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Govt to seek relaxation, bonus for paddy
growers
Hafed scheme to give relief to farmers
Paddy farmers charge admin with inaction
Three cops booked on HC
orders
Kalam to visit Haryana
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Merger may not ‘ensure’ party ticket for HVP
men
Chautala hatao will be our next slogan: Birender
CM directs market panels to drain
out rain water
Leaf from history
3 arrested in murder
case
Power utilities facing shortage of
coal
Life term for six in murder
case
BJP woos HVP leaders
Artisans spread message of communal
harmony
Postal staff
honoured
Godown looted, chowkidar killed
Cong cries foul as Army demolishes shop
Youth beaten to death
Bhajan to inaugurate mobile van service
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Govt to seek relaxation, bonus for paddy
growers
Karnal, October 11 The state government is also considering demanding a special bonus for the farmers on account of loss to the paddy crop due to drought at the initial stage and then due to heavy incessant rain at the time of harvesting. Stating this to The Tribune over telephone, Mr K.S. Bhoria, Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, said the department had sent a detailed report to the Department of Food and Civil Supplies regarding the drought conditions in June and July, followed by a delayed monsoon and further heavy incessant rain during the past 24 hours in most parts of the state. He said the farmers had suffered heavy losses because of the weather conditions throughout the cropping season. The farmers of the state needed to be adequately compensated by the Union Government, he said. Due to the unprecedented rain, the paddy crop lying in the grain markets had been partially damaged following high content of moisture, he added. Mr Naresh Sharma, Deputy Secretary (Procurement), Department of Food and Civil Supplies, confirmed that the state government would apprise the Union Government of the losses to the farmers and difficulties being faced by procurement agencies due to high content of moisture in the harvested crop. He said the department had directed officials of market committees to drain out the rain water accumulated in the mandis on a priority basis to save the produce of the farmers from any further loss. The main difficulty being faced by farmers and procurement agencies in areas in Karnal and Kurukshetra districts was that the moisture content in the paddy lying in the grain markets had extensively increased following the rain. The farmers had demanded that a special girdawari be announced by the state government to assess the loss to the paddy crop from the time of sowing to the present. Farmers of Karnal district had complained that nobody from the administration had visited the grain markets to have a look at their problems. The District Magistrate of Karnal, Mr R.S. Doon, while talking to The Tribune, said he had visited many grain markets during the past couple of days and had directed the procurement agencies to ensure that every pile of paddy lying in the markets was purchased at the earliest. “I have also deputed a special team of officials to monitor the procurement process of paddy”, he added. The standing paddy crop that was likely to be harvested this week had been partially damaged. In many areas of Karnal district, the basmati plants had fallen, resulting in crop loss. The basmati variety of paddy had been sown in 35,000 hectares in the district, out of which between 10,000 and 15,000 thousand hectares of basmati crop was expected to have been partially damaged due to rain. A senior official of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research said it was estimated that the paddy output in the region might decline by between 20 and 30 per cent due to hostile weather conditions. It advised farmers not to harvest the standing paddy crop until there were three or four days of regular sunshine. |
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Hafed scheme to give relief to farmers
Chandigarh, October 11 This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Hafed, Mr Devender Singh, on the occasion of presentation of a cheque for Rs 50 lakh to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, by the Chairman of Hafed, Mr Suraj Mal, MLA, for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, here today. Mr Devender Singh said the farmers would have to pay a nominal rate of interest of about 8 per cent. The 60 to 80 per cent finances to be given to the farmers to meet their immediate needs would depend on the kind of produce stocked with Hafed. The scheme would prove very useful for the farmers in view of the introduction of the new concept of commodity exchanges, on the pattern of stock exchanges, by the Central Government. He said Hafed would have a tie-up with the Commodity Exchanges, which would function at the national level. The farmers would be able to know the future prices of their commodities through these Commodity Exchanges, which would help the farmers in advance planning of the sale of their produce, especially the one stocked in godowns. Also, the concept of Commodity Exchanges would ensure sale of produce in a transparent manner. |
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Paddy farmers charge admin with inaction
Sirsa, October, 11 Procurement agencies have not been accepting crop with more than 17 per cent moisture. The officials concerned say rules do not permit them to take any action, to protect the paddy lying in the open. Baldev Singh from nearby Sultanpuria village laments, “I am here since last night and my crop is rotting due to rain. I do not know what to do”. Another farmer from Jeevan Nagar fears of not getting full return of his yield due to dampness in paddy. |
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Three cops booked on HC
orders
