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Tuesday,
August 27, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Haryana doesn’t expect hike in paddy MSP Farmers gherao Krishi Bhavan Raids fail to get spy’s harbourers IPH man held for misappropriation of govt funds 400 engineering students in no man’s land Local commissioner to look into Minerva case |
Stories from Haryana towns falling in the National Capital Region are put in NCR Tribune.
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Dharna by HSEB
employees Villagers pelt stones at
power office Over 30,000 power connections released Villagers gherao
police station HAU
develops 3 varieties of rapeseed, mustard DFSC’s bail plea rejected Woman duped of ornaments 8.56 lakh looted at gunpoint Defaulters
warned of action Voter I-card drive
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Haryana doesn’t expect hike in paddy MSP Chandigarh, August 26 Official sources here said at a meeting of the Agriculture Cost and Prices Commission held in Delhi in May, the state government had suggested that the MSP should be Rs 690 per quintal for the grade A variety of paddy. The cost of cultivation for one quintal of paddy worked out to Rs 717 in the estimate. However, dry conditions hitting the state subsequently had led to additional consumption of diesel by the tubewells while the farmers also had to spend extra money for lowering the motors for access the falling groundwater level, the sources stated. They added that once the special girdawari being carried out in the districts was over, a rough idea regarding the actual increase in the cost of cultivation could be formed. However, an increase in the cost of cultivation is not likely to see a reciprocal increase in the MSP which probably will be only moderately hiked by the Central Government, officials here feel. Last year the state government had sought Rs 670 per quintal of paddy while the MSP announced by the centre later was Rs 560 for the grade A variety. The contribution by Haryana to the central pool was close to 15 lakh tonnes of rice last year while this year this figure was also expected to come down to 9 lakh tonnes due to the drought. The MSP, however, is expected to go up slightly from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per quintal. The state government is preparing to compensate farmers for increase in the cultivation cost by adjusting the excess cost in the relief to be given to the drought affected farmers. The funds needed for relief operations, according to the latest estimate drawn up by the state government, has risen to over Rs 1800 crore. This includes Rs 535 crore sought by the Agriculture Department, out of which over Rs 100 crore is proposed to be spent for compensating the farmers for the additional money spent by them on account of the increase in the cost of cultivation, sources said. The sources added that farmers would get the first dose of relief from Wednesday onward when the Agriculture Department was slated to start distribution of seeds of various crops such as toria, barseem, mash, moong, moth, til, etc at only half the rate of their actual price. The state government has made available Rs 1 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund(CRF) for distribution of seeds at a subsidised rate which will be made available through the Seed Development Corporation and State Land Development and Reclamation Corporation outlets. A sum of Rs 2 crore reportedly has also been placed at the disposal of the Agriculture Department for carrying out reclamation operations of saline lands. Once the special girdawari is over distribution of cash compensation to farmers will follow for which the state government will have to mobilise funds from the Centre. About one-third of Haryana’s arable area has remained unsown, a phenomenon which is posing a problem for the state government as the central funds have no provision for offering compensation for unsown area. Sources here said that the state government had sought Rs 400 as compensation per acre of unsown area and hope that the Central Government would concede their demand. |
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Farmers gherao Krishi Bhavan Panchkula, August 26 More than 1000 farmers from different villages of Yamunanagar, Ambala and Panchkula arrived here in 100 tractor trolleys to impress upon the Cane Commissioner to intervene and help them get their dues. The gherao lasted for about five hours and was lifted only after the authorities here appointed a fact-finding committee. The farmers, under the aegis of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, with the association of the Shivalik Vikas Manch, have been protesting for the past one month against the alleged callous attitude of the sugar mill owners. Led by Mr Sadhu Ram Saini, former MLA, they alleged that they had received no payment from January to March this year, though they had supplied the requisite sugarcane to the mill. Leaders of the Bhartiya Kisan Union — President Hari Singh Khokha and Secretary Sewa Singh Arya, were also present. Mr Ram Karan Barauli, Secretary of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, while speaking to mediapersons, said farmers from three above mentioned districts had supplied sugarcane worth approximately Rs 40 crore, though the mill authorities maintain that sugarcane worth Rs 33 crore had been bought from farmers and payment worth Rs 15.33 crore had been made to farmers. Speaking to TNS, Mr Bachchan Singh of Khudakalan village in Ambala said they had organised road blocks on state highways last month. However, the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala had intervened and assured the farmers that their payments would be made by September. “However, the mill owners have not even begun making the payment and instead approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court and obtained a stay,” he said. It is learnt that the state government had announced a rate of Rs 104 per quintal, Rs 106 per quintal and Rs 110 per quintal, depending on the variety. The farmers say they were being paid in accordance with rates announced by the state government . However, the mill owners were now offering them a price of Rs 62.50 per quintal, as announced by the Central government. The farmers are demanding that the sugar mill be sealed, the government become a party in the court case filed by mill owners and the list of payments made by the mill be made public. Leaders of the Samiti later held a meeting with the Cane Commissioner, and at least 20 affidavits by farmers, who had not been given the payments, were submitted. The authorities offered to become a party in the case and contest the stay granted to the mill. |
