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New Delhi: The scorching summer sun was replaced by grey skies in the Capital, as Delhiites today woke up to a cool, wet morning. The Capital has been receiving showers since last night. A duststorm and hails followed by rains, had the Capital cooling off after a spell of unusual heat in March and the first half of the month. The Met department has recorded 2.35-cm rain since last night, which brought the minimum temperature down by five to six degrees at 18.2. The temperature at mid-day stood around 30 degrees. Light showers and cool winds and a clouded horizon were a welcome break from the harsh sunlight. While the rain played spoilsport for those getting married, it brought relief for the campaigners. Earlier, the Capital and other parts of the north-western region, which were experiencing an unusually hot March and April with temperatures staying around five degrees above normal, got relief when a duststorm in the Capital on April 21 caused a sharp fall in the temperature. Next day again, heavy showers preceded by a squall and hailstorms, which brought the temperature down by seven degrees, lashed the city. The three-cm rain recorded in the evening kept the next day cool at 33.0 degree. On April 24 again, rains and hails lashed the city, causing a fall of six degrees in the temperature. Several other parts of the north-western region also experienced rains and duststorms. The second hailstorm of the season in Delhi, dropped the temperature to 20.8 degree Celsius, which is about six degree below normal, meteorological department officials said. Attributing the hailstorm to the cyclonic
circulation, which now lies over Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining
Jammu and Kashmir, they said more thundershowers and rains are likely to
occur in the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature could go up to 36
degree Celsius. TNS |
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Sonepat: Torrential rain throughout last night has caused extensive damage to thousands of wheat bags worth several crores of rupees in the district. The bags were procured by various official procurement agencies and lying in the grain markets in the open. According to a report, wheat procured by the station and Central government agencies was soaked as it could not be lifted to the covered godowns. It was to be lifted and sent to the covered godowns by the officials of the procurement agencies. It will not be possible to unpack the heavy stocks and dry it now. Even the procured wheat has not been covered with polythene sheets. The rain has also caused waterlogging in many areas due to poor drainage system. The State Government had spent crores of rupees on the construction of big sewers under the Yamuna Action Plan a few years ago for draining out the storm water but the situation had remained the same as the rain water continued to accumulate on the main roads and streets. Meanwhile, several areas in the city remained in
darkness throughout last night as the power supply system was disrupted.
According to a report, the power started playing hide and seek at 4.45
pm and continued until 2.05 am today. Two employees Daryao Singh (45) of
Kailash Colony and Ram Kumar (50) of Juan village sustained serious burn
injuries when they touched live wires while working on the poles on the
Sonepat-Mehlana Road here last evening. Both of them were rushed to the
local civil hospital wherefrom they were referred to the PGIMS at
Rohtak. OC |
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Crackdown New Delhi, April 30 The accused are identified as Iqbal Ali alias Dilawar (23), Mohammad Arshad (21), Afsar alias Aqtedar Ali Khan (22) and Mohammad Guddu Ahmed (22), all hailing from Bihar and have been staying in Delhi. Both Iqbal and Afsar are pursuing their education from the Jamia Millia University. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Narcotics) D L Kashyap said that the sleuths had information that an inter-state gang of arms and narcotics suppliers had been active in Delhi. Accordingly, the sleuths received a tip-off on April 29 that the gangsters would come near the Meera Polytechnic College, New Friends Colony at around 12 pm. They were caught as soon as they reached the spot. The gangsters were later identified as Iqbal Ali alias Dilawar, and Mohammad Arshad. During their search, one pistol, two live cartridges and 260 grams of heroin were recovered by the sleuths. The duo revealed that they had given ammunition and narcotics to two others, Afsar alias Aqtedar Ali Khan and Mohammad Guddu Ahmed. The sleuths laid a trap and the duo were also apprehended around 8.30 pm near Nizammudin Railway Station. During their search, six pistols, three revolvers, three live cartridges and 500 kgs of heroin were seized. They revealed that one Mohammad is their client but they don’t know his whereabouts. A hunt is on to trace the suspect. The accused generally procured these weapons from Bihar and sold them here for a better price.
