Dahima (Hisar), July 5
Government’s claims of providing adequate water to tail-end villages notwithstanding, residents of several such villages in the district are facing an acute shortage of drinking water.

Due to low water level in the Petwad minor, Dahima, Gunjar and Bhojraj villages, which are fed by it, have to wait for a month for turn to get water. The village residents are even forced to get water from other villages as the wells cannot yield enough water for them. Dhamana, Sultanpur and Ladwa villages in the district are also facing water crisis. A visit to Dahima village revealed that the waterworks tanks are nearly empty and a large number of fish has died due to scanty water and intense heat. Today being the last day of water supply for the village waterworks and very little water available in waterworks, the villagers face a tough time ahead.

“Our repeated requests to the authorities concerned have failed to elicit action we have been making rounds of government offices, but to no avail as the officials always pass the buck,” says the village Sarpanch, Satbir Singh. The sarpanches of Dahima, Bhojraj and Gunjar villages yesterday submitted a memorandum to Hisar Divisional Commissioner, R.R. Fuliya, and apprised him of the situation. They also met the Deputy Commissioner, Superintending Engineer, Public Health, and other officials concerned.

In their complaint, the panchayat representatives have alleged that due to shortage of water in the canal, the flow of water to the tail-ends is stopped by Irrigation Department employees. The situation is prevailing for two years. However, the villagers have got only assurances so far.

While the Departments of Public Health and Irrigation blame each other for the crisis, the villagers do not know which door to knock for water.

Chandigarh, July 5
The two dominant factions in the Haryana Congress, led by the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and a former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, respectively, seem to have decided to show their strength through rallies and counter-rallies.

Mr Hooda will address a rally in Fatehabad district, Mr Bhajan Lal’s stronghold being the heartland of the Bishnois, the community to which the veteran leader belongs, on July 7. On the other hand, Mr Bhajan Lal today announced that he would start a series of public meetings from Kurukshetra from July 20.

Interestingly, the main organiser of Mr Hooda’s rally is Mr Kulbir Beniwal, MLA from Bhattu, who was brought into politics by Mr Kuldip Bishnoi, MP son of Mr Bhajan Lal. It is widely believed that Mr Beniwal got the Congress ticket in the last Assembly elections due to his closeness to Mr Bishnoi.

The rally is to be held in Bhattu, which falls in Fatehabad district and has a considerable Bishnoi population.

It will be first rally of Mr Hooda after the resignation of Mr Bhajan Lal from the post of president of the Haryana Congress was accepted. Mr Bhajan Lal quit the post in protest against what he described as the marginalisation of his supporters in the organisational set-up of the party.

Though it is customary for the party MLAs of the district concerned and its neighbouring areas to attend such rallies, it is to be seen whether the MLA from Fatehabad, Mr Dura Ram, will participate in the Bhattu rally. Mr Dura Ram is a nephew of Mr Bhajan Lal.

Efforts are being made to ensure a big turnout at the rally.

Chandigarh, July 5
The Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana today demanded the immediate cancellation of the recent deal of the state government with the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) for the setting up of an SEZ. The party also demanded a high-level probe into the deal.

Last month RIL had signed an agreement with the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) for setting up a Rs 25,000 crore special economic zone in Gurgaon district. The SEZ will have a dedicated airport and a 2,000 MW captive power plant.

A delegation of the INLD comprising party MPs, MLAs and senior leaders led by its secretary-general Ajay Singh Chautala submitted a memorandum to Governor A. R. Kidwai here today. The memorandum alleged that the SEZ had been handed over to the Reliance group without following the rules and regulations or inviting competitive bids. There were a number of other parties also interested in setting up the SEZ.

Later addressing a press conference former Finance Minister Sampat Singh said that during their 20-minute meeting with Mr Kidwai they apprised him of the "irregularities" in the deal, including the allotment of land to Reliance at a very low price.

He quoted the Governor as having said: "Main inquiry karaoonga" (I will get an inquiry conducted). Mr Chautala and Mr Sampat Singh said they were "satisfied" with the Governor's response.

The memorandum stated that the HSIIDC was the first to get permission for setting up the SEZ. It also procured 1,715 acres in Gurgaon district which had now been given to the Reliance-Haryana SEZ project without open bidding or tender process.

The INLD said the land had been given at a rate ranging between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 21 lakh whereas the market price was many times more than that. This would result in a substantial loss to farmers of the state who had been paid very little compensation, the INLD leaders said.

Karnal, July 5
Agitated over the poor power supply to farmers members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) today locked the office of the Superintending Engineer for one hour.

Farmers were raising anti-government slogans for not providing adequate power supply. At the time of locking of the office, the SE was reported to be away to Panchkula for a meeting.

After the farmers were told about the SE, farmers accused the official of not dicharging his duties. Farmer leaders said the official had run away as the BKU had given an ultimatum of dharna due to erratic power supply.

General secretary of the BKU Sewa Singh Arya charged the state government with harassing farmers in Haryana.

He said the power authorities had fixed six-hour power supply to farmers for paddy sowing. But, it was an eyewash and claimed the supply was not regular.

