Sirsa, January 29
With a view to developing Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU) here as a Centre of Excellence, the Haryana Government has approved various plans, involving a an expenditure of about Rs 40 crore, for the all-around development of the university.

The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupender Singh Hooda, laid the foundation stones of the science and administrative blocks and a residential colony, besides inaugurating the university faculty house.

Mr Hooda also sanctioned financial grants required for a library and multipurpose hall during his maiden visit to the university yesterday. He directed the officials concerned to ensure that all these projects were completed within the given timeframe.

The CDLU Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.C. Bhardwaj, told The Tribune today that after having brought the university back on track, their next target was to develop it as a centre of higher learning with a focus on job-oriented professional courses.

He said they were getting an overwhelming response to the recently launched distance education courses.

It may be interesting to note that till about a year or so ago, this university was on the verge of closure. It was even being stated that owing to political considerations, the Congress regime in the state was not interested in the CDLU's progress.

So much so that a group of prominent local residents had launched a campaign to save the university under the banner of "Shiksha Bachao Abhiyan".

Thus, the Chief Minister's latest move of sanctioning substantial grants for the CDLU's development has silenced his political opponents.

Addressing the gathering of university staff and students on the occasion, Mr Hooda maintained that the latest technical courses would be introduced in all universities of the state.

He asserted that providing quality education to youth was a must in the era of intense global competition.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Haryana chapter of the Indian Media Centre. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr Hooda exhorted the journalists to remain objective and refrain from inserting their views in the news.

"Biased or discriminative reporting hits the credibility of the media," the Chief Minister observed while addressing the journalists present on the occasion. He advised the mediapersons to do introspection and always keep the larger interest of society in mind.

The president of the Indian Media Centre, Mr Shyam Khosla, and the head of the Haryana chapter of the body, Prof B.K. Kuthiala, also addressed the gathering.

The Union Minister of State for Urban Employment, Ms Kumari Selja, Sirsa MP Atma Singh Gill, Haryana Industries Minister Lachhman Dass Arora, Director of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Rajeev Sharma, OSD to Chief Minister Dr K.V. Singh and Sirsa Deputy Commissioner V.Umashankar were also present.

Fatehabad, January 29
Owing to the lackadaisical attitude of the revenue authorities and apprehensive attitude of farmers here, the scheme of issuing kisan passbooks is hanging fire for the past one year.

The district administration has now decided to get tough on this issue and Deputy Commissioner O.P. Sheoran today made it clear that after January 31, the target date for its implementation in Fatehabad sub-division of the district, farmers without these passbooks would not be able to get any official work done relating to their landholdings.

Under a scheme of the state government, the district authorities had received 1.15 lakh kisan passbooks in the district to be issued to farmers. The kisan passbook is an authentic document relating to the land records and once implemented, the scheme would prove handy for the farmers at the time of getting loans, power connections, paying land revenues and also at the time of transfer of landholdings.

Farmers need not go to patwaris for getting copies of ‘jamabandis’, mutations and other records. Even financial institutions like banks can mortgage farmers’ lands for the purpose of granting loans by seeing the land records from the passbooks.

Other details of land like mode of irrigation, rate of land revenue applicable and details of revenue paid is also entered in the passbook. To begin with, the district authorities had decided to implement the scheme in the Fatehabad sub-division of this district.

Meanwhile, many farmers who are to benefit from this scheme are reported to be apprehensive about the outcome of the scheme. Besides, they have to pay a small amount of Rs 15 each for the issuance of the passbook.

Chandigarh, January 29
It is Reliance Energy which will make the 1,200-MW Hisar thermal power plant on the turnkey basis. The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, here today, accorded its administrative approval to this effect. The Hisar plant will have two units of 600 MW each.