Kurukshetra, October 11 According to the FIR lodged by the victim’s son Kaasim Ali, a resident of Ishargarh village when the commission agents at the Pipli grain market, refused to settle his father’s accounts against selling his agriculture produce, he approached the court. Following this, the commission agents, with the connivance of three policemen started pressurising him by one way or the other to withdraw the case. Kaasim Ali further alleged that when he refused to withdraw the case, his house was raided repeatedly by the police and he was threatened for implicating him in false cases. His father was picked up by the police on January 28, 2001 and was tortured for about a week and this harassment continued till February 6, 2004, when his father succumbed to the torturing by the police, he added. Those who have been booked are former CIA inspector, Dharam Singh, sub-inspector Sudhir Mohan, assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Jairaj, are commission agents, Ram Ditta Mal, Surender Kumar, Narender Kumar and Jitender Kumar under Sections 323, 342, 304 and 120 B of the IPC. |
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Kalam to visit Haryana
Chandigarh, October 11 The seventh unit of the plant has been completed within a record period of 30 months by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. With the addition of this unit, the power generation capacity of the state would increase to 1110 MW. Also, additional 60 lakh units of electricity would be generated per day from this unit, which has been set up through modern management techniques and rigorous monitoring by the state government. The eighth unit of 250 MW of the plant is in an advance stage of construction and would be commissioned in December next, two months ahead of the schedule. The cost of the project for turn-key execution is Rs.1785 crore, which is the lowest among the contemporary projects. The state government has contributed 20 per cent of the project cost by way of equity and remaining 80 per cent has been raised as loan from the Power Finance Corporation. At present, the Panipat project is a 860 MW plant having four units of 110 MW each and two units of 210 MW each. |
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Merger may not ‘ensure’ party ticket for HVP
men
Fatehabad, October 11 Mr Bishnoi was talking to mediapersons here. He had come here to release an evening daily, Dabka. Mr Bishnoi claimed that HVP leader Surender Singh was seeking entry into the Congress through Mr Bhajan Lal. He further claimed that Mr Surender Singh had told the Congress leadership that his father, Mr Bansi Lal, would be retiring from active politics and it was he only who was seeking entry into the Congress along with his partymen. Mr Bishnoi said though the state Congress leaders had always opposed the merger of the HVP into the Congress on the ground that Mr Bansi Lal had all along been criticising the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi, but Mr Bhajan Lal had shown magnanimity to the HVP leaders. Without naming anyone, he said many other state Congress leaders were still against the merger. He, however, said that he was happy with the developments and welcomed the HVP leaders into the party. He said the formal merger of the HVP into the Congress would be announced on October 14. Mr Bishnoi said though the merger was not going to alter the political fortunes of the Congress as his party was already strong enough to win the Assembly elections on its own whereas the HVP had lost its public base, the decision of the HVP leadership on merger showed the popularity of his party. He denied that the merger of the HVP into the Congress would, in any manner, increase infighting in the party. He claimed that it had been made clear to the HVP leaders that they could not be promised the party ticket in the forthcoming Assembly elections. He said only candidates who may win and those having unfettered commitment to the party would be given the party ticket. |
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Chautala hatao will be our next slogan: Birender
Chandigarh, October 11 In a statement issued here Mr Birender Singh said the HVP's merger with the Congress would not only further strengthen secular and progressive forces in the state but would also result in the worst-ever electoral defeat of an "incumbant Chief Minister in the country". However, he hastened to add that after the HVP's poor show in the recent Lok Sabha elections and in view of the "crumbling family interests" of Mr Bansi Lal, its merger with the Congress was a foregone conclusion. Expressing the hope that Mr Bansi Lal would play a positive and constructive role in the Congress, he said it was good that the HVP leader had "corrected and revised" his opinion about Mrs Sonia Gandhi, whose leadership he(Mr Bansi Lal) "has happily and dedicatedly accepted". Describing the BJP's claim that the HVP's merger would create one more faction in the Congress, Mr Birender Singh said the Congress was one under the leadership of Mrs Gandhi. The BJP, he said, would know the true ground realities in the next elections. |
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CM directs market panels to drain
out rain water
Chandigarh, October 11 Mr Chautala was presiding over a meeting of the Food and Supplies Department to review the progress of the procurement of kharif crops, which include paddy and bajra, here today. He said farmers should be advised not to bring their wet paddy crop in the mandis for a few days. They should bring their produce only after it gets dried up and conforms to the prescribed specifications fixed by the Union Government. He asked the heads of the procuring agencies to maintain the quality of stocks, which was lying in godowns. It was decided at the meeting that for custom milling of levy rice, the condition of bank guarantee be waived and the old system of giving 72 metric tonnes rice in advance by the millers be adhered to. However, the agencies would have to obtain proper surety so that the paddy given by them to the millers was milled properly without any malpractices. Mr Chautala said BPL families should be identified on the top priority and they should be issued yellow cards at the earliest. The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Food and Supplies, Mr H.C. Disodia, said 8.20 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had so far arrived in the State mandis, out of which 87,000 metric tonnes was basmati and 7.33 lakh tonnes leviable paddy. Out of the total arrival, 2.84 lakh metric tonnes had been purchased by private millers while 4.49 lakh metric tonnes had been purchased by government agencies. |
