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Wheat scam handiwork of depot holder?
Stone crushers cut building material rate
Brick-kiln owners to launch stir
Brick-kiln workers left in lurch
Rs 30 crore for development works
Head Constable booked
for beating up youth |
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2 kids run over by truck
Workshop on National Curriculum Framework
Miller in police net for duping government
LPG price hiked in Haryana, consumers unhappy
Kataria demands CBI
inquiry into wheat scam
2 aerodromes in offing
3 youths run over by train
Woman commits suicide
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Wheat scam handiwork of depot holder?
Karnal, July 2 The controversial stock of 14,400 quintal wheat was diverted to the ‘black market’ in connivance with the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, CONFED, a couple of depot holders and a transport contractor. As per the inquiry report forwarded to the District Magistrate, Mr Shyamal Mishra, by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sanjiv Verma, Mr Gupta, on behalf of 37 depot holders of Nissing block, deposited the payments in the bank in the account of CONFED and himself signed on the release order of the CONFED instead of the storekeeper to get the stock of wheat released for distribution among them. However, as per the rules, each and every depot holder is supposed to deposit the payment in the bank and then submit the receipt to the storekeeper of CONFED. Accordingly, the storekeeper issues the release order for lifting the stock of wheat. The storekeeper in his statement to the ADC had said that he did not sign the release orders of 14,400 quintal of wheat meant for distribution among APL families in the villages of Nissing block for the period from September, 2004, to December, 2004. He disclosed some startling facts that the release order book was in possession of Mr Gupta and he used to sign it on behalf of the storekeeper. “My duty was at three stations at one time, therefore it was not at all possible for me to perform duty at all stations at one point of time,” he said. He further admitted before the ADC that he had brought the matter to the notice of his District Manager, Mr B.S. Saini, but he did not respond properly. He said Mr Saini, Mr Raja and Mr Gupta were all hand-in-glove with each other. “I was made a scapegoat taking advantage of my innocence,” he said. The records provided by the storekeeper to the inquiry officer also revealed that huge quantity of wheat was shown lifted on Tata-407 mini-trucks without taking into account the actual capacity of these vehicles. For example, one of the release orders had mentioned about a Tata-407 mini vehicle having lifted 140 quintal wheat that is quite astonishing as the actual capacity of the vehicle is just 35 to 40 quintal. When the inquiry officer asked to Mr Ranbir Singh, transport contractor, to explain his position in that regard, he said he had not provided any vehicle for lifting the wheat stock. The vehicle numbers mentioned in the release orders were written by Mr Gupta to just fill the columns as he had the transport contract. He said Mr Gupta lifted the stock with the help of Mr Raja on some other vehicles. A cross-check of the record seized from the ‘dharma kanta’ (weighing machine) had supported his statement as the vehicle numbers mentioned in the release orders did not match the record there. The Tribune tried to contact Mr Raja on his mobile phone for the second consecutive day to get his version, but his telephone was switched off. Mr M.S. Bhullar, District Manager of the Food Corporation of India, in a press conference held here today clarified his position that the FCI was not involved in the scam. On the other hand, the District Magistrate of Karnal, Mr Shyamal Mishra, was yet to order registration of an FIR against the guilty persons involved in the scam as recommended by the inquiry officer, Mr Sanjiv Verma. |
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Stone crushers cut building material rate
Hisar, July 2 The step has been taken following the government move to remove the check-posts from the area where excess royalty was allegedly being charged from the crusher owners, putting additional burden on the consumers. A spokesperson for the association told The Tribune today that the rates of building material had been finalised as per the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in this regard. At an association meeting held in this regard, it was decided that bajri would now be sold at Rs 6.50 and crasher at Rs 7.50 per cubic foot. It is pertinent to mention here that during the recent stir, the rates of the aforesaid construction material had gone up to Rs 16 and Rs 18, respectively. The association also constituted mobile teams to detect the evasion of sales tax and charging of excess rates on construction material. Representatives of the labourers’ unions, who attended the meeting, assured the crusher-owners of all help and cooperation in this regard. A few cases of overcharging have already been detected by the mobile squads. While the traders were made to return the excess money in some cases, a police case was lodged at Tosham against an employee of Zevra stone-crusher unit, which is reportedly being run by a lease holder. The association members allege that by selling the construction material at high rates, the lease-hold contactors were trying to create an impression that the crusher owners had not reduced the rates even after the lifting of the nakas. The crusher owners recently ended their stir after the newly elected Congress MLA from Tosham, Ms Kiran Chaudhary, visited the protesters and assured them that “goondaism” would not be allowed to prevail in the area any more. However, they are still adamant on their demands of canceling the lease, withdrawal of “false” cases registered during the Chautala regime and instituting a CBI inquiry into the matter. |
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Brick-kiln owners to launch stir
Sonepat, July 2 The decision was taken at a meeting of the association held at Gohana last evening. The meeting was presided over by the association President, Mr Suraj Bhan Malik. The association expressed its resentment against the state government for not respecting the stay granted by the Supreme Court in an appeal by the brick-kiln associations against the use of fly ash. It also criticised the Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat, for reducing the rates of bricks from Rs 1825 to 1725 per thousand and also increasing the daily wages from Rs 160 to Rs 170. The association also unanimously decided to increase the prices of bricks from Rs 2000 to 2200 and of tiles Rs 2100 to 2400 per thousand. The association’s decision is going to be an alarming signal for those who wanted to start construction. There was same situation last year also when the brick-kiln associations went on indefinite strike on the same plea and prices of the bricks in open market witnessed a price hike from Rs 1600 upto Rs 2800 per thousand and kiln owners earned a maximum profit from the situation. Number of kiln consumers, including Dharmender and R.K. Sharma, who owns plots in the Sector-23, and contractor Ashish and K.D. Singh pointed out that the prices might go to up to Rs 3000 per thousands this time. They demanded the government to intervene in the matter to save the consumers from this monopoly and exploitation. |
