 |
|
Khemka paying the price of being upright officer
Decision on raising NPA next month
Haryana plans bijli sabhas in various districts
Gambling flourishing in Faridabad, Gurgaon, says BJP
Chautala misled Pak people, alleges brother
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A bad day for INLD Govt
9 Bills slated for session
LJP to contest all 90 seats
Electoral rolls to have photos of voters
Congress panel to submit report to Governor
IG disappoints Congress activists
Plea to council on cleanliness
MC demolishes nine illegal structures
Rohtak doctor heads national body
24 students caught using unfair means
5 bodies found in canal
Murder case against 3
Insurance scheme for autorickshaw drivers
Candidates’ counselling on Sept 30
|
|
Khemka paying the price of being upright officer
Chandigarh, September 28 Not only has the 39-year-old Haryana IAS officer not been allotted an official car by the state government, he has also not been given an office room either. Mr Khemka, it was learnt, was told by the caretaker yesterday that room no. 40 at the ninth floor of the civil secretariat building was being allotted to him. When Mr Khemka reached the secretariat this morning — walking all the 6 km distance between his residence at Sector 19-B and the secretariat — he found that room no. 40, though unoccupied, had not been given to him. Nor has he been allotted any personal staff. The IAS officer then parked himself in his old office — that of the Joint Secretary of the Information Technology (IT) Department — also located on the ninth floor of the secretariat. The room was vacant as the state government was yet to find a replacement for Mr Khemka for the JSIT’s post. Mr Khemka, it was learnt, avoided sitting on the JSIT’s chair and received the occasional visitors sitting at the sofa kept in the room. It was learnt that the file regarding allotment of room no. 40 to Mr Khemka had been put up before the Chief Secretary, who did not find time today to have a look at it. Mr Khemka sought appointment with the Chief Secretary to press the matter but till 5’o clock, when Mr Khemka left the secretariat, there was no response from the CS regarding Mr Khemka’s meeting. Mr Khemka, who created a furore by opposing the practice of transfer of school teachers in the middle of an academic session by the Haryana Chief Minister’s office, was shifted as OSD (Rules) on Sunday from the post of the Director, Secondary Education. He was simultaneously divested of the charge of Joint Secretary, IT, as well. It was learnt that on Monday, after Mr Khemka had been already transferred from the Secondary Education Director’s office, he sent a written request to the Chief Minister, the Education Minister and the Financial Commissioner, Education Department, with suggestions for improvement of the secondary education sector in the state. He requested the government to make a token provision of Rs 90 crore in the budget of the Secondary Education Directorate. Out of the total fund of Rs 90 crore, Rs 1 crore each would be allocated to all the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana for enabling all headmasters and principals of government schools to hire teachers in the absence of the regular teacher. He wrote that the headmaster or principal be authorised to engage any person, preferably a retired a teacher or an ex-servicemen, from the local community, who is qualified to take that particular lesson. He added that to make the scheme a success, there should also be a student feedback system so that no class period could go untaught. Mr Khemka wrote that since only five months were left in the current academic session, of which one month is likely to be lost due to the impending state Assembly elections, it was essential that the matter was considered and decided urgently on top priority. |
|
Decision on raising NPA next month
Rohtak, September 28 Talking to The Tribune, Dr Ranga said a committee comprising himself, the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, and the presidents of the Haryana State Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) and the Haryana State Medical Teachers’ Association (HSMTA), set up by the Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, would meet soon to work out the financial implications. The exercise would be completed by the end of the next month, he said, adding that if the government took a favourable decision it would be announced on Haryana Day on November 1. The committee had been set up during the annual joint convention of the HCMSA and the HSMTA held at Hisar earlier this month. Government doctors have been demanding the enhanced NPA ever since the government implemented other recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. The Chief Minister had agreed to it in principle and had announced that the NPA would be increased from January, 2000. This announcement was made at the annual convention of the HCMSA held here in December, 1999. However, this was never implemented. Dr Ranga explained that the implementation was deferred because the decision on enhancing the NPA for HCMS doctors could not be taken in isolation. The claim of ayurvedic medical officers and veterinarians was equally valid since all three categories had similar pay scales and other benefits, including the NPA. Dr Ranga said enhancing the NPA to 25 per cent of the basic pay