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160-year-old Christian
cemetery
Rahul Das Tribune News Service
Ambala, October 11 The monument shaped like a minaret states that “sacred to the memory of their comrades whose names are herein engraved and to those who died while their regiment was quartered at Umballa. This monument was raised by officers and men of HMs 21st Hussars on the occasion of their departure from this station in December 1869”. The cemetery on the Jagadhari road has completed 160 years this year. The cemetery, spread over 25 acres, was constructed in 1844. The cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, said the Christian cemetery was a protected area. “The graves in the cemetery are more than one and a- half-century old,”he said. Deedar Pal and Michael, who assist in taking care of the cemetery, said that the graves dated back to 1844. Senior Army and civilian officers have been buried in this cemetery. There were about 1000 graves in the cemetery, they said. The historic cemetery is in a sorry state with weeds grown all over. The caretakers said that a major clean-up drive was expected to take place soon. Deedar Pal said some anti-social elements had uprooted the railings around the graves and taken them away. Even “ranga” which is used for inscription purposes had been scratched off from the headstones and sold ,” he lamented. The oldest headstone dating back to 1844 states: “Sacred to the memory of Emma, the beloved wife of JP Stens - HE LC Service, who departed on Sunday July 28, 1844, aged 49 years, leaving a disconsolate husband and a daughter." The right hand of a beautifully sculpted statue of an angel has been broken.The headstone states: “Sacred to the loving memory of Elizabeth, the dearly beloved wife of Dave Matthews who died at Umballa on 15 Jan 1902”. Another monument erected in the memory of soldiers states :“In memory of soldiers of the 22nd Duke of Albany's own Highlanders, also women and children of the Regiment at Umballa and in the hills between April 4, 1871, and October 22,1875. Erected by their sorrowing comrades.” A young Army officer's grave states: “Sacred to the memory of Captain Burke Cuppace. 3rd Bengal Cavalry, late of the 21 Hussars who died at Umballah on 8 July 1864. Aged 28 years.” A senior Army officer and his wife have both been buried in the cemetery. The graves of Brig General EW Boudier of 17th Cavalry and his wife, Mary Louise Boudier are adjacent to each other.
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3 arrested in murder
case
Panipat, October 11 The SHO of the police station concerned said that he got a tip-off that the three persons had killed Krishana whose body was found hanging from an electric cable at Nimubri village on Saturday. Following this the SHO he along with ASI, nabbed the three accused. The police has registered an FIR under Sections 304 and 34 of the IPC, as according to police sources, the accused had no intention to kill the man but he died after a clash among them over some financial dispute. Krishana was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the wee hours on Saturday. Krishana was working in Janata Spinning Mill in the village. He left the factory for his house but did not reach his house. Some persons informed at his house that his body was found at Nimburi village and that he had he died due to electric shock. Following this his relatives reached there and found the body hanging from an electric cable. His relatives suspected some foul play. |
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Power utilities facing shortage of
coal
Panchkula, October 11 Senior officials in the Haryana Power Generation Corporation (HPGC) inform that they are left with a weeks’ stock of one lakh metric tonnes of coal for the six units of Tau Devi Lal Thermal Power Plant at Panipat, and 30,000 metric tonnes of coal for the three units at the Faridabad Thermal Power Plant, which would suffice for just 10 days. It is learnt that the monthly requirement of coal at the six units (four units of 110 MW and two of 210 MW) at Panipat is 4,50,000 metric tonnes. The average monthly coal requirement at the three units (each of 55 MW) at Faridabad is 90,000 metric tonnes. With the seventh unit at Tau Devi Lal Thermal Power Plant ready for commissioning on October 16, the authorities here are in a fix because of the ongoing shortage of coal for operating the new unit. Officials say that coal India has promised to ensure regular supply before the commissioning of the new unit. Officials say that the thermal power plants in the state have been facing this shortage in coal for the past two months, and have been unable to maintain the mandatory coal stocks as advised by the Central Electricity Authority. They say that last month a situation arose where they were left with stock for just four days. The Central Electricity Authority says that the thermal plants should maintain stocks for 21 days, which can vary to stocks for 15 days in exceptional circumstances. It is learnt that over the years coal production had decreased in the mines of Bihar and Jharkhand, from where the state Power Utilities gets its supply. As a result, the coal prices have shot up by 17 per cent since June 16 this year. Officials add that they are also facing problem for ferrying coal from the mines to the thermal plants by rail. In order to ensure a regular supply, a two-member team of officials, including Superintending Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer, have been rushed to the mines at Dhanbad and Ranchi. The HPGC authorities have also taken up the matter of regular supply of coal, and its pricing, and regular availability of trains for ferrying coal, with the Union Power Ministry. The state government had raised the demand for setting up a regulatory body for coal pricing, and rail freight charges, during a recent meeting of Council for Power Utilities, and in another meeting of Northern Regional Electricity Board, inform officials. |