According to an official spokesman, the decision to allot the construction of the project to Reliance Energy has been taken because it was the lowest bidder. The government has already acquired 989 acres near Barwala in Hisar district for the project. This is the first project in the northern region to be awarded the Mega Project status under the Mega Project Policy of the Union Government. This has resulted in the reduction of cost and lower cost of generation. After the project starts generation, additional 288 lakh units would be available to the state. It would be sufficient to cater to additional 4.4 lakh consumers, which constitute 11 per cent of the existing consumers.

The effort would be to commission the two units with 34 and 36 months, respectively.

The project is proposed to be financed with debt : equity ratio of 80 : 20 with 20 per cent of the cost to be contributed by the state government.

The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. It also decided to constitute a Haryana Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Council for the regular monitoring and review of the scheme.

It was also decided to establish a fund, the State Employment Guarantee Fund, for the smooth functioning of the scheme, an official spokesman said.

At present the scheme had been implemented in Mahendergarh and Sirsa districts of the state. The remaining districts would be covered in a phased manner. 

Sonepat, January 29
Reena, a young married woman and her one-year-old daughter, died on the spot after they were allegedly set on fire by her in-laws in their house at Butana village today morning.

On the complaint of Reena’s father, Ishwar of Mahmoodpur village, a case of murder under the Anti-Dowry Act has been registered against Reena’s husband Rajesh, father-in-law Om Prakash, mother-in-law Ved Vanti, brother-in-law (Devar) Rakesh,  sisters-in-law (nanad) Sonu and Bita at Baroda police station.

Reena was married to Rajesh three years back and a daughter was born to her one  year back.

The complaint said Reena’s in-laws had demanded Rs 4 lakh as dowry and Rs 2 lakh  was already paid to them.

Today morning, Reena and her daughter were allegedly set on fire  when they were in a room at the first floor  of the house. As the  victims reportedly received 100 per cent burns they died on  the spot. The police  also reached the spot and informed her parents.  The bodies were  brought to the Civil  Hospital, Gohana,  for a postmortem  examination.

Karnal, January 29
Scores of lawyers blocked the GT Road here this afternoon for around one hour in protest against the alleged killing of a Karnal-based advocate. They blamed the police for adopting a “go-slow”' attitude in the case.

The protesting lawyers blamed the police for its failure in solving the murder case of Akash Khainchi, a 27-year-old advocate, who was residing in Sector 7 here.

He went missing on January 23 from Karnal and two days later his body was found near a canal in Gohana, Sonepat. The police had also reportedly recovered his motor cycle from a nearby area. He was scheduled to marry on January 28.

Protesting lawyers blocked the NH-1 at the Nirmal Kutiya traffic lightpoint.

The family of the deceased had named several persons allegedly involved in the crime. The father of the deceased who remained sarpanch of Khainchi village for over one decade blamed the opponent party in the village for committing the crime.

The family alleged that some of the accused named by them were politically well connected and the police was under pressure. Though the police had arrested 11 persons in the case, the lawyers had accused the local police of “mishandling” the case. However, the blockade was lifted only after the SP, Mr Sibash Kaviraj, met the protesting advocates and assured them to solve the case soon.

Ambala, January 29
An inter-zonal youth festival began at Gandhi Memorial National College, Ambala Cantt, today.

Haryana finance minister Birender Singh was the chief guest. Mr Birender Singh said artistes and litterateurs had in-born talent and they could not be prepared. He said people from creative fields were naturally gifted and they could improve upon their abilities.

He said the field of creativity was unique and the creative persons were not hampered by geographical boundaries. “Haryana has a rich culture. Our ancestors have contributed significantly towards the growth of culture,” he said. Pandit Jasraj, who is an internationally acclaimed person, hailed from Haryana.

Mr Birender Singh said creative pursuits tought a person to be a good person. He said such youth festivals went a long way towards overall development of a student.

Dr S.S. Nain’s book “Relevance of NAM in the post cold war era” was released by Mr Birender Singh on the occasion. A scintillating cultural programme  was presented on the occasion.