BSP leader’s killer shot
in police encounter Greater Noida: The killer of BSP leader and scrap
contractor, Farman, was shot dead by the police on Thursday after an
encounter while his two companions fled. The police have recovered the
revolver and the car used in the crime. The criminal killed in the
encounter has been identified as Hanif, who is reported to be the kinpin
of the gang. SP (Rural) S.P. Singh said the police were trying to hunt
for other five criminals involved in the scrap dealer’s murder. The
police learnt that a gang of criminals was coming for extortion. The
area was then barricaded. A green-coloured Maruti passed via LG Company
when it was signalled to halt. The driver tried to accelerate the speed
and turned it towards Delta-3. However, the car landed in a
ditch. Seeing the police closing in, the criminals tried to escape
while firing on the police. In a retaliatory fire, one criminal was
shot at while his two companions fled. The injured criminal was rushed
to Kailash hospital, Greater Noida, where he was declared brought
dead. He was later identified as Abdul Hanif, son of Abdul Rasheed of
Mohalla Garhi walla, Secunderabad, Bulandshahr. A revolver, cartridges
and car with many fake numberplates were recovered by the police. A
large number of cases have been registered against the slain criminal
Hanif, the SP (Rural) said. OC |
Chautala working for his
ministry’s dismissal: BJP Sonepat, April 30 Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, he alleged that Mr
Chautala had lost his mental balance and he was out to take revenge from
the BJP for contesting the Lok Sabha elections independently in the
state. He claimed this had rendered the prospects of the INLD bleak. He
also termed the allegations of Mr Chautala against the BJP in general
and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L. K. Advani, in particular as
baseless and unfounded. He said Mr Chautala had always been biased and
wanted to eliminate the BJP from the political scene in the state. He
said the BJP had no faith in the Haryana police and wanted the
deployment of the CRPF and other paramilitary forces in the state for
conducting free and fair Lok Sabha elections in the state. He urged the
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to declare Haryana as a sensitive area
and deploy central forces in Sonepat, Bhiwani and Kurukshetra for
maintaining law and order in these constituencies. The BJP leader also
disclosed that a deputation of the BJP leaders would soon call on the
CEC for pressing their demand in this regard. He further disclosed that
a Kesaria Yuva Shakti would be set up in order to check booth capturing
by the ruling INLD. He said members of this brigade would be deputed at
each polling station in the state for enabling the electorate to cast
their vote freely and fearlessly. He hoped that the BJP would win all 10
seats in Haryana and create a record in the history of the state. |
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Chautala has lost faith in party workers: BJP Rewari, April 30 At a press conference here today, he said that the INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had fielded his two sons- Mr Ajay Singh Chautala and Mr Abhey Singh Chautala in Bhiwani and Kurukshetra; one of his near relations Major-General ( retd ) Bhim Singh Suhag in Rohtak, Mrs Krishna Malik - wife of his another relative Mr M. S. Malik, DGP of Haryana (now on leave) in Sonepat, two of his ministers – Mohammad Iliyas in Faridabad and Mr Ashok Kumar Arora in Karnal and a sadhu - Swami Dhaaram Dev in Mahendergarh. All this showed that the INLD chief had lost faith in his party activists to contest and win the Lok Sabha poll from various constituencies of the state. Besides, the INLD was also facing a tremendous anti-incumbency wave and this would spell disaster for its candidates at the hustings throughout the state, Mr Yadav asserted. Mr Yadav also disclosed that the Co-operative Minister, Mr Kartar Singh, Bhadana had already joined the BJP after bidding farewell to the INLD while many more others were now in touch with the central leadership of the BJP to swell its ranks with their impending entry. Asserting that
the HVP, too, was going to meet the same fate soon after its bout of the
Lok Sabha poll, he predicted that the BJP with its landslide victory in
the Lok Sabha elections would be emerging as a number one political
party in Haryana. He went on to say that the next government in Haryana
would be headed by a BJP chief minister.  |
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Poll machinery on a roll: AROs, supervisors appointed in
