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Electricity Bill: talks fail, strike announced
Independents plan ‘Progressive Front’
Ministers will have to wait for 3 days for portfolios
Cong will fail to live up to expectations: BJP
New excise policy targets monopoly
HUDA spares repatriation of 22 officials |
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8 hurt as workers clash in factory
School Principal fears threat to life
Miffed at rumours, board to take legal action
Order on deputation staff may hit
exams
3 teachers relieved of exam duty
6-year-old girl raped by youth
Brushes made from mongoose hair seized
Rain damages crops
Two brothers hurt in mishap
Army chief visits Kharga Corps
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Electricity Bill: talks fail, strike announced
Faridabad, March 11 The NCCOEE is the federation representing six main employees associations of the power sector, which include the All-India Federation of Electricity Employees (AIFEE), Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI), All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), All-India Federation of Power Diploma Engineers (AIFPDE) and the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyut Majdoor Sangh. Mr Subhash Lamba, a member of the National Executive of the EEFI who had been included in the delegation of the NCCOEE which met the Union Power Minister regarding the employees demand of scrapping the Electricity Bill-2003, said that the alleged negative attitude and stand of the Union Power Minister had forced the NCCOEE to go for the nationwide strike on May 31 and June 1. He alleged that the ‘refusal’ of the government to review the controversial bill, against which the NCCOEE had taken out a march to the Parliament on December 10 last, had also been the ‘violation’ of the ‘Common Minimum Programme’ accepted by the UPA government. He said the delegation which had met the Union Minister for Power, Mr P.M. Syed, included Mr Shailender Dubey, Mr H.N. Mishra, Mr Sukhdev Singh, Mr Akhtar Hussain, S.C. Diwedi, Mr B.S. Meel, Mr K.R.Unnithan, Mr Chakradhar Prasad, Mr K. Ashok And Mohan Sharma. Claiming that the Power Minister had assured full cooperation and positive steps in the meeting held with the employees on December 21, last, he said the ‘turnabout’ now was not expected from the government and the engineers and employees of the Power sector were left with no option but to go on strike. He claimed that the bill did not ensure the increase in availability of the power and the consistency in the rates of power supply for consumers. He said the various surveys and the research work done by the experts in the matter of privatisation of the electricity departments had concluded that while there had been no improvement in the production and supply front, the consumer would pay several times more if the sector was handed over to the private sector and it could affect adversely the overall development, especially the agriculture and the industry. Demanding its review and scrapping of several provisions, the NCCOEE claimed that allowing the production and supply of power, a basic amenity, into the hands of private people could be suicidal and needed to be shelved immediately. |
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Independents plan ‘Progressive Front’
Gurgaon, March 11 “It is the most opportune time for the Congress government in Haryana to solve the water problem as the Congress government is in Punjab as well as at the Centre,” he said. He, however, cautioned that his organisation would not hesitate to get back to the streets and also agitate in the Haryana Assembly if the Congress government in the state tried to soft-pedal on the issue. He suggested that with the underground watertable falling at an alarming rate in south Haryana, the government should consider a proposal to provide electricity at a subsidised rate. Also, damaged transformers should be replaced immediately, especially in the Ahirwal belt. He demanded that lease of mines and other natural resources effected by the INLD government in favour of persons outside south Haryana must be cancelled and given to the local youth. He demanded a major share in jobs for the local youths in the industrial units set up in South Haryana. Mr Yadav said the 10 Independent MLAs would form a bloc by the name of “Progressive Front” and stake claim to the principal Opposition group in the Haryana Assembly. Leader of the Opposition in that case would be from among the members of the proposed front. |
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Ministers will have to wait for 3 days for portfolios
Chandigarh, March 11 The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said here today that the portfolios would be allotted after the return of the Governor on March 14. He said no date had so far been fixed to convene the first session of the new Legislative Assembly. However, it would be convened within this month. Mr Hooda also ruled out the possibility of an early expansion of his Cabinet, saying that at the moment there was no such plan. Earlier in the day a large number of supporters of new Ministers roamed about in the Secretariat in search of their leaders. However, their search turned out to be futile because no one could tell them in which room which Minister was sitting. Even the Ministers did not know where they were to sit because their rooms are being renovated before allotment. |
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Cong will fail to live up to expectations: BJP
Ambala, March 11
Former Ambala MP, Mr Ratan Lal Kataria, said apparently it seemed the people of Haryana had made up their mind to remove Mr Chautala and replace hinm with the Congress. He said people voted for the Congress as they feared that there was a possibility of an alliance between the BJP and the INLD. He said NDA alliance did better than UPA alliance in Jharkhand and Bihar. He appealed to the workers to work hard for strengthening the party and he opined that Congress will fail to live up to the expectations of the people.