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Raids fail to get spy’s harbourers Fatehabad, August 26 The police, according to sources, was looking for the persons who had given shelter to the Pakistani spy. The raids, however, did not yield fruits as those wanted in this connection had got wind of police action and had gone underground. According to reports, a police party from the Dabwali Sadar Police Station, which registered the case against Bashir Khan, came here and aided by the city police today raided the establishments of Dr. Taj Mohammad, a financer in the local Improvement Trust market and a truck owner. The police wanted to inquire from them how Bashir Khan got jobs and houses on rent in the town during stay here. The police party, according to sources, had to return empty-handed. The police also quizzed a former woman municipal counciller of the town, who is alleged to have identified the antecedents of Bashir Khan for the purpose a issue of ration card for Bashir Khan and his family. The police sources said that they were contemplating action against the counciler. The sources said that the police made out these raids in light of the revelations made by Bashir Khan in his interrogation. The Pakistani spy, lived in the town for a long period without being noticed by the security agencies. During his stay here he worked as truck driver with three different employers and also developed clout in local circles. |
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IPH man held for misappropriation of govt funds Hisar, August 26 Mr K.K. Khosla, Superintending Engineer of the department, had lodged a complaint with the Civil Lines police station in this connection. The economic crime cell of the police had investigated the matter and found Ram Parkash, the employee, guilty. According to the complaint, Ramparkash was posted at division No. 4, 5 and 6 and worked there as SDC from 1995 to 2001. The government had sanctioned a huge amount for these divisions as grants for different schemes. But the SDC misused Rs 40 lakh from these grants and showed the amount in the bank account of the department by submitting false bank vouchers prepared by him fraudulently. He also stole a stamp from the bank for preparing these vouchers. He deposited the whole amount when the misappropriation came to the notice of the higher authorities, but about Rs 15 lakh were due as interest on the amount. Later, he also deposited Rs 90,000 as the interest amount. It was learnt that the department had already suspended him. |
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400 engineering students in no man’s land Chandigarh, August 26 These students were admitted after August 14 as per the terms of letters issued by the CCB on July 19, 2002, and August 6, 2002. The letters told the engineering colleges that if there were vacant seats left from the Central quota after August 14, the colleges could admit candidates from among the AIEEE-2002 rank holders. Representatives of the Association of Self-financed Professional Colleges, a body of 27 private engineering colleges in Haryana, say about 400 students were given admission on August 15 and August 16 after the managements contacted them on telephones or those who were in touch with the institutes. All these students are rank holders of the AIEEE-2002. However, the Haryana Technical Education Department wrote to the colleges on August 16 (colleges say the letter was received on August 17) that the state government had decided to authorise the National Institute of Technology (formerly known as the Regional Engineering College), Kurukshetra, to conduct centralised counselling for the CBSE seats left vacant. “No college/institute would fill the vacant seats at its own level. In case any of such vacant seats is filled up by any institute at its own level, such candidates would not be registered by the affiliating university,” the letter added. Since the Haryana letter came two days after the admissions started, the association says, it is unfair and illegal to cancel the admission of about 400 students. It says now the parents of these students are pursuing the colleges to know their wards’ fate. Sources in the Technical Education Department say the colleges acted in haste for “vested interests”. No advertisements were issued calling upon the rank-holders to seek admission. The association says since as per the schedule given by the university, the academic session was to start from August 19, the colleges were under pressure to complete the admissions before that date. Moreover, since the colleges were self-financed, the paid vacant seats, allotted to the CBSE by the state government, would have made the institutes nonviable. However, the department says it had received verbal complaints that the college managements were charging over and above the fee fixed by the government for admitting students against the vacant CBSE seats. On receipt of these complaints the department contacted the CCB and objected to the freedom granted to the managements to fill the left-over seats. The CCB was told that the vacant seats should have reverted back to the state. The CCB said it had no objection if the state government wanted to supervise the admission to the left-over seats. The sources say the government had acted to check any malpractice by the managements. The colleges, however, deny any underhand dealings. They say out of the 1300 or so CBSE seats in the state, only 250 seats were filled after the first and the second counselling by the CCB. Another 400 seats were filled by the colleges in terms of the CCB letters. If the government had any objection to the procedure adopted by the CCB, it should have acted immediately after the CCB wrote the first letter in July. This would have prevented the prevailing confusion. The colleges want that either the government should withdraw its latest instructions or at least it should not cancel the admission of about 400 students admitted by the colleges on August 15 and 16. The departmental sources say the Rajasthan Government had also cancelled such admissions and Haryana, too, had followed the policy of “fair play”. They, however, said that the government was seeking the Advocate-General’s opinion on the status of the 400 students who were admitted by the managements on their own. |