Sonepat segments Sonepat, April 30 Mr R. P. Bhardwaj, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sonepat, has been appointed the Assistant Returning Officer in Baroda (reserved) assembly constituency and he will be assisted by the supervisors, namely Mr Rajinder Singh Dahiya, District Education Officer, Mr S. Sardana, Principal of the Hindu College of Pharmacy, Mr Desh Deepak, Principal, Government College, Gohana, Capt V. K. Verma, Principal of Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai, Mr S. P. Rathi, Executive Engineer, Environment (Haryana Pollution Control Board), Mr T. P. Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, Mr D. N. Kaushik, District Labour and Conciliation Officer, Mr S. S. Goyal, Principal Hindu College, Mr M S Chhikara, Principal, Tikka Ram College, and Mr Mange Ram, SDEO. Mr Mahesh Nagpal, SDM, Gohana, has been appointed the Assistant Returning Officer of the Gohana assembly segment in this district and he will be assisted by the supervisors, namely Mr O. P. Sharma of the Hindu College of Pharmacy, Mr K. C. Sheokand, District Manager, Confed, Mr Ranbir Singh, District Manager, Hafed, Dr Ishwar Singh, Medical Officer of the Community Health Centre, Gohana, Mr D. C. Saini, SDO, Mr Satyavir Singh, SDO, Animal Husbandry Department, Dr O P Buxi, District Family Welfare Officer, Mr Vijay Singh and Dr Raj Kumar of CR State College of Engineering, Murthal. Mr Jag Mohan Bhardwaj, District Development and Panchayat Officer, has been appointed the Returning Officer of the Sonepat assembly segment in this district and he will be assisted by the supervisors namely Mr Balbir Singh Dahiya SDO, HSAMB, Mr Balbir Singh Dahiya, SDO of the Horticulture Department, Mr S P Shaukeen of Tikka Ram college, Mr R S Malik of the same college, Mr Azad Singh Malik of Housing Board, Mr B. B. Sharma SDO HUDA, Prof Anil Kumar, Prof P Tiwari and Prof. B P Singh of CR State College of Engineering Murthal, Mr S N Sharma Executive Engineer, Construction Division No 28 in the Irrigation Department. Mr Ashok Kumar Bishnoi, SDM, Ganaur has been appointed the Assistant Returning Officer of the Kailana assembly constituency in this district. He will be assisted by the supervisors, namely Mr D. P. Gupta, SDEO, Prof P. C. Bask, Prof K. D. Gupta, Prof K. K. Kataria and Mr R. K. Ravish, Registrar, CR State College of Engineering, Murthal, Mr A. K. Vats, District Employment Officer, Dr Chetan, SDO Animal Husbandry Department, Mr M L Raj, SDO, HVPN, Mr Partap Singh SDO HSAMB and Mr Mahabir SDO, HSAMB. Mr M S Dhankar, District Revenue Officer (DRO), has been appointed the Assistant Returning Officer of Rai assembly constituency in this district and he will be assisted by supervisors Ram Singh Gehlawat, SDO Construction Division No. 28 of the Irrigation Department, Dr J S Saini of CR State College of Engineering, Murthal, Mr D. S. Joon, Executive Engineer, Vigilance in the Irrigation Department, Mr Jatinder Singh, SDO, Mr Kamli Lal Kapoor, Xen, Mr Randhir Singh and Dr Ishwar Singh Kadyan, both of Animal Husbandry Department. Mr Amar
Deep Singh, SDM, Sonepat, has been appointed the Assistant Returning
Officer of Rohat assembly segment in this district and he will be
assisted by Dr S N Singh, Dr DVS Verma of Hindu College, Sonepat, Mr V K
Dahiya, Government College, Gohana; Dr D K Jain of CR State College of
Engineering, Murthal, Mr R K Goel of Canal Department, Mr Ravi Shankar,
SDO, Dr Ramesh Sethi, Mr Narinder Singh, Dr Dutt Sharma, Mr J P Garg,
Xen and Mr R K Dahiya of Government College, Gohana. |
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Faridabad candidates have deep purses Faridabad, April 30 The BJP nominee, Mr Ram Chander Bainda, seeking mandate for the fourth consecutive term, is perhaps leading the list of the rich candidates from here. According to the details submitted by Mr Bainda, the worth of the total assets and property owned by him and his wife is about Rs 2.52 crore. This include an amount of Rs 50,000, 9.82 lakh as deposits in the bank, shares and debentures of about Rs 1.32 lakh, insurance of Rs 50 lakh, three personal vehicles, including a Tata Safari, other assets and property worth Rs 1.56 crore and Rs 18 lakh worth of agricultural land, two houses worth Rs 13.5 lakh and jewellery in the name of his wife worth Rs 3.10 lakh. On academic front, he is matric and had done one year course in teaching way back in 1967. Fifty-three-year-old Mr Bainda hails from Fatehabad district but had shifted here along with his family several years ago. He is also perhaps the only candidate who had achieved a hattrick in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress nominee, Mr Avtar Singh Bhadhana, is also known as one of the most affluent candidates, though in the declaration made to the election authorities, he has stated that the total worth of his assets and property was around Rs 97 lakh. Hailing from the Anangpur village in the district, the Bhadhana family is also known for the mining and crusher business in the Aravalli Hills for several decades. According to the details submitted by Mr Bhadhana, he had a cash deposit of about Rs 56,000, including that in the accounts of his wife