects regarding the closing down of the organisation are concerned. The notification of the Managing Director of the corporation, which was published in the Press a couple of days ago, also seems to be running counter to the provisions of the IDA. The notification had informed the employees that they had been relieved on June 30 and they should collect their dues from the respective offices. However, what is intriguing is the fact that the whole operation seems to be “illegal” according to the IDA. Section 25 (O) dealing with the procedure laid down for an undertaking, which had been quoted by the MD in the notification, clearly states; “Provided that nothing in this sub-Section shall apply to an undertaking set up for the construction of buildings, bridges, roads, canals, dams or any other construction work.” The employees of the HSMITC wondered why the profit-making corporation had been closed when a majority of the employees were working under the Canal Act. With the IDA seemingly on their side they were now contemplating to move the court for the redress of their grievances. Terming the winding up of the corporation as “illegal” the employees were of the view that the lining of water courses and drilling of the tubewells were an integral part of the canal-building works. Meanwhile, a question mark hangs over the current works being undertaken by the corporation. It is learnt that Rs 143 crore had been sanctioned for the projects, work on which had already started or was about to begin. This included the lining of tubewells (Rs 86.08 crore), drilling of tubewells (Rs 4.4 crore), Ground water directorate (Rs 1.23 crore) and workshops (Rs 19.3 crore). The Rs 143-crore amount also includes works worth Rs 32 crore being executed by the Command Area Development Authority (CADA). Besides, projects worth Rs 772 crore had been submitted to the government by the corporation. In another development, the staff of the HSMITC staged a dharna outside their office here under the leadership of Mr Rambir Singh Pundir. Addressing the staff, Mr Pundir regretted that while on one hand the government was spending crores of rupees on the re-employment of the retired officers in various departments, but on the other hand the profit-making corporations were being closed down. Urging the government to reconsider its decision, the leaders urged the government to absorb the corporation staff in other government departments if the HSMITC was to be closed down. |
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New house tax norm to help MCs Chandigarh, July 2 “Earlier, the increase in house tax was erratic. There was no system of regular revision of the rates. But now the tax rates will go up every year as the Collector rate on the land will be revised every year”, official sources said here yesterday. The Collector rate on land on which a building had been erected, meant that the price of the plot would be assessed by the District Collector on the basis of stamp duty paid at the time of registration of the plot. As land prices were constantly going up in the state, every year the Collector rate would be revised to adjust the increase in the price of the plot. However, since the value of the building erected on the plot would be considered to be going down every year, that too would be adjusted in the assessment. The new house tax policy was resisted by the urban population, fearing an exorbitant increase in the tax rates, which was fuelled by opposition parties. Consequently, the formulation was modified twice before house tax implementation. Official sources claimed that the revised formulation had been accepted by the people and the collection drive was showing good results. “We are expecting to collect Rs 30 crore from house tax in the current year which will be a big jump as compared to what was collected earlier from house tax”, the sources said. |
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Cheaper
plots for dyeing units Chandigarh, July 2 This was decided at the 12th meeting of the State Environment Protection Council held under the chairmanship of Governor Babu Parmanand and attended, among others, by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and Education Minister Bahadur Singh. Mr Chautala directed the Urban Development Department to ensure completion of developmental works in these two sectors so that these units might start functioning there by September 25, 2003, which was birthday of late Mr Devi Lal. Mr Chautala also asked Health Department officials to get incinerators installed in all 40 government hospitals and 20 private hospitals for the disposal of biomedical wastes. Mr Chautala said work in this regard should be completed by October 2. |
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Ror Bhavan sealed following clashes Karnal, July 2 Interestingly, one group is led by Mr Virender Verma, a senior HCS officer of Haryana while the other is led by Mr Surinder Singh, alias Baboo, who had been a sarpanch of a nearby village. Differences have been cropping up amongst the members of the community over the questions of its ancestors. While one group claims that the community is the descendent of Marathas and should be called “Maratha Rors”. This group points out that their forefathers were left behind in this area when the Maratha king, Sadhashiv Rao Bau, fought against the forces of Ahmed Shah Abdali in the battles of Panipat. Since then they had been living in this area. They were the offsprings of the Maratha warriors. On the other hand, the other group maintains that they were the descendents of Raja Ror who once ruled in this area. Raja Ror was believed to have some kinship with warriors of Lord Karna, the legendary philanthropist of the Mahabharata age. The community is spread over 80 villages of Nilokheri and Pundri constituencies. Its members have represented the community from the two constituencies in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on different occasions. Amongst its political stalwarts was Master Ishwar Singh a former Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Shiv Ram Verma and Mr Chanda Singh former ministers. Incidentally the HCS officer is the son of Mr Shiv Ram Verma. Another point of dispute is that while Mr Baboo claims that he was the legally elected chairman of the Ror Mahasabha, the Verma group maintain that their candidate Ram Kumar was the real Chairman. |
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Pilgrims
can now take part in ‘aarti’ Chandigarh, July 2 This was decided at a meeting of the Kurukshetra Development Board presided over by Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand here today. Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, also took part at the meeting. It was also decided to get the historic building of Nabha House declared as a national monument and to get it renovated at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. It was also planned to set up a shopping enclave there on the pattern of Delhi
Hatt. The board also decided to reserve Rs 50 lakh out of the endowment fund of the board to provide loan its employees. A decision was also taken to employ students who had done a one-year course of tourist guide from Kurukshetra University for taking and tourists around the town. It was also decided to allot 3 acres to Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra Smarak Samiti for setting up a dharamshala at Kurukshetra. The Chief Minister also announced the constitution of a committee headed by Transport Minister, Ashok Arora to explore the possibility of the use of the building raised as a memorial to Gulzari Lal Nanda. Mr R K
Khullar, Director, Cultural Affairs, said maps for the construction of a multi-purpose art complex had been prepared and the buildings would be ready by 2003.
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IT Commissioner’s remand extended Ambala, July 2 The counsel of Madan Lal filed a bail application in the court of Dr Parsoon here today and the judge issued a notice to the CBI for July 4 in this regard. Earlier, the commissioner had filed an interim bail application in the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.K. Kaushik, but it was dismissed. His counsel pleaded in the court that the investigation in the case has almost complete Moreover, Madan Lal has not taken the money from the firm and he was falsely implicated in the case. He requested the court to grant him bail. However, the CBI counsel opposed the application. |
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Voucher scam: one more held Ambala, July 2 Earlier, the police had arrested Jogender Lal, a clerk of the department, Neena Gupta, a resident of Ambala cantonment, and a clerk of the Ambala Treasury in this regard, around four months back. The main accused of the scam, jogender, had allegedly formed a fake firm in the name of Ansari and Sons in Ambala City and deposited fake refund vouchers of the department worth Rs 2.27 crore in the firm’s account. Asok Ansari was shown as the proprietor of the firm, although there was no such person. The police believes that Joginder himself was operating the bank account in the name of Asok Ansari. The police had been searching the person who had identified Asok Ansari at the time of opening the account around one decade ago. Later the police succeeded in arresting a man, Mahesh, in this regard. He was produced in a local court and was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
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