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New excise policy targets monopoly
Chandigarh, March 11 The Haryana Cabinet at its first meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, here today reversed the excise policy being followed by the INLD government for the past two years. Under this policy liquor vends in the state were being put to auction in one or two groups, enabling big-time contractors to monopolise the trade. Small-time contractors had been alleging that the government had allowed the liquor trade to be monopolised for “vested interests”. Under the new policy, the liquor vends would be auctioned in small groups. The maximum number of vends in one group would not exceed the total number of vends in a particular district. In a concession to defence personnel, the Cabinet decided to reduce excise duty on rum and Indian made foreign liquor(IMFL) sold through the CSD. The Cabinet, however, did not change the existing number of vends, which would remain 1,600. Both country liquor (CL) and IMFL would be sold at the vends. It also put a restriction on the number of ahatas where country liquor would be served. There will not be more than one ahata with one vend. Also, the packing of IMFL would be allowed in bottles of 1000 ml also, but packing in pouches would be prohibited for both country liquor and IMFL. No sale of liquor would be allowed in banquet halls and at marriage palaces without a proper licence and it would be properly regulated by the Excise and Taxation Department. The Cabinet decided to increase the quota of CL from 425 lakh proof litres (LPL) to 450 LPL and that of IMFL from 175 LPL to 200 LPL during the next financial year. In case of delay in payment of the licence fee the rate of interest would be increased to 1.5 per cent per month. With a view to maintaining the religious sanctity of Kurukshetra, Thanesar and Pehowa, it was decided that no liquor vend would be allowed to be opened within the municipal limits of these towns (except Pipli along the National Highway). |
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HUDA spares repatriation of 22 officials Panchkula,March 11 The fresh orders for the repatriation of these officials have excluded 15 officers of the Law and Legislative Department ( one District Attorney, four Deputy District Attorneys and nine Additional District Attorneys) and seven officers ( five Senior Accounts Officers and two Accounts Officers) from the Finance Department. The Additional Director, Legal, Mr O. P.
Godara, who is on deputation to HUDA from the Law Department, has also been spared. Officials in HUDA say that all cadre officials from the two departments have been excluded from the list of officials to be repatriated to their respective parent departments. A senior official, requesting anonymity, said HUDA had sought clarification from the state government for the repatriation of cadre officers from other departments, as the Chief Secretary, Haryana, had ordered for the repatriation of all employees. "The government has now said the repatriation of these cadre officers should be the prerogative of their parent departments. The latter can decide on their own if they want to replace these officials or let them continue in HUDA. Moreover, there is shortage of staff in the Law and Finance Departments of HUDA," he added. The ambiguity in today's order, which has deleted the names of the above- mentioned 22 officials, arises as the foot note says that in case any names of the officials on deputation to HUDA are left out, they may also be treated as repatriated to the parent department. The Chief Administrator, HUDA, had yesterday ordered for the repatriation of 93 officials, besides section officers working on deputation to HUDA from the Treasuries and Accounts Department. Other than senior officials like the Additional Director, Legal, Mr O. P. Godara,the Superintending Engineer, Mr A. K. Tandon, and the Chief Town Planner, HUDA, Mr Sanjay B. Verma, orders for the repatriation of three Executive Engineers, 13 Sub Divisional Engineers, 25 Junior Engineers, 14 law officers (including Deputy District Attorneys and Assistant District Attorneys), five Senior Account Officers (SAO), five
patwaris, two kanungos, a Senior Town Planner, a District Town Planner and an Assistant Town Planner among others were issued yesterday. These officers posted in different urban estates of Haryana are on deputation from the Finance Department, Public Works Department, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN), Irrigation, Horticulture, Urban Estates, Town and Country Planning and Prosecution Departments. Allegations have also been cropping up over the absorption of some deputationists from the Public Health and Finance Departments in HUDA during the past two months. Sources say that a Sub Divisional Officer, currently posted at Panchkula from the Public Health Department, and the process for absorbing a Section Officer on deputation from the Finance Department, is also being absorbed in HUDA. Even as the HUDA Employees Union has objected to the taking in of these deputationists in HUDA, the authorities say that these appointments will not affect the promotion avenues for the HUDA employees.