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Brick-kiln workers left in lurch
Panipat, July 2 Some of the workers said the owner had told them that they would be given their wages at the railway station. However instead of giving them their wages, he left the station after leaving them without giving them their wages, they alleged. The workers said they had not got any paisa even for getting tickets to go back to their native places in Bihar. |
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Rs 30 crore for development works
Chandigarh, July 2 While stating this here today, an official spokesman said computers were being provided by the Central Government and on completion of the project, all market committees would be able to send data relating to the arrival of agricultural commodities, their rates and income to the head office. He said adequate area was being earmarked in new mandis for the setting up of banks and post offices. Sulabh sauchalayas were also being provided in big mandis as well as those at the district headquarters. He said the development of the grain markets at Nigdhu (Phase II), Alewa in Jind district, Ramthali and Rajaund in Kaithal district and Ambala Cantt and the vegetable markets in Jakhal and Hisar would be taken up during this financial year. |
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Head Constable booked
for beating up youth
Fatehabad, July 2 In his complaint Sampat Singh had alleged that Rakesh Kumar and Ram Singh beat him up on May 22. He alleged that the cop, who belonged to his village, was angry with him because he had complained to his department that Rakesh had obtained his job by furnishing forged documents. He alleged that the police refused to register the case despite his repeated requests. The judge ordered the police to register a case. In another case, the police has booked Surjit, Sarpanch of Lahrian village, his father Baljit, mother Krishana, brother Tejinder and village Patwari Charan Singh under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 34 and 120-B of the IPC. The complainant Rajinder Pal of the same village had alleged that the village panchayat had left land for the common village pond in 1970. But the Sarpanch and his family members connived with patwari Charan Singh and prepared forged documents to grab the land. |
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2 kids run over by truck
Sonepat, July 2 According to police sources, the victims, who were brothers, were on a bicycle when they were hit from behind by the speeding truck. Both children, Manoj (12) and Ajay (7), died on the spot. They were returning home after taking bath in Mungeshpur Katewra canal minor near the Haryana-Delhi border. The truck driver tried to escape but was over-powered by the Delhi Police. A case of causing death by rash and negligent driving has been registered and the police have impounded the truck. When the news about the deaths of the boys reached their home, gloom descended on the entire village. |
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Workshop on National Curriculum Framework
Bhiwani, July 2 While stating this today, the Secretary of the board, Mr Rajeev Ranjan, said that the board had also sought comments of the people regarding NCF-2005. The draft was available on website www.ncert.nic.in. The NCF aimed at bringing about qualitative improvement in school education so as to make it more relevant and free from stress. He said that NCF also aimed at enriching the curriculum for ensuring overall development of the children rather than keeping them textbook centric. It would also reform the system of examinations. He said that comment in the form of opinions, suggestions and modifications could be sent to his office either through e-mail
at hbse@hry.nic.in or through post. |
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Miller in police net for duping government
Fatehabad, July 2 The accused, Subhash, was produced before the Judicial Magistrate, Mr Parveen Kumar, who remanded him in police custody for two days. According to sources, the accused had, in criminal breach of trust, sold off 5000 quintals of rice belonging to the government in 2001-2002 milling season. The Deputy Food and Supplies Controller, Fatehabad, had lodged an FIR against the accused on April 4, 2002. The accused applied for anticipatory bail before a local court, but the court denied bail to him. Ever since, the police had been delaying his arrest for unknown reasons. The SP, Mr Bhim Singh, according to sources, ordered his arrest after reviewing old cases. |
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LPG price hiked in Haryana, consumers unhappy
Ambala, July 2 “Last night, we were informed that the price of LPG has been increased. While the old price of LPG cylinder was Rs 292.65, the new price is Rs 299.25 due to 6.75 VAT,” he said. The association member said that as per information available to them, the hike had become effective from June 30. “Yesterday, we issued the gas cylinders as per the old price. Since, the hike has become effective from yesterday, we will have to foot the difference. The LPG distributors stand to lose due to delay in information by the government,” he said. An LPG consumer termed the hike in LPG price as “unfair”. “I fail to understand why the Congress government has gone in for a hike in LPG price. On one hand, the Congress-led UPA government is increasing petrol and diesel prices and on the other hand, the Congress government in Haryana is increasing LPG prices. It is a unhappy situation for the common person,” he said. |
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Kataria demands CBI
inquiry into wheat scam
Ambala, July 2 “But, corrupt persons take away the due of the poor people and sell it in the black market,” he said. |
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2 aerodromes in offing
Sonepat, July 2 The site is near Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh as well as the National Highway No. 1 passing through this district. The scheme has been prepared and sent to the state government for approval. If the Central Government agrees to it, Sonepat district will be developed on a massive scale. |
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3 youths run over by train
Rohtak, July 2 |
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Woman commits suicide
Panipat, July 2 |
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