The farmers’ leader demanded power supply should restore between 11 am and 5 pm. He said due to frequent disruptions farmers were unable to water paddy fields.

Slogan raising farmers demanded that senior officials should listen to their grievances. They threatened to block the NH-1. Though Executive Engineer, Multan Singh tried to pacify the agitators lock but the farmers wanted a senior official to hear them.

CTM Balraj Jakhar reached the spot and assured the farmers to redress their problems soon after which the BKU ended the gherao.

Chandigarh, July 5
The Haryana Government tonight issued transfer and posting orders of 13 IAS and five HCS officers with immediate effect.

Mr Prem Prashant, Chief Secretary, has also been given the additional charge of the Administrative Reforms Department relieving Mr S.C. Chaudhary.

Ms Anuradha Gupta, who was awaiting posting orders after her return from the Centre’s deputation about a fortnight ago, has been posted as the Commissioner and Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and Women and Child Development Departments vice Mr Dalip Singh, who has been posted as Commissioner and Secretary, Public Health in place of Mr P.K. Gupta, who becomes Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Development Department and Inquiry Officer-III relieving Mr N. Bala Baskar.

Mr D.S. Dhesi, Commissioner and Secretary, Civil Aviation and Transport, goes as Commissioner and Secretary, Cooperation Department, relieving Mr K.S. Bhoria, who was holding this additional charge. Mr S.K. Gulati, has been posted as the Special Secretary, Finance Department, against a vacant post.

Mr M. Ramsekhar, goes as Transport Commissioner and Adviser, Civil Aviation. Mr M.P. Bansal, has been posted as the Administrator, HUDA, Hisar, against a vacant post. Mr B.S. Malik, who was awaiting posting orders after he was transferred from the post of the Deputy Commissioner, Kaithal, has been posted as the Administrator, HUDA, Faridabad, relieving Mr M.S. Sehrawat.

Mr T.L. Satyaprakash, ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Kurukshetra, goes as ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Mahendergarh vice Mr Dharampal, HCS, whose posting orders will be issued later on. Mr Mohammad Shayin, Sub Divisional Officer(C), Narwana, has been posted as the Administrator, HUDA, Rohtak, against a vacant post.

Mr Amit Kumar Agrawal, Sub-Divisional Officer, Hisar and Secretary, Commission for Determination of Compensation of Fire Victims of Dabwali Tragedy, Hisar, becomes ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Panipat against a vacant post. Mr Ajit Balaji Joshi, SDO(C), Gohana goes as ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Jhajjar against a vacant post.

Mr Vikas Yadav, Controller, Printing and Stationery and Registrar-cum-Secretary, Justice K.S. Bhalla (retd.) Commission of Inquiry goes as ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Sonepat against a vacant post. Mr N.K. Singla, OSD, CADA, Panchkula, becomes ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Jind, vice Mr R.K. Chaudhary, whose posting orders will be issued later.

Ms Renu S. Phulia, CEO, Kurukshetra Development Board, Kurukshetra, has also been posted as ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA, Kurukshetra vice Mr T.L. Satyaprakash.

Karnal, July 5
The police yesterday restored to mild lathi charge to disperse people protesting against erratic power supply in certain areas of the town.

Residents of Ram Nagar, Prem Nagar and Shiv Colony on the Kaithal road jammed traffic on the Karnal-Kaithal road. Residents complained of the poor power supply in the areas for the past few, days. Protesting residents, including women, blocked the road and demanded restoration of power supply in 
the areas.

Several district officials like the SDM, the DSP and others reached the spot but failed to restore traffic. The police resorted to cane charge to disperse agitating people in which one woman received injuries.

Bhiwani, July 5
Results of secondary and senior secondary examinations of Haryana Open School-2006 will be declared tomorrow.

A spokesman of the Haryana School Education Board said besides in leading newspapers, result would also be made available on the website, helpline, and Reliance and Airtel phones.

He disclosed the pass percentage of secondary examination was 32.35 per cent. As many as 9330 were declared passed out of 28835 candidates appeared for the examination. The girls had performed better than boys as their pass percentage was 34.81 per cent compared to 31.35 per cent of boys.

Results could be obtained at their residence through Information Technology. The results were being made available on the computerised Enquiry Service on the telephone number 0124-1250112, Airtel landline number 1250112 and Reliance R World besides the helpline service of Board’s head office number 01664-254000 for the convenience of the students. Apart from telephone services the students who had taken the examination could also visit the Board website http://hbse.nic.in or http://results.nic.in and link through resultthroughbinocular to know their result status.

Ambala, July 5
Mr Jagjit Kumar Kharbanda, author of the book `Be a Dynamic Leader’, gave a presentation at SD College, Ambala Cantt, yesterday.

Mr Kharbanda visited Book Cafe at Municipal Market on the Jagadhari road. Mr Ripu Daman S Gulati and Mr Gaurav Gulati were present.

Mr Kharbanda said a leader of the 21st century, whether in politics or business, had to be a person of creative ideas, with influencing capacity and internal power to actualise through himself as well as others rather than just looking at a style of controlling others.

He explained the process of leadership-adaptation to inspiration to transformation back to adaptation.