and two children. He has also invested about Rs 1.40 lakh in the NSC bought in the name of his children. As per the affidavit, Mr Bhadhana has no personal car or jeep but is having four trucks worth Rs 2.20 lakh in his name. He, his wife and children have jewellery worth Rs 7.11 lakh. He also owns a revolver costing about Rs 80,000, agricultural land worth Rs 20.6 lakh and non-agricultural land valued at Rs 36.7 lakhs. The building or the house owned by him is stated to be worth Rs 15 lakh. Forty-eight-year-old Mr Bhadhana is under-matric and had been an MP here from 1991- 96, but lost to Mr Bainda in 1996. In 2000, he was elected MP from Meerut in UP. The INLD candidate, Mr Mohammed Ilyas, has also been a known face in the political circles as he had been a minister in the Chautala government before the announcement of his candidature. The worth of his wealth and property is around Rs 82.83 lakh which include Rs 1.54 lakh in cash, Rs 38,933 as bank deposits and agricultural and non-agricultural land worth Rs 74 lakh. The HVP candidate, Mr Devender Bhadhana, has declared that he had wealth valued at Rs 83 lakh. This include agricultural land and property worth Rs 66.8 lakh besides bank deposits of about Rs 2.14 lakhs and a jewellery in name of his wife costing about Rs 3.80 lakh. The fifth main candidate,
Mr Abdul Malik of the BSP, is also well-heeled. The worth of his
property and assets is around Rs 96 lakh. |
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Maken gives Cong credit for ‘India shining’ New Delhi: The INC candidate in the New Delhi parliamentary constituency, Mr Ajay Maken, has said that his party initiated development projects and also completed them long before the BJP came on the scene. Contrasting the INC’s track record of ‘service’ to the BJP’s ‘lip service’, Maken said that the INC is the party that gave a fillip to telecommunication, decentralisation and technology. “The INC is credited with connecting villages by means of telecommunication and passing suitable legislation to institutionalise and strengthen the Panchayati Raj,” Maken said. He also highlighted the INC’s initiatives to introduce technology on a mass scale. “The INC heralded the computer age when few in the country were aware of its multiple uses,” he said. Maken made these comments in his meetings in Sundar Nagar,
Sarojini Nagar, Lakshmi Bai Nagar Market and Sadiq Nagar. TNS |
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Maya’s village may not vote for Ravi Gautam Noida, April 30 One does not come across buntings, festoons, posters, banner or an election slogan painted on walls in Badalpur, which is part of the Khurja Lok Sabha seat. It appears that the Lok Sabha elections have not made any impact in the home turf of former CM. The people in this village go about their chores appearing to be least bothered or interested in the election fever that seems to have gripped the country. The BSP candidate in this village appears to be a colourless non-entity. In spite of Ravi Gautam, the BSP candidate and the former Revenue Minister of the state, having thrown in his lot with Behenji, people in Badalpur and other villages do not appear to be enthused with him. Reason, for all practical purposes he is considered an outsider. And his nomination as the BSP candidate has surprised the people and the party supporters alike. Rajpal, a Badalpur resident, alleges that due to the conspiracy of BSP candidates, three persons have usurped 12-acre land of the village samaj, which has offended the villagers, no end. Three youth, claiming to be Mayawati’s brothers, encouraged by Ravi Gautam, have annexed the land and got it transferred in their name. When Mayawati ceased to be the chief minister, they were entangled in a CBI probe and had to spend one month in the jail. But people like Rajpal did not it have any choice. He has close relation with Mayawati, who is the BSP boss. They may have to vote for Ravi Gautam, per force. Another villager, Dharampal Singh Nagar, said ever since the Samajwadi government has taken over in the state, the power and water supply erratic. The rabi crops have been affected for want of sufficient irrigation. The villagers nostalgically recall that the village was getting special facilities while Behenji was the Chief Minister. Soon after Mayawati ceased to be the CM, all villagers in Badal were sent power bills ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 each. Although, all the bills have been paid, power supply continues to be unreliable and tricky, said Dharampal Singh Nagar. Mayawati had provided employment to 80 youth of the village, said Vedpal Singh, but soon that company was closed and all youth once again became unemployed. When Ravi Gautam was an UP minister, he is said to have indulged in grave discrimination against this village, allege the villagers. . BSP may not get hundred percent votes from this village.