would put an additional burden of approximately Rs 4.5 crore per annum on the state exchequer. If the ayurvedic medical officers and veterinarians were also covered, it would cost the exchequer another Rs 1 crore every year. However, these were tentative figures and the final estimates were being worked out, he said. It may be pointed out that till a few years ago, Haryana was paying the NPA to its doctors at the highest rate in the country. But presently it is among the lowest paying states in country. While many other states and the Centre have fixed it at 25 per cent of the basic pay, Haryana doctors are paid a fixed amount depending on their salary slab. While doctors claim it comes to about 12 to 16 per cent of the basic pay, Dr Ranga said it worked out to about 20 per cent of the basic pay. Leaders of the HCMSA and the HSMTA said on condition of anonymity that although the political leadership was willing to grant the enhanced the NPA, the bureaucracy could derail the move because NPA is counted towards pay and, thus, enhanced allowance would mean doctors drawing more salary than the bureaucrats. |
|
|
Haryana plans bijli sabhas in various districts
Chandigarh, September 28 A spokesman for the nigam said here yesterday that the Superintending Engineers of the area would be present with their supporting staff in bijli sabhas from 9 am to 1.30 pm. These sabhas would be organised in every district. The Superintending Engineers would chair the respective bijli sabhas at Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sonepat, Rohtak and Jind on the fourth of every month. The sabhas would be held at Panchkula, Kaithal, Panipat and Jhajjar (at Bahadurgarh) on the sixth of every month. While giving the details of venue of the sabhas, he said these would be arranged for Ambala district at 33 kv sub-station, Ambala cantonment, for Panchkula district at 66 kv sub-station, Sector 15, Panchkula, for Yamunanagar district at 220 kv sub-station Jorian, for Kurukshetra district at 132 kv sub-station Pipli, for Kaithal district at 33 kv sub-station Pehowa chowk, Kaithal, for Karnal district at 33 kv substation old power house, Karnal, for Panipat district at 33 KV substation old power house, Karnal, for Panipat district at 33 kv substation, Sanoli road, Panipat, for Sonepat district at 33 kv substation Bega, near Ganaur, for Rohtak district 33 kv substation, Model Town, Rohtak, for Jind district at 33 kv substation, Safidon, and for Jhajjar district at 33 kv old substation, Nai Basti, Bahadurgarh, respectively. DHBVN fines two factories
Rs 17.5 lakh
Hisar, September 28 A fine of Rs 8.5 lakh was imposed on Shiva Cattle Feed factory and around Rs 9 lakh on Kesar Dass Plastic factory. The DHBVN team, led by Assistant Executive Officer Anil Goel, raided the factories and found that the consumption of power in these factories was more than the sanctioned loads.
— TNS |
|
Gambling flourishing in Faridabad, Gurgaon, says BJP
Chandigarh, September 28 Talking to newsmen here, Mr Krishan Pal Gurjar, Leader of the Haryana BJP Legislature Party, said while the former Governor, Babu
Parmanand, and the
NDA Government foiled the INLD attempts to open casinos in the state, unofficial gambling dens had come up in a big way in Faridabad district. These dens, he said, acted as lottery shops in the day. But from the evening till late night, these shops became gambling
dens. He said the police was afraid to take action against these dens because of the patronage of an influential politician to them. Mr Gurjar said if no action was taken against the dens, his party would organise dharnas against them and would also submit a memorandum to the Governor. Answering a question, Mr Gurjar said his party would contest the next Assembly elections on its own. He said no talks had been held so far with the HVP on its merger with the BJP. Mr Gurjar said the rally to be organised by his party at Rohtak on October 12 had been postponed to October 17 in view of the
Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BJP would also launch a “Sampark Abhiyan” in the state after October 2. The BJP leader said after rendering thousands unemployed by resorting to large scale retrenchment in various corporations and boards, Mr Chautala’s promise to pay unemployment allowance was merely an election gimmick. |
|
Chautala misled Pak people, alleges brother
Chandigarh, September 28 Mr Chautala had said in Pakistan that he had first visited that country in 1935 along with his uncle, Mr Sahib Ram, who was a member of the Punjab Assembly. Talking to newsmen here Mr Pratap Singh said Mr Chautala was born on January 1, 1935. Under the Provincial Autonomy Act, 1935, the first Assembly elections were held in February, 1937. Mr Sahib Ram, he said, was elected an MLA for the first time in a byelection held in 1938. Therefore, he said Mr Chautala misled the people of Pakistan in order to get their emotional support. Mr Pratap Singh also said that for reasons best known to him Mr Chautala was using two names of his wife. He said in “Who’s Who” published by the Haryana Assembly in 2000 gave the name of Mr Chautala’s wife as “Sneh Lata”. However, in the revenue record as well as the voters lists of various years, including that of 2004, her name was given as “Kesar Devi”. He said there was nothing wrong in changing one’s name. But legal formalities had to be observed, which in this case, he said, were not completed. He said his suspicion was that Mr Chautala wanted to hide certain deals by using two names of his wife. Mr Pratap Singh dared Mr Chautala to either prove him wrong or sue him for defamation. |