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Local commissioner to look into Minerva case Ambala, August 26 The Civil Judge, Ambala, Mr Sandeep Singh, appointed Mr Puneet as local commissioner on an application moved by the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar. The counsel for the plaintiff opposed the application. However, counsel for the Municipal Council, Mr Subhash Bhatnagar, stressed that a local commissioner should be appointed. The local commissioner will submit the report by September 7. The case has been adjourned till then for filing of the return statement and arguments on the injunction application. On August 12, the Municipal Council had filed a caveat in the court of the Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) against the owners of teh Minerva cinema. “The respondents were served with notice under Section 208 of the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973. After the service of the notice, the appeal by the respondent lies before the appellate authority as provided under the Haryana Municipal Act,” the petition states. |
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Dharna by HSEB
employees Ambala, August 26 The union put off power supply in the Ambala Sadar area yesterday over the indifferent attitude of the police. The union leaders were demanding registration of a case against the persons involved in the ransacking. Later late in the evening when the police registered a case against seven persons in this regard only then power supply was restored. The union leaders and workers sitting on dharna alleged that the police had not added the required sections in the FIR. The union leaders threatened that if the involved persons were not arrested, the supply of electricity to Ambala cantonment would again be paralysed. The dharna was ended at about 3 pm following intervention by the SDM, Mr Mukesh Ahuja. It is learnt that the union leaders were assured that action would be taken after proper investigation into the incident. On the other hand, the villagers stated that the allegations levelled against them were false and baseless. |
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Villagers pelt stones at
power office Ambala, August 26 The incident took place on Saturday night when a number of persons from Bara village reached the power office to protest over poor power supply. They arrived on two tractor trailers. They were agitated and reportedly resorted to stone pelting which caused damage to the office. Window panes were broken but none of the personnel on duty sustained injuries. A power official said the ‘jumper’ had been affected which led to power supply being hit in the village. The Superintendent Engineer, Mr Adlakha, said damage was caused to window panes, furniture and telephone set besides the sign boards of officials. |
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Over 30,000 power connections released Chandigarh, August 26 While stating this here today, an official press note said the UHBVN had also received 11,115 applications from consumers under the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme and regularised 49,987 kw of load in various districts. The consumers also deposited Rs 72 lakh on account of advance consumption deposit to get their unauthorised loads regularised, the release stated. |
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Villagers gherao
police station Sirsa, August 26 He was implicated in a case of smuggling following the possession of 4 kg of opium. Hundreds of villagers gheraoed the police station. Meanwhile, two DSPs reached the spot and initiated a compromise. Today again, the protesters gheraoed the police station. In the afternoon, the Deputy Commissioner and the SP held talks with Congress leaders and a compromise was worked out and an inquiry was ordered. |
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HAU
develops 3 varieties of rapeseed, mustard Hisar, August 26 The new varieties RH-9304, RH-9801 and RB-24 will help increase the yield by 13 to 30 per cent compared to previously developed and widely grown varieties of both rapeseed and mustard, HAU spokesman said here today. Besides Haryana, farmers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi would also be benefited as these varieties could safely be grown in these states, Vice-Chancellor of the university Vinay Kumar said.
PTI |
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DFSC’s bail plea rejected Kaithal, August 26 Yesterday, the judicial remand of Lather was extended by 14 days by Mr Baljeet Singh Chief Judicial Magistrate, here. He was arrested a fortnight ago for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a contractor, following which he was produced before the Duty Magistrate, Ms Shashi Bala Chauhan, who had remanded the official in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the DSP, Mr Amir Singh, said today that the police had seized some cash and two bank passbooks of the Central Cooperative Bank and Punjab National Bank, Rohtak, from the residence of Lather. |
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Woman duped of ornaments Fatehabad, August 26 The woman believed him and handed over the ornaments to him. The man wrapped the ornaments in a handkerchief and asked her to unwrap them only after going home and in the presence of an idol of God. When she unwrapped them, she found that the ornaments had been replaced by iron bangles. A case has been registered. |
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8.56 lakh looted at gunpoint Yamunanagar, August 26 According to information received here, two employees of Captain Petrol Station, situated at the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur highway, were going to deposit Rs 8,56,505 to the State Bank of India. Three youths on a motor cycle waylaid them. One of the youths took out a revolver and asked the petrol station employees to hand over the bag carrying the cash and threatened them with dire consequences. They snatched the bag and ran away. Mr Vijay Kumar, complainant and manager with the petrol station, informed the owner of the station about the incident. A case has been registered under Section 356, IPC. |
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Defaulters
warned of action Kaithal, August 26 Deputy Commissioner Anurag Aggarwal said there was an outstanding liability of Rs 1.5 crores as house tax and in spite of the efforts by the municipal council authorities, only 13 per cent of the amount could be recovered till July. |
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Voter I-card drive Chandigarh, August 26 Ms Gulati urged the voters to get the cards free of cost by going to the designated locations set up at all the assembly constituencies. |
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