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Life term for six in murder
case
Rohtak, October 11 Eight residents of the same village were charged with murder. Six of them were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for life. They included three brothers – Rajbir, Krishan and Surender – and their three cousins, Karan, Dilbagh and Krishan. Two others, Ajmer and Suresh, were acquitted for want of evidence. The judge also fined them Rs 10,000 each or in default undergo imprisonment for a further three years. |
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BJP woos HVP leaders
Sonepat, October 11 BJP leader Abhmanyu, who was party nominee from the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency in recent elections, visited Gohana yesterday met former minister and HVP leader Jagbir Singh Malik to persuade him to join the BJP. But Mr Malik was not inclined to join the BJP. Similarly, Ekta Shakti Party chief Virender Maratha also met Mr Malik yesterday at Gohana and asked him to join the new political regional outfit. Confirming his meetings with these leaders, Mr Malik said some vested interests were spreading rumours about his intentions to quit the HVP. He categorically stated that “he was with Bansi Lal, he is with Bansi Lal and will remain with Bansi Lal.” Meanwhile, HVP activists appeared to be perplexed after knowing the merger move. |
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Artisans spread message of communal
harmony
Panipat, October 11 They are spreading the message of communal harmony silently by making the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnada in most parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh and the Jammu area of the militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir. Artisan Mehtab Ali of Dogar village from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, who is here along with his fellowmen, is busy in making the effigies. He said that most of the effigies of the Ravana family in different parts of North India have been made by Muslim artisans from different parts of Uttar Pradesh for decades. Mehtab said he had been making these effigies for the Sanathan Dharma Sabha of Panipat and some other Dasehra committees of Kurukshetra for more than 25 years. The job is ancestral, as his father and grandfather were also doing so since their youth, he added. Mehtab’s sons — Mehboob, Dilshad and Naushad — also help their father in the work of making effigies. At present, 10 persons are making the effigies on the premises of Sanathan Dharam Mandir of Model Town here. Of them, seven are Muslims, while three are Hindus. One of the Hindus, Nain Singh Phauji, said there was no communal difference among them and they were camping in the temple till Dasehra and had food items cooked on the same chullah. The artisan said that they were doing the job merely as a hobby. |
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Postal staff
honoured Ambala, October 11 Ms Meera Datta, Chief Post Master General, Haryana presided over the function while Mr Gokul Singh, Chief General Manager, Telecom, Haryana, was the chief guest. The Dak Sewa Awardees were Mr Charanjit Arora, Ms Bharti, Mr K.S. Madan, Mr P.C. Kashyap, Mr Ashish Kumar, Mr Sardara Singh and Mr Ranbir Singh. A special award was given to a tea vendor from Gurgaon, Mr Manoj Kumar, who caught a robber at the Gurgaon HO. Mr Neha Wadhwa from Hisar was awarded for winning a consolation prize at the SAARC letter writing competition. In group awards, the post office at the Medical College, Rohtak, won the Cleanest Post Office Award and the Ambala RMS was adjudged the cleanest mail office. |
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Godown looted, chowkidar killed
Sonepat, October 11 According to information, Manoj of Khanpur Kalan village was a chowkidar at Mahender gas agency godown on Gohana-Panipat highway. He was residing in the godown with his family. The gangsters tied all persons and snatched cash and other valuables from the victims. However, Manoj resisted them. |
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Cong cries foul as Army demolishes shop
Ambala, October 11 A press statement issued by Mr Jain said the inquiry should be conducted by the Ministry of Defence into the `misuse of power’ by the Army officials. Mr Jain said the Army officials had wanted to demolish this structure two years back also, but then Mr Anil Vij had strongly protested the move and blocked the road. “At that time, perhaps the documents were in order,” he wondered. He said Mr Umesh Sahni had recently left the Vikas Parishad, headed by Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij, and joined the Congress and “the results are obvious”. Mr Jain said the matter was subjudice and an appeal was pending under Section 374 on the issue. He said that a deputation under the leadership of the Union Minister and Ambala MP, Ms Kumari Selja, would meet the Defence Minister in this regard.
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Youth beaten to death
Sonepat, October 11 According to a report, a dispute over land is stated to be the cause of the murder. The police has registered a case against eight persons, including three women, in this connection. A hunt is on to apprehend them. |
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Bhajan to inaugurate mobile van service Ambala, October 11 “Former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, will inaugurate the service. Saint Bhole and Mangala will be present on the occasion,” he added. Mr Aggarwal said a charitable dispensary will also be inaugurated at Prem Nagar on the same day. |
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