|
|
A bad day for INLD Govt
Chandigarh, September 28 Mr Dalal told newsmen that the Haryana State Industries Development Corporation (HSIDC) allotted five acre land near the Orbit Resorts owned by the Badals to the Institute for International Management and Technology owned by Unitech in violation of its own policy. He alleged that the foster son-in-law of a former prime minister was a partner in the company. The land was given at the throw away price of Rs 2,340 per sq mt against the market price of at least Rs 25,000 per sq mt, causing a loss of at least Rs 80 crore to the public exchequer. He said the land was given without any auction, while the Haryana Urban Development Authority gave land for schools only after a public auction. He alleged that when the policy was changed by the HSIDC, the matter was not referred to the government. He also accused Unitech of converting the green belt of a residential colony developed in Gurgaon into residential and commercial plots in an illegal manner. Mr Dalal urged the Governor to seek a report from the government in this connection and take appropriate action to defend the interests of the state. |
|
|
9 Bills slated for session
Chandigarh, September 28 The Bills are, the Kurukshetra Shrine Bill, the Punjab Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Haryana Amendment Bill, the Haryana Municipal Corporation (Third Amendment) Bill, the Haryana Panchayati Raj Bill, the Haryana Murrah Buffalo and Other Milch Animal Breed (Preservation and Development of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Sector) Bill, the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Haryana Amendment) Bill, the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments (Haryana Amendment) Bill and the Haryana Relief of Agricultural Indebtness (Amendment) Bill. It was learnt that it had been tentatively decided to hold the session for three days. However, a final decision regarding the length of the session would be taken at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee headed by the Speaker of the Assembly, sources said. |
|
|
LJP to contest all 90 seats
Hisar, September 28 Mr Gautam said the party would not forge a poll alliance and contest the state Assembly elections on its own. He, however, added that the persons as well as parties having faith in the LJP ideology and Mr Paswan’s leadership were welcome to join the party. The LJP leader said if voted to power, the party’s top priority would be to provide employment to the jobless youth. He said the LJP would also work for equality in education so that the rural students could get the same facilities and exposure as enjoyed by those in cities. Their party would ensure that basic education was within the reach of the common people, he added. Regarding the SYL issue, Mr Gautam said following the Supreme Court’s order in his regard, the Centre should get the canal constructed. He alleged that atrocities on the Dalits were on the rise in Haryana. He maintained that if the LJP came to power, the voice of the common man would be listened and his grievances redressed. |
|
|
Electoral rolls to have photos of voters
Chandigarh, September 28 Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of Haryana Election Department said that it was one of the fresh initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India in recent time to improve the fidelity of electoral rolls and to enhance the purity of electoral process. The programme of special summary revision of these assembly constituencies with reference to January 1, 2005, as qualifying date had been fixed by the Election Commission of India. He said the draft rolls would be published on September 29. The period of claims and objections and reading of relevant part or section of electoral roll in gram sabha or urban local bodies and Resident Welfare Association meetings would be between September 29 to October 29. Special campaign dates for receiving claims and objections at all designated locations would be October 16, 17, 23
and 24. The claims and objections would be disposed of by December 6. The preparation and printing of supplements of additions, deletions and corrections was by
December 31. The final publication of electoral rolls would be done on January 3, 2005. |
|
|
Congress panel to submit report to Governor
Sonepat, September 28 Stating this, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Chairman of this committee, and a former HPCC President, also alleged that Mr Chautala and other members of his family had amassed wealth by adopting coercive methods. He alleged that the state government had spent huge amounts in the name of the late Devi Lal and this had caused widespread resentment among the people. He also alleged that Mr Chautala had misused government funds for his foreign tours. |
|
IG disappoints Congress activists