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8 hurt as workers clash in factory
Jhajjar, March 11 According to information, the workers of the factory have been on strike from September last after differences arose between them and the factory management on the issue of renewal of their annual contract. The management was bent upon downsizing its workers’ strength and engaging them on daily wage basis. The management closed down the unit by citing indiscipline among the workers as reason about six months ago. The workers launched an agitation and were sitting on dharna outside the premises since then. However, the workers agitation developed cracks about one month ago, when 20 workers ended their strike and resumed their work following which the management reopened the factory and started production. A majority of the workers, however, continued with their agitation. A group of striking workers today stormed into the unit and attacked the workers inside. They reportedly threw one of the workers, Rajender, alias Raju, from the terrace who was injured seriously and was rushed to the Sri Gangaram Hospital, Delhi. Seven others were also beaten up with sticks and admitted to the Civil Hospital at Bahadurgarh. The police has registered cases against 14 persons. |
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School Principal fears threat to life
Rohtak, March 11 Talking to mediapersons here today, Dr Singh alleged that as per the terms of his appointment, he was to retire in June 2005 on attaining the age of 65 years. However, he was recently served a notice compulsorily retiring him on March 31, despite the fact that the school produced its best results under his stewardship. He alleged that the Deputy Commissioner had usurped his financial and administrative powers in contravention of the rules of the CBSE and misused the school funds. The ex-officio chairman managed to appoint his own henchmen in the executive committee of the school and then took charge of the pre-primary section of the school, where he appointed teachers on ad hoc basis who were now harassing and threatening him. As per the rules, the Principal should have been ex-officio secretary of the school board, but the chairman allowed a person of his choice to function as the secretary on a payment of Rs 5,000 per month. The official vehicle purchased for his use and that of the office-bearers was withdrawn and his office shifted to one of the renovated classrooms as the DC used the Principal’s office as office of the ex-officio chairman. Significantly, Dr Singh has alleged that the DC used derogatory language against his religion. He has also sent representations to the SP and IG of police fearing a threat to his security saying one of the junior teachers considered close to the DC had been humiliating and threatening him. He has sought a CBI probe into the irregularities. Dr Singh said he also spoke to the Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today on phone and apprised him of the situation. The Deputy Commissioner was not available for comments. |
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Miffed at rumours, board to take legal action
Karnal, March 11 A senior official of the HSEB said that a vernacular newspaper, carrying Karnal dateline, had published a news item on Friday that the English paper of Class XII was being sold openly, which was totally wrong and without any substance. He said that no question paper of the examination being conducted by the board had been leaked under the new system adopted for the distribution of question papers this year. Alleging that this news item was a 'sinister move to erode the credibility of the HSEB', he said that the Board had approached the Superintendent of Police, Karnal, for taking strict legal action against the 'culprits'. He said that the preliminary investigations carried out by the board into the alleged leakage of paper it found that the news item was planted, fake and circulated just to earn money. The Karnal police would initiate legal action into the matter, he added. Meanwhile, Mr Vikas Arora, SP, Karnal, said he had asked SHO, Gharaunda, to inquire the matter and report immediately to his office. "Legal action will be initiated against the alleged guilty on the findings of the preliminary investigation of the SHO concerned," he said. |
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Order on deputation staff may hit
exams
Sirsa, March 11 As per the directions of the government, the entire state government machinery has been asked to relieve the staff taken on deputation with immediate effect. According to campus sources, copy of the orders faxed to the office of the Registrar has asked the authorities to relieve the staff on deputation by Thursday evening. Till date, the 31-odd members in the administrative wing have all been taken on deputation from Kurukshetra, Maharshi Dayanand and Guru Jambeshwar Universities. Now when the directions of the state government are clear, the officials on the campus are confused with regard to implementation of the orders as top officials concerned of the university were not present. Following the death of his mother the Registrar, Dr A.K. Rajan, is on long leave while the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Sunil Ahuja, who is also the Chief Secretary, was at his main office in the state secretariat in Chandigarh. Though being the brainchild of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, the university has failed to appoint even a single person in the non-teaching department. The recent order, say the sources, has further led to confusion as the Registrar, Dr Rajan, himself is on deputation from MDU. Officials on the campus declined to comment on the issue, but expressed concern. But those affected wanted to know the status of their job after the new orders. |
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3 teachers relieved of exam duty
Bhiwani, March 11 The board has written for action against Shamsher Singh, superintendent of Matanhale centre in Jhajjar district, Supervisor Mahender Pal of Beri-1 centre, clerk Vivek Kumar of Hisar-2 centre, who have been relieved from duty, to the Directorate, Secondary Education, Chandigarh. |
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6-year-old girl raped by youth
Hisar, March 11 In a complaint lodged with the police, the girl’s father, Mr Ram Phal, maintained that he had gone to the fields while his daughter was playing near their house last evening. When he returned from the fields, his wife told him about the incident. The little girl told her mother that while she was playing in the street, a youth with his face covered took her to mustard fields. There, he allegedly raped her. She said the youth showed her a knife and threatened that he would kill her if she reported the matter to anybody. The police has registered a case in this regard. |
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Brushes made from mongoose hair seized
Ambala, March 11 He said while he was on his way to Chandigarh yesterday, he noticed painting brushes being sold at a shop in
Shahabad. When he enquired from the shopkeeper, he was informed that the painting brushes were sold to him by a person from Ambala. Mr Kumar said with the help of the police, they raided a house in Ashok Nagar and nabbed Rajinder. He said a large number of painting brushes have been recovered. The seized painting brushes have been stored in Mahesh Nagar Police Station.
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Rain damages crops
Kaithal, March 11 The wheat crop sown early has flattened at a number of places and all this has caused substantial financial loss to the farmers. The wheat and mustard crops, which were likely to mature in a couple of weeks, have suffered the maximum damage as it could not withstand the pressure of winds.
— OC |
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Two brothers hurt in mishap
Ambala, March 11 They alighted at Nagova village bus stand and began to cross the road.
A police jeep of Naraingarh police station
hit them.
The injured brothers were taken to Civil Hospital, Naraingarh. From there, they were referred to the PGI Chandigarh.
They are under observation in the PGI Chandigarh. |
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Army chief visits Kharga Corps
Ambala, March 11 General Singh was accompanied by Mrs Anupama Singh, President, Army Wives Welfare Association. Mrs Anupama Singh met AWWA presidents of Western Command and Kharga Corps and discussed welfare projects.
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