Jagveer Singh felt those who don’t like Ravi Gautam will certainly vote
for some other candidate who has better chances to win. Some villagers,
who like Congress and Sangh policies, will in no case vote in Javar of
BSP. People like Satpal and Majipal are with Behenji, but Ravi Gautam is
not acceptable to them. By giving ticket to Ravi Gautam, Ms Mayawatti
has landed her supporters in a great enigma, they feel. |
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Untraced
criminals, a major headache for admn in polling season Sonepat, April 30 Besides these, more than 900 other criminals, booked under the Gangster and Goonda Act are also out on bail. Though senior police officials claimed that they have taken concrete steps to check their activities during the upcoming May 10 elections, the reality is that the police officials do not know the whereabouts of these criminal elements. It is believed that they change their residential addresses to safer locations in the region. The Lok Sabha elections in the Meerut division are considered to be sensitive due to the caste tension prevalent in the region. This point was also raised before the UP Chief Secretary during his visit to the region. The Chief Secretary directed the senior officials to take all possible steps to ensure free and fair elections. In the present circumstances, the untraced criminals have become a major headache for the administration. It cannot be ruled out that these criminals may turn the Lok Sabha elections into a bloody event. The scary part is that the police have no idea as to the whereabouts of these criminal gangs. Besides, over 900 other criminals detained under Gangster and Goonda Act have also became a problem for the police officials as they could be used by the political parties for their vested interest in the coming Lok Sabha elections. It is a matter of concern that the administration has received intelligence inputs in this regard. A
senior intelligence official said that these anti-social elements change
their locations from time to time so as to give a slip to the Police
Department. |
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No complaint alleging misuse of police force: DGP Sonepat, April 30 He made it clear that no undue favour was being shown to the Indian National Lok Dal nominee Krishna Malik, who is the wife of the former DGP M. S. Malik. He was addressing a press conference here at the PWD rest house after inspecting the police arrangements at the different polling stations in the constituency. When his attention was drawn towards the allegations being levelled by the BJP candidate, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, and HVP supported Jagbir Singh Malik, the DGP remarked, “I am here since noon and so far no one has lodged any such complaint. I will be staying in Sonepat till 5 pm and anyone is free to lodge a complaint in this regard.” He claimed that the police was committed to help the Election Commission and the state administration in holding free and fair polls all over the state. “In order to assess the police arrangements and hear the grievances of the people, including the candidate, I have already visited 15 districts of the state and there was hardly any complaint of about the misuse of the police force,” he said. He would visit Jhajjar and Faridabad on May 1 and 2 respectively, he added. He disclosed that the administration had identified nearly 2,200 polling booths as sensitive and hypersensitive and arrangements had been made to deploy additional police force at such polling booths. Replying to a
question, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldeep Singh, claimed that
there had never been any role of musclemen of the akharas in the
elections in the Sonepat constituency. |
NCR briefs New Delhi, April 30 When the patient
was diagnosed properly it was found that he was suffering from
congenitally abnormal fused ectopic kidneys (a rare disorder where
kidneys do not develop and reach to its proper place in flanks). It was
also found, on diagnosis, that he had an abscess in the liver for which
his treatment was started in consultation with Dr S. K. Jain
(Gastroenterologist). With treatment, the patient was stabilised and
then taken up for further treatment. A team of specialised doctors then
operated on the patient and cleared his fused ectopic abnormal kidney
completely of very hard calcium oxalate monohydrate stones in less than
four hours. The doctors reported that the patient was completely fit to
go home in 2-3 days. Courts closed on Monday The Delhi High Court and
its subordinate courts shall remain closed on Monday on account of Eid
Meelad-un Nabi, Prophet Mohammad’s birthday. The cases fixed for May 3
before the High Court and the subordinate courts will be taken up for
hearing on May 4, said Registrar-General V B Gupta.