Ambala, September 28 Relatives of Batto Devi, who died following an altercation in Rangiya Mandi last week, along with the Congress activists led by the District Congress Committee president, Mr Ashok Jain, went to meet the IG. However, the IG was not present in office and office staff informed the group that he had to go to attend an important meeting with the DGP. The delegation was to hand over a memorandum demanding action against those persons who had led to the death of Batto Devi. They alleged that the police was not taking action and they claimed that the FIR was registered under Section 304 of the IPC and not under Section 302 of the IPC |
|
|
Plea to council on cleanliness
Ambala, September 28 A group of Congress activists led by Dr Chauhan stated that despite repeatedly bringing to the notice of the authorities concerned regarding cleanliness drive, no solutions had been found to the problem affecting the common man. The demands include the construction of road between Rajendra Nagar and New Janakpuri, construct proper streets in the Mahesh Nagar area, take up construction of busy roads like the road leading from the Jagadhari road to Raja Park, rebuild a street in Krishna Nagar where waterlogging is taking place and cover the drains passing through the area to avoid accidents. The list further includes improving cleanliness in different areas, timely cleaning of garbage bins, streamlining parking in the markets, provide proper street lighting and make arrangements for security to prevent frequent thefts. |
|
|
MC demolishes nine illegal structures
Sonepat, September 28 Officials of the demolition squad went to various parts of the city and demolished four shops at Mehlana road, two shops on Gohana road, two shops on the Kami road near fruit and vegetable market and a house in the Sidharath Enclave on the Delhi road with help of JCB machines. This was done on the order of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vidya Dhar. The Council has also stepped up its campaign for the recovery of house tax and other taxes in the city. The council has already approached the District Collector for taking action under Section 95-98 of the Municipal Act 1973 and recovering the amount as arrears on land revenue from such persons. |
|
Rohtak doctor heads national body
Rohtak, September 28 According to a press release issued here today, Dr Nitya Nand was also nominated as chairman of the scientific committee of the annual conference of the IACM which concluded at Agra on Sunday last. He presented a 309-page book on clinical update at the conference. Dr Nitya Nand has been professor at the PGIMS since 1992. Meanwhile, another PGIMS don, Dr P.S. Ghalaut, Professor of Medicine and Head of the Department of Clinical Haematology, has won the Dr G.B. Jain Oration award of the IACM, an official press release said today. |
|
|
24 students caught using unfair means
Bhiwani, September 28 Stating this today, a spokesman for the board said the flying squad of the Chairman of the board had inspected examination centres at Rewari, Jhajjar and Mahendragarh and caught two students red handed while using unfair means in the secondary examination of Hindi-typing and economics and geography and accountancy examination of the senior secondary. He said another flying squad of the Vice-Chairman of the board made surprise raids at the examination centres in Gurgaon and Rewari and found five cases of unfair means. He said the flying squad of the Member Secretary of the board raided the examination centres at Jhajjar and Faridabad and apprehended six students while copying. Other flying squads of the board also detected nine such cases of copying at other examination centres. |
|
|
5 bodies found in canal
Jhajjar, September 28 According to information, some bodies were spotted by villagers in the canal this evening. On being informed, the Salawas police reached the spot and manned the area. All the bodies are half naked and are possibly of males. The police said that the bodies were expected to be extricated by tomorrow morning. The sources suspected that they might have been murdered and belonged to one family. |
|
|
Murder case against 3
Sonepat, September 28 According to a report, the FIR has been lodged on the complaint of Cheeni. The victim belonged to Maharashtra and had lived in Delhi where she came into contact with Cheeni who married her. She was the second wife of Cheeni and had been living separately in the rented house in Sector 14 for the past two weeks. The culprits were known to the first wife of Cheeni who, it is alleged hatched a conspiracy to kill Meeta. |
|
Insurance scheme for autorickshaw drivers
Ambala, September 28 Pinka, who is heading a newly formed faction of the Haryana Autorickshaw Kalyan Sangh, said half of the cost for the insurance would be borne by the sangh. He said there would be no entry fees for joining the sangh and they would work for the welfare of the autorickshaw drivers and owners. Among others, Mohan Lal Ghel, Neeraj Rama, Sonu Valmiki, Rajendra Kumar, Kulwant Singh Manakpur, Lakwinder Singh, Harjinder Punia, Baldev Singh, Jassa, Rajan and Neethu Bulana were present. |
|
|
ATM opened
Ambala, September 28 It was inaugurated by the president of the Ambala Scientific Instruments Manufacturers Association. The bank manager, Mr Trilok Arora, said the bank would shortly open more ATMs in Ambala Cantonment and Ambala City. |
|
Candidates’ counselling on Sept 30
Chandigarh, September 28 While stating this yesterday, the Registrar of Guru Jhambheshwar University, said counselling would commence at 11 a.m. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, September 28