Man run over by train
Sonepat: A resident of Garhi Jhinjhara
village, identified as Dharamvir, was run over by a train near Ganaur
Railway Station, about 16 km from here last evening. According to a
report, the victim was crossing the railway track when the accident
occurred. The Government Railway Police (GRP) have sent the body for the
postmortem examination. Bid to loot
arthiyas foiled Jhajjar:
Two motorcycle-borne desperadoes armed with
firearms attempted to loot Rs 31 lakh from two arthiyas near Dubaldhan
village in Beri block last evening. But an alert policeman foiled their
plan who fired two shots and chased them away. According to
information, an arthiyas, Ramesh, along with three other colleagues was
going to Majra grain marked to clear the dues of grain sold by the
farmers to them. He withdrew Rs 31 lakh from Patiala Bank, Beri. He was
also escorted by a policeman, Ramdia, in a jeep following the car of the
arthiyas. As they reached near a canal in Dubaldhan village, two youths
on motorcycle waiting along the roadside fired a shot on Ramesh driving
the car, which missed the target. However, their car came to a halt.
Finding the arthiyas disarmed, the desperadoes trying to snatch the
cash. Meanwhile, the police jeep reached the spot and the cop fired on
the looters. Youth stabbed to death
Sonepat: A 24-year-old youth of
Braham colony, identified as Sanjeev, was stabbed to death by some
persons in the New Nandwani Nagar area here. According to a report,
the victim often traveled between Sonepat and Delhi and was taken to a
deserted place by the alleged assailant where he was assaulted. The
Civil Lines police have registered the case and launched a hunt for the
alleged assailants, who were still at large. Investigation into the case
is continuing. OC |
The Supreme Court had, in a 1997 order, ruled that all
roadside advertising which is hazardous to safe traffic movement be
removed. Following that, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi removed all
hoardings in Delhi within its jurisdiction. However, it has been
observed that unauthorised advertising is rampant in violation of the
Supreme Court ruling. One such example is Ansal Plaza. When the MCD was
petitioned, the officials agreed the advertising was unauthorised;
however, the civic body expressed its inability to remove the hoardings.
Such unauthorised hoardings can be seen at several other places in the
city, including Chirag Delhi, South Extension etc. Often, mobile vans,
which carry hoardings, move along with the traffic and stop at random,
endangering the flow. Such vehicles are a nuisance, but even these
remain unchecked. The MCD officials, who have not taken any action in
this regard, appear to be hand in glove with the advertisers. Whenever
anyone objects or lodges a complaint, the hoardings are removed but the
advertisement reappears within a few days. We the citizens of India
want justice in this regard. We want to see that law is upheld and is
not bent by corrupt officials. Concerned Citizens Exercise your
voting right India is the largest democracy in the world. It is the
most vibrant and dynamic. The world’s most seasoned politicians wonder
at its spectacular success. However, the poor turnout during
elections, particularly in urban areas, is a matter of concern. The
President’s appeal to the voters to exercise their voting rights is a
positive and timely plea and we all must consider it seriously. The
common man’s disillusionment with the so-called leaders, who are elected
several times to the Lok Sabha without a trifle concern for the burning
problems that need to be addressed to and redressed, is
justified. However, the situation is a matter of concern and the
Election Commission must do something about it. It is time to perform
and we are already late. Ujjal Pal Singh, Faridabad
Ban ads promoting tobacco use I fully agree with the
views expressed by Dr Deepak Talwar of the Metro group of Hospital (NCR
Tribune, April 20) that the Central government must ban advertisements
prompting tobacco use, which is likely to result 13 percent of total
deaths in India by 2020. He has very rightly advocated that tobacco use
must be minimised as it exposes one to risks such as hypertension,
premature heart diseases and various other diseases. In my opinion,
advertisements promoting usage of cigarette and on liquor must be banned
permanently, as such advertisements not only harm the health of the
user, but also provokes younger citizens to use these products.
Subhash C Taneja, MDU, Rohtak
Pensioners’ request to Railway
Board The terms of reference of the Fifth Central Pay Commission also
covered Railway pensioners. Though orders on implementation of its
recommendations came from the Government of India, Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of pension and
Pensioners Welfare), analogous orders were required to be issued by the
Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) in the case of Railway pensioners
only as a matter of administrative jurisdiction. The Department of
Pension and Pensioners Welfare had issued the orders for the grant of
fixed medical allowance to Central Government pensioners (vide letter
No. O.M. 45/57/97-P&PWC, dated December 19, 1997) except those residing
in areas covered by CGH Scheme. Availing of this service does not
involve longer distance as it is well spread in the area having such
facility. Regarding railways, their lock-up, dispensary etc. are
located near the railway station itself, which makes it quite convenient
for the pensioners to avail of the facility. Not only that, every
pensioner, at the time of superannuation, has the option to opt for or
opt out of an out-door facility. Logically, the railway employees who
had opted out and exercised such an option at the time of superannuation
are entitled to fixed medical allowance irrespective of the fact whether
they are residing in or outside the jurisdiction of the railway
dispensary etc. However, the Railway Board acted arbitrarily by issuing
orders denying fixed medical allowance to its pensioners residing
anywhere (where railway health units are located) irrespective of
whether they have opted for out-door medical facility of railway or
not. These orders have left the pensioners, who had opted out,
neglected as neither they are granted fixed medical allowance nor are
they entertained by the health units. Needless to say, the fixed
monthly medical allowance of Rs 100 granted to pensioners intends to
meet their petty day to day medicinal requirements. It is, therefore,
harsh to deny this legitimate petty allowance to these old pensioners in
the light of their one time categorical option to opt out of the railway
(out-door) facility, unlike the CGH Scheme where no such option is
available to pensioners if their place of residence is served under that
scheme. The matter has been taken up with the Railway Board
repeatedly. The Board has been requested several times to release the
with-held medical allowance to pensioners who opted out, irrespective of
the fact whether their residence falls under the jurisdiction of health
units etc or not. The Chairman and the Railway Financial Commissioner
in the Railway Board were last addressed (vide our letter NO.UGPWA/C/RB/MA/2004/62)
on February 1, 2004. We hope the Railway Board will appreciate the
ground realities and release the withheld fixed medical allowance to its
pensioners. Arjan Dev Arya, |
Sonepat Sonepat April 30 According to a report, a couple, Mahavir and
Krishna, were killed on the spot when a truck rammed into a tractor on
the G T Road near Bari village, about 15 km from here. The victims
belonged to Zainpur Tikola village and the truck driver managed to
escape after the accident. The police have registered the case against
the truck driver. Dowry death case The Gohana police have registered a
dowry death case against a man and three members of his family. The
housewife, Guddi, wife of Rajesh, residents of Khanpur Kalan village,
succumbed to her injuries at the PGIMS, Rohtak, during the
treatment. According to a report, the parents of the victim belonged to
Bal Roran village in Karnal district. The police were still
investigating into the case. However, no arrest had been made in this
connection. Five apprehended Five persons, including four
brothers, were arrested by the Kharkhauda police at Khanda village,
about 20 km from here yesterday. According to a report, the arrests
followed a clash over the panchayat land. The arrested brothers were
identified as Rajbir, Satbir, Ishwar and Dharamvir.
2 motorcycles
seized The CIA staff has arrested two youths, identified as Devinder
and Birender of Ahulana village, following the alleged recovery of two
stolen motorcycles from their possession. According to a report, the
police are still investigating into the case. The police believe that a
number of cases are likely to be solved after their interrogation. |
Pollution board yet to
issue norms to small scale units Faridabad, April 30 According to Mr Rajiv Chawla,
general secretary of the FSIA, the industrial units which had been using
generating sets up to the capacity of 250 KW in the state were still to
receive any guidelines from the board. He said while the board had
already announced April 30, 2004, as the last date for the industries
using generating sets of the capacity ranging from 250 to 500 KW to
deposit a security of Rs 10,000 or bank guarantee for setting up
acoustic enclosures. The board has directed the industries using the
generating sets above the capacity of 500 KW to deposit a security of Rs
20,000 or bank guarantee up to June 30 this year. The FSIA has demanded
that the board should release the necessary guidelines for the small
units using sets of the capacity below 250 KW and should provide
adequate time period to these so that they could install the equipment
easily. It has appealed to the board to fix September 30 as the last
date in this regard. He said the small industries required a proper time
period to arrange the required funds for the purpose. The association
has asked its members to start preparations and ensure that they keep
following the rules and regulations meant to keep a check on the